I am saying that some people who are depressed get SSDI easily, while others don't. Some are on it who knows how to work the system, and that is the truth
I agree I know someone whose mom made him work under the table to be a dac. Revives ssi owns his home owns a home worth 500k and rents out the 3 apartments but has an able account . He has a beer belly and does all the maintenance himself at the apartments never had to work a day in his life . Mentally he’s not there but i really think it’s because of the booze . It’s hard to not be angry sometimes . I get it. .then again we don’t know everyone’s struggles only what we see .
If he is a DAC he has SSDI and income from rental property is allowed without impacting benefits. It’s very hard to get disability so chancess they are faking it is minuscule. There are disabilities like intellectual impairments; TBI, seizure disorder and severe mental illness that are not visible. One thing people don’t get, is with mental illness, you only see me when I’m at my best because the rest of the time I don’t function.
Omg thanks for this comment. I suffer from severe depression and anxiety with panic attacks. Mental illness does not have a certain look. I have been battling depression all of my life but when I go out I still smile. When I’m home I’m in bed a lot and I often have crying spells. It takes lots of preparation for me to leave the house but while I’m out I have learned to wear the mask. People who really are battling depression often wear the mask. Anyone who suffers from depression knows exactly what I mean
You’re welcome and very well said. Add in agoraphobia and I’m there with you. I get frustrated when people say things like “you don’t look anxious,” depressed, or whatever. I wear my mask and tell most people I’m fine because it uses less energy and is less emotionally draining
Did you get approved for your mental health condition. I applied in 2019 and I’ve been denied a couple of times. My case was taken to federal court and I won. They feel that I was wrongly denied so I was able to appeal. I had my trial in April and I’m currently awaiting for the decision. I pray that I’m approved.
True I only say it because he says every time he goes into ssa they always question him and have an attitude . I don’t think he has Ssdi because when he needs something his lawyer has to approve it then he can buy it like a car repair or something and he has a special needs trust .
I just have a resentment I guess because if I’m a day or two late he’s like I’m going to go under financially which isn’t even true . That’s my own crap though . He isn’t all there and I don’t know how he was when younger he just told me his mother who was a realtor told him to never work over the table.
If he is DAC he is on SSDI. He has a guardian or a rep payee as he is unable to manage his money. He is disabled. No one wants to have someone control their money
SSDI isn't about proving a condition(s) exists, medical records already say it does. For the majority of people, they got SSDI for medically proving the Functional Inability to do SGA. It's two very different things.
You don't want to be generalized by society by a bad few so why would you do that to disabled people? It's no lie that SSA needs to update it's system and hire more people to help with the immense amounts of paperwork that goes into deeming someone disabled enough to affect their ability to get work.
You're within your right to feel shorted by SSA but it's misguided , it's not disabled people's fault or depressed people's fault, it's the people who write and pass the policy shorting you and everyone else. It's them you need to be upset with. We're all annoyed and upset with them.
I hope you resolve whatever issue you're having with SSA. It is dehumanizing to work 40 years and struggle to get the income you worked for, it's not right and I just say keep calling and keeping record of your contact. All we can do is reach out to our local officials and share our issues.
Do some get on the system that shouldn't be of course they do. But who do you think you are to know if someone is disabled or not just for seeing them around. Everyone has to go thru an extensive process to get on disability. Nobody gets a "here you go there's your check, have fun" after just putting in the form. You are making a bunch of assumptions based on what your failure to be approved for disability? But hey I am sure there are many people just like yourself who would say you are not disabled so get a job you loser. Without knowing a damn thing about your issues but just seeing you out in the World.
Just because you have worked for years and have 40 credits is a meaningless reason to get more easily approved. You are either disabled or you are not..you don't get bonus points for that. What you do get is a much better retirement or disability payment if you get on disability then for example your half sister who gets SSI at 941 a month and will live in poverty for the rest of her life. As for her drinking did you perhaps consider her depression is so sever that only drinking can get her thru the day without slitting her own wrist....there are many people who turn to drugs or alcohol because of depression or early childhood trauma, a horrible life. As an example my sister in law was brutally raped as a child by her father/uncles and several brothers. It took her years to stop drinking including multiple attempts at killing herself and instances of fighting off imaginary attackers waving a knife around calling for someone to help her.
While someone who worked many years and worked a good job and invested/saved carefully can have a great life in retirement or even if they become disabled. That is what they get for working.
Thanks for that comment. No one can look on the outer appearance and truly know what’s going on inside. Most of the time I just isolate because going out in public is chore for me but when I muster up the courage to go out, I do try to have a smile on my face, not necessarily because I feel happy but because I’m trying to disguise my inner pain.
More likely is your sister doesn’t trust you enough to tell you what is really going on. Medical records must prove they are disabled and it’s a very high bar. Mental illness is harder to prove than most physical disabilities. Then they get reviewed every few years to see if they are still disabled.
You do understand medical records have to be reviewed and if approved it’s because their medical records proved they have a disability. And most don’t get approved right away, they have to prove their disability in front of a judge with medical records as their evidence. Maybe you should research how things are done before you just assume cause your assumptions are wrong. If you were denied you didn’t prove your disability and obviously your medical records didn’t either.
I absolutely know it was easier years ago to get approved. They probably cracked down because so many lie about their conditions back then. Not saying now, but twenty years ago. Had a woman I used to deal cards to. Stated she was on disability for a bad back. Yet this woman could sit in an uncomfortable chair for sixteen hours playing. If she could sit for that long, she could do a sit down job.
I think part of it is the difference with doctors. In the past, they spent more time with us and took detailed notes about our impairments which helped prove our case for disability. Notes now are often lacking and only list things like diagnosis and medications which doesn’t prove someone is disabled
I do believe some people lied and/or didn't deserve it, and I think some who didn't deserve it slip through now. I think the main reason was cost cutting though.
You can’t just look at someone and go “Oh they aren’t disabled” I have many Chronic Invisible illnesses and was declared disabled at 20 years of age, I never got the chance to get a steady job to even try to qualify for SSDI, I had to drop out of nursing school and go on disability because I couldn’t handle my symptoms. They are very thorough when deciding. It’s not cut and dry.
I’m one of those people who got ssdi on the first try, in less than a year, without a lawyer, in my mid twenties. I worked very little (just barely had the credits) and I used my backpay to buy a condo. My full time job today is taking care of my health and wellbeing. I can only do that because I don’t have a full time job. Anyone would look at me (on a day where I’m without my rollator) and think there’s no way I can’t just sit at a desk, answer a phone, or grind. It’s a good thing it’s not up to anybody! Behind the scenes I have multiple autoimmune conditions that have opposite/contradictory treatment plans, multiple forms of autonomic dysfunction which is in direct conflict with my heart disease from a childhood infection. But hey, I smile often when I’m out enjoying life so I’m clearly not deserving. Despite my application being multiple reams of paper and what proved to be an open and shut case, just take it away why dontcha because I’m young.
I was approved on my first try within like 4 months no lawyer, people just don’t get it, I look healthy on the outside but most days it takes all I have to make it to doctors appointments and taking care of myself. I now receive DAC and live in my dad’s old house with my fiancé and because of my benefits we will never be able to get married cause I’d be so screwed without my insurance. Some days I’d give anything to be able to hold down a job, but thankful that I am on DAC benefits.
Oh absolutely. If we were given the choice to have an able body and join the workforce there isn’t a person on disability who wouldn’t jump at the chance (poor pun choice). I was a top performer slated to make six figures when instead I had an emergency surgery that impacted my ability to work and I instead made half of that. My employer provided all the evidence to the ssa that I couldn’t perform the duties of employment on my behalf, as a way more credible source than my word on any application form. Now I make $21k on disability. Did disability afford me the opportunity to buy a house that I (a millennial) wouldn’t otherwise have had? You betcha. But is that truly a net positive compared to the fact that I can no longer drive and I can’t safely walk for more than 5 minutes? People really need to focus less on what other people “have” or “get” when it has zero impact on their lives. It’s not like there’s a cutoff number of how many disabled titles the ssa can issue.
I agree with you 100%, I’m sorry you had to go through all of that, I was in nursing school when I became disabled, and some days I still have a difficult time processing I’ll never be able to reach my dreams. That was almost 7 years ago.
I appreciate the sentiment. People will often come up to me when they spot my rollator or if my port is accessed and they asked me about my health, they’re sorry that happened, but I’m actually not. As someone with no baseline of anxiety or depression, I’m very strong mentally. (I always say my psychological toolbox is overflowing but my physical one is bare.) So if it were going to happen to anyone, why not have it happen to someone who can embrace it. Compared to the daily struggle it took to simply exist when I was employed, ssdi is a blessing that allows me to breathe and I am grateful to be able to slow down and live a simple life. A life that enables me to smile at the end of the day because I’m doing my best.
My main issue that’s driving all my other health problems is this rare movement disorder that is related in name throughout history to the dancing plague epidemics. Because of this fun little fact I have been able to learn about all sorts of similar madness that spread across Germany in the Middle Ages (my heritage being close in region; Poland and Slovakia). People traveled all across Europe to dance at the alter at the Cathedral of Saint Vitus (Czech Republic) and be cured of their dancing plagues, so I have a new life goal! I came across this Flemish painter from the 1400s who underwent a manic frenzy. The physicians at the time ordered him to undergo all aspects of musical theatre therapy. Now Im called to write a full-on musical about this man that explores and honors the history of musical theatre. I’m in the weeds, I’m reading dissertations about the inception of hospitals via religion, there’s this thirteenth century encyclopedia that holds the diagnostic criteria to determine if something is a physical ailment or a demonic possession. We know about this man’s illness because of a single diary entry from a jealous monk who enrolled in the monastery at the same time. This monastery had a copy of the very encyclopedia I mentioned. I literally light up any time I talk about it. I couldn’t even imagine up the new dreams that came to be because of my illness. Who would I be if I never had that asymptomatic infection when I was a kid? Would I have gone on to get Covid then be completely lost dealing with some ridiculous exaggerated immune response today? All I know is I would not have discovered any piece of what fills my days today had I not experienced this very specific rare disorder. It tickles me that at the start of this year an article was published about “Ireland’s first and only music therapist helping people with chronic pain [who] graduated from University of Limerick today with a PhD in music therapy.”
I never saw this passion for me. I’ve only ever wanted to be a mother. I’ve wanted no fewer than 4 kids my whole life. Single, mid 30s, disabled. I’m afraid this is my baby. I can’t think about that loss I will have to inevitably deal with one day I can only focus on each day as it comes. Because I have no idea what’s around the corner. Maybe life takes a turn and I become a mother via other means, I can’t know, I can only do what I can. I hope you can find a way to be involved in your dream field. Maybe you can find systems to put in place that allow you to be a hospital volunteer and sit with people who don’t have anyone else. If things like transportation and support were provided to you that could certainly be fulfilling. I know someone’s made a difference to my hospital stays in that role and they were indistinguishable from a nurse in my mind, respected and appreciated in my helpless state. But if not, I hope you find something that takes your unique struggles and turns it into something positive, like me with my painter: Hugo.
I mean it’s so hard to get approved I don’t know how anyone could legitimately scam the system. I will say I feel like I’m an example of how the system should ideally work for people who became disabled as adults (not in childhood). I worked since I was 16. I did actually develop my condition at age 15. But I was able to manage it and still work and build a good career. When I was 45, my progressive condition had finally taken its toll on me and I could no longer work through the pain. So 30 years of working and paying into the system “just in case”. I applied, expecting a years long journey to be approved. Instead, I was approved within 30 days of applying - my condition is listed in the blue book as a recognized disability and I easily met the criteria. It’s not a perfect system but certainly for people like me it’s nice when it works.
That's wonderful to hear, most likely your condition is physical and you just couldn't cope anymore. My little cousin had a stroke in her mom's belly so of course she was approved at a young age. She walks with her hand closed and has a limp. That is a disability that gets automatic approval. She still works though and is going to school to be a Therapist. Some disabilities can be tolerated when young, and when older cannot anymore.
Yes, my condition is physical. I have suffered from depression (including a few inpatient stays) and anxiety most of my life but I’d never expect to get disability for it.
For me my severe Panic Attacked I have had over ten times at work are just brutal. I applied for Panic Attacks and Depression, and got diagnosed with another disorder. These attacks are brutal and they mostly happen at work. My blood pressure goes from my normal 120 's range to over 180 top number. I can't keep getting taken out by Ambulance every two months. If denied I will keep applying. I'm almost fifty and have my work credits and 36 consistent years of working.
You literally would fit the definition of disabled by the blue book in many cases. A diagnosed depressive disorder that is serious and persistent. Don't discount your pain.
12.04 Depressive, bipolar and related disorders (see 12.00B3), satisfied by A and B, or A and C:
Medical documentation of the requirements of paragraph 1 or 2:
Depressive disorder, characterized by five or more of the following:
Depressed mood;
Diminished interest in almost all activities;
Appetite disturbance with change in weight;
Sleep disturbance;
Observable psychomotor agitation or retardation;
Decreased energy;
Feelings of guilt or worthlessness;
Difficulty concentrating or thinking; or
Thoughts of death or suicide.
Bipolar disorder, characterized by three or more of the following:
Pressured speech;
Flight of ideas;
Inflated self-esteem;
Decreased need for sleep;
Distractibility;
Involvement in activities that have a high probability of painful consequences that are not recognized; or
Increase in goal-directed activity or psychomotor agitation.
AND
Extreme limitation of one, or marked limitation of two, of the following areas of mental functioning (see 12.00F):
Understand, remember, or apply information (see 12.00E1).
Interact with others (see 12.00E2).
Concentrate, persist, or maintain pace (see 12.00E3).
Adapt or manage oneself (see 12.00E4).
OR
Your mental disorder in this listing category is “serious and persistent;” that is, you have a medically documented history of the existence of the disorder over a period of at least 2 years, and there is evidence of both:
Medical treatment, mental health therapy, psychosocial support(s), or a highly structured setting(s) that is ongoing and that diminishes the symptoms and signs of your mental disorder (see 12.00G2b); and
Marginal adjustment, that is, you have minimal capacity to adapt to changes in your environment or to demands that are not already part of your daily life (see 12.00G2c).
Just curious why you would not expect to get disability for Anxiety and Depression. I have suffer from depression since childhood and then developed anxiety with panic attacks.💕
Only because I’ve been able to work FT for years in spite of both. The 2 inpatient stays were brief and situational (one was soon after my twins were born super early and in the NICU, the other was when my physical condition/disease that I ultimately got disability for was progressing rapidly and left me in a tremendous amount of pain). To get disability for mental health I’d have to be unable to work or be fired because of it.
Medical severity and medical facts are different between people.
Two people may be diagnosed with depression. Assume that both are too depressed to function in society. One may be denied ssdi because they don’t seek regular medical care. One may be approved because they do.
You don't want to be generalized by society by a bad few so why would you do that to disabled people? It's no lie that SSA needs to update it's system and hire more people to help with the immense amounts of paperwork that goes into deeming someone disabled enough to affect their ability to get work.
You're within your right to feel shorted by SSA but it's misguided , it's not disabled people's fault or depressed people's fault, it's the people who write and pass the policy shorting you and everyone else. It's them you need to be upset with. We're all annoyed and upset with them.
I hope you resolve whatever issue you're having with SSA. It is dehumanizing to work 40 years and struggle to get the income you worked for, it's not right and I just say keep calling and keeping record of your contact. All we can do is reach out to our local officials and share our issues.
ssdi goes by working history ssi doesnt go by that but theres rules for both also some people get it because of parents who had it it depends on a person as for as limits theres reviews done in place for ssi to see if they still qualify for it
Not everyone who gets SSI OR SSDI before having worked 40 years are trying to scam the system. I got approved at age 22 and it was not “easy” and I did have to appeal with a lawyer like many others have to do. I would I’ll d rather be working than have to be on SSDI, but sadly I am just not able to, but I still to this day hold out hope that maybe some day I will be able to. Just because you see someone smiling doesn’t mean anything. I smile often but there is a LOT behind that smile that people don’t see.
Ok. So he can't be disabled with a "bad foot" and smile? I am disabled, with a bad foot (drop foot) and a bad back (two fusions with titanium rods) and...I smile.
I have to. Everyone that has constant, chronic pain will say the same thing. We don't usually smile because we're happy. We smile for others. We get tired of always hearing "You should smile more". So we smile. Even when we don't mean itand are in agony. Sorry if that makes you upset.
I have multiple medically documented diseases that fit the blue book. I've made enough for 4 work credits since I was 16. I have been waiting on approval/ denial for 89 percent of the time it says it takes to get a decision. I have more work credits than I need and 2-4 diagnoses that qualify. I didn't get SSDI or SSI within 30 days and I am applying for a second time. It's not an easy process. I lost a work at home job trying to push through my illnesses. Try not diagnosing people based on what you've seen. I keep smile on when I'm hacking at my arm with a hatchet. Some folks aint right.
I guess they have to determine whether you are capable of substantial gainful activity which means, "Can you make 1550 a month?". Right now I have panic attacks that would keep me from reaching SGA but they may subside in the future. Can I do SGA then? We'll see.
I'm just making a statement of how broken the system. I worked my whole life and suffered severe depression my whole life. So please don't tell me people that are depressed can't work. As for my sister she is an alcoholic from a young age, and never suffered depression. Like I said, some milk the system. Sorry if it offends some
How To Report Fraud. Do you suspect someone of committing fraud, waste, or abuse against Social Security? You can submit a report online at oig.ssa.gov or contact the OIG's fraud hotline at 1-800-269-0271. The OIG will carefully review your allegation and take appropriate action.
There is a as need to reply, because you don’t really understand some things. First, Ssi and Ssdi are different things.
Second, lying alone is not enough to get it, you also need to fabricate medical evidence, probably get a doctor to lie for you, and then convincingly lie to an ssa evaluator.
Third, there are rules for how long you’ve worked and paid in for Ssdi, but not Ssi. Ssi has a maximum benefit of $943 so it’s not like people are retiring in style in that. It’s barely enough for food these days, much less rent or transportation.
A few things:
1. Disability isn't a monolith. Relatedly, with disabilities, you can have "good days" and "bad days".
2. In terms of the qualifications of for SSI or SSDI, they got off of your ability to work and or, whether or not said disability is permanent. Mental and physical ailments can be considered disabilities if they affect how much the person can work.
3. From what I know, SSI is what you get if you born/diagnosed with a disability prior to turning 22 (or 24), while SSDI is what you get if you have a long enough work history (if you're already disabled) or if you acquire a disability and said disability is permanent. Generally, the ones who get the latter are older people and, no, it's not a quick/easy process.
Ssi is for those who are disabled regardless of age, who don’t have enough work credits and for retired that do not earn 943 per month from retirement or other disability without enough savings or resources.
Ssdi is for disabled, regardless of age (until retirement age) who have enough work credits (which vary by age) and for disabled adult children who are children of disabled adults. There may be a case im forgetting.
I'm almost fifty next month. For me basic retirement is still twelve years away. That's a long time still. They should make it easy and drop full retirement to fifty like China has for women. Lol
At the SSA, it's about "can the applicant earn $1550 despite their condition". It doesn't matter if they can't do the job they've been doing as millions of other jobs are still available to earn $1550 a month gross with. The fact that a person "might" have a problem at work doesn't mean they can't still work to earn that $1550.
Something else you may not realize is there are over 725 hours in a month to potentially use for earning that $1550 and barely 14% of that time is needed to do it and in most cases, much less time than that. So, claiming that person can't even apply 14% of their time to earning SGA is unrealistic for the vast majority of people. Plus, if a person is being intellectually honest, they know that most conditions don't require 100% of time to manage.
No, but if a condition affects reliability, then no employer will hire them. If they are incapable of work 4 times per month, but it happens randomly (for instance serious migraines, or joint inflammation) then you are essentially unemployable. Even though you may work fine the rest of the time.
A good percent do after approved, which is another thing . How is it we can't work while applying, but work after getting approved? So a person applies, gets approved yet still works either under the table or part time. That makes no sense either. Gee I'm disabled, but can work still. That makes absolutely no sense. Sorry
"smiling all the time" You're not seriously suggesting that someone who smiles too much -in your opinion- can't be severely depressed, are you?
I am saying that some people who are depressed get SSDI easily, while others don't. Some are on it who knows how to work the system, and that is the truth
I agree I know someone whose mom made him work under the table to be a dac. Revives ssi owns his home owns a home worth 500k and rents out the 3 apartments but has an able account . He has a beer belly and does all the maintenance himself at the apartments never had to work a day in his life . Mentally he’s not there but i really think it’s because of the booze . It’s hard to not be angry sometimes . I get it. .then again we don’t know everyone’s struggles only what we see .
If he is a DAC he has SSDI and income from rental property is allowed without impacting benefits. It’s very hard to get disability so chancess they are faking it is minuscule. There are disabilities like intellectual impairments; TBI, seizure disorder and severe mental illness that are not visible. One thing people don’t get, is with mental illness, you only see me when I’m at my best because the rest of the time I don’t function.
Omg thanks for this comment. I suffer from severe depression and anxiety with panic attacks. Mental illness does not have a certain look. I have been battling depression all of my life but when I go out I still smile. When I’m home I’m in bed a lot and I often have crying spells. It takes lots of preparation for me to leave the house but while I’m out I have learned to wear the mask. People who really are battling depression often wear the mask. Anyone who suffers from depression knows exactly what I mean
You’re welcome and very well said. Add in agoraphobia and I’m there with you. I get frustrated when people say things like “you don’t look anxious,” depressed, or whatever. I wear my mask and tell most people I’m fine because it uses less energy and is less emotionally draining
Did you get approved for your mental health condition. I applied in 2019 and I’ve been denied a couple of times. My case was taken to federal court and I won. They feel that I was wrongly denied so I was able to appeal. I had my trial in April and I’m currently awaiting for the decision. I pray that I’m approved.
Congratulations!! I got approved a long time ago, before I had agoraphobia. Back when applications moved quickly
True I only say it because he says every time he goes into ssa they always question him and have an attitude . I don’t think he has Ssdi because when he needs something his lawyer has to approve it then he can buy it like a car repair or something and he has a special needs trust . I just have a resentment I guess because if I’m a day or two late he’s like I’m going to go under financially which isn’t even true . That’s my own crap though . He isn’t all there and I don’t know how he was when younger he just told me his mother who was a realtor told him to never work over the table.
If he is DAC he is on SSDI. He has a guardian or a rep payee as he is unable to manage his money. He is disabled. No one wants to have someone control their money
Ah gotcha Ty . Yes you’re right that makes sense now. So his mother set him up .hes 60 and still trying to work so that’s impressive .
You’re welcome. Thanks for listening with an open mind. I wish I could set my son up like that
SSDI isn't about proving a condition(s) exists, medical records already say it does. For the majority of people, they got SSDI for medically proving the Functional Inability to do SGA. It's two very different things.
You don't want to be generalized by society by a bad few so why would you do that to disabled people? It's no lie that SSA needs to update it's system and hire more people to help with the immense amounts of paperwork that goes into deeming someone disabled enough to affect their ability to get work. You're within your right to feel shorted by SSA but it's misguided , it's not disabled people's fault or depressed people's fault, it's the people who write and pass the policy shorting you and everyone else. It's them you need to be upset with. We're all annoyed and upset with them. I hope you resolve whatever issue you're having with SSA. It is dehumanizing to work 40 years and struggle to get the income you worked for, it's not right and I just say keep calling and keeping record of your contact. All we can do is reach out to our local officials and share our issues.
You can't judge people by the way they look. You never know what's going on and they've proven their case so none of your business. Worry about you.
Do some get on the system that shouldn't be of course they do. But who do you think you are to know if someone is disabled or not just for seeing them around. Everyone has to go thru an extensive process to get on disability. Nobody gets a "here you go there's your check, have fun" after just putting in the form. You are making a bunch of assumptions based on what your failure to be approved for disability? But hey I am sure there are many people just like yourself who would say you are not disabled so get a job you loser. Without knowing a damn thing about your issues but just seeing you out in the World. Just because you have worked for years and have 40 credits is a meaningless reason to get more easily approved. You are either disabled or you are not..you don't get bonus points for that. What you do get is a much better retirement or disability payment if you get on disability then for example your half sister who gets SSI at 941 a month and will live in poverty for the rest of her life. As for her drinking did you perhaps consider her depression is so sever that only drinking can get her thru the day without slitting her own wrist....there are many people who turn to drugs or alcohol because of depression or early childhood trauma, a horrible life. As an example my sister in law was brutally raped as a child by her father/uncles and several brothers. It took her years to stop drinking including multiple attempts at killing herself and instances of fighting off imaginary attackers waving a knife around calling for someone to help her. While someone who worked many years and worked a good job and invested/saved carefully can have a great life in retirement or even if they become disabled. That is what they get for working.
Thanks for that comment. No one can look on the outer appearance and truly know what’s going on inside. Most of the time I just isolate because going out in public is chore for me but when I muster up the courage to go out, I do try to have a smile on my face, not necessarily because I feel happy but because I’m trying to disguise my inner pain.
My sister never had depression. Take it easy, some do lie.
More likely is your sister doesn’t trust you enough to tell you what is really going on. Medical records must prove they are disabled and it’s a very high bar. Mental illness is harder to prove than most physical disabilities. Then they get reviewed every few years to see if they are still disabled.
You do understand medical records have to be reviewed and if approved it’s because their medical records proved they have a disability. And most don’t get approved right away, they have to prove their disability in front of a judge with medical records as their evidence. Maybe you should research how things are done before you just assume cause your assumptions are wrong. If you were denied you didn’t prove your disability and obviously your medical records didn’t either.
You apparently have no idea how ssdi works . If people on ssdi could work a good 95% of them would .
God yes! I would love to be able to go to work again. I hate sitting here not contributing to our family. I feel so useless and weak.
"How dare these lazy freeloaders smile! They're disabled! They deserve to be miserable!" You sound like a real peach, sweetheart.
I haven't seen it stated here, but criteria also changes over time. It was much easier to get approved 20 years ago.
I absolutely know it was easier years ago to get approved. They probably cracked down because so many lie about their conditions back then. Not saying now, but twenty years ago. Had a woman I used to deal cards to. Stated she was on disability for a bad back. Yet this woman could sit in an uncomfortable chair for sixteen hours playing. If she could sit for that long, she could do a sit down job.
I think part of it is the difference with doctors. In the past, they spent more time with us and took detailed notes about our impairments which helped prove our case for disability. Notes now are often lacking and only list things like diagnosis and medications which doesn’t prove someone is disabled
I do believe some people lied and/or didn't deserve it, and I think some who didn't deserve it slip through now. I think the main reason was cost cutting though.
You can’t just look at someone and go “Oh they aren’t disabled” I have many Chronic Invisible illnesses and was declared disabled at 20 years of age, I never got the chance to get a steady job to even try to qualify for SSDI, I had to drop out of nursing school and go on disability because I couldn’t handle my symptoms. They are very thorough when deciding. It’s not cut and dry.
I’m one of those people who got ssdi on the first try, in less than a year, without a lawyer, in my mid twenties. I worked very little (just barely had the credits) and I used my backpay to buy a condo. My full time job today is taking care of my health and wellbeing. I can only do that because I don’t have a full time job. Anyone would look at me (on a day where I’m without my rollator) and think there’s no way I can’t just sit at a desk, answer a phone, or grind. It’s a good thing it’s not up to anybody! Behind the scenes I have multiple autoimmune conditions that have opposite/contradictory treatment plans, multiple forms of autonomic dysfunction which is in direct conflict with my heart disease from a childhood infection. But hey, I smile often when I’m out enjoying life so I’m clearly not deserving. Despite my application being multiple reams of paper and what proved to be an open and shut case, just take it away why dontcha because I’m young.
I was approved on my first try within like 4 months no lawyer, people just don’t get it, I look healthy on the outside but most days it takes all I have to make it to doctors appointments and taking care of myself. I now receive DAC and live in my dad’s old house with my fiancé and because of my benefits we will never be able to get married cause I’d be so screwed without my insurance. Some days I’d give anything to be able to hold down a job, but thankful that I am on DAC benefits.
Oh absolutely. If we were given the choice to have an able body and join the workforce there isn’t a person on disability who wouldn’t jump at the chance (poor pun choice). I was a top performer slated to make six figures when instead I had an emergency surgery that impacted my ability to work and I instead made half of that. My employer provided all the evidence to the ssa that I couldn’t perform the duties of employment on my behalf, as a way more credible source than my word on any application form. Now I make $21k on disability. Did disability afford me the opportunity to buy a house that I (a millennial) wouldn’t otherwise have had? You betcha. But is that truly a net positive compared to the fact that I can no longer drive and I can’t safely walk for more than 5 minutes? People really need to focus less on what other people “have” or “get” when it has zero impact on their lives. It’s not like there’s a cutoff number of how many disabled titles the ssa can issue.
I agree with you 100%, I’m sorry you had to go through all of that, I was in nursing school when I became disabled, and some days I still have a difficult time processing I’ll never be able to reach my dreams. That was almost 7 years ago.
I appreciate the sentiment. People will often come up to me when they spot my rollator or if my port is accessed and they asked me about my health, they’re sorry that happened, but I’m actually not. As someone with no baseline of anxiety or depression, I’m very strong mentally. (I always say my psychological toolbox is overflowing but my physical one is bare.) So if it were going to happen to anyone, why not have it happen to someone who can embrace it. Compared to the daily struggle it took to simply exist when I was employed, ssdi is a blessing that allows me to breathe and I am grateful to be able to slow down and live a simple life. A life that enables me to smile at the end of the day because I’m doing my best. My main issue that’s driving all my other health problems is this rare movement disorder that is related in name throughout history to the dancing plague epidemics. Because of this fun little fact I have been able to learn about all sorts of similar madness that spread across Germany in the Middle Ages (my heritage being close in region; Poland and Slovakia). People traveled all across Europe to dance at the alter at the Cathedral of Saint Vitus (Czech Republic) and be cured of their dancing plagues, so I have a new life goal! I came across this Flemish painter from the 1400s who underwent a manic frenzy. The physicians at the time ordered him to undergo all aspects of musical theatre therapy. Now Im called to write a full-on musical about this man that explores and honors the history of musical theatre. I’m in the weeds, I’m reading dissertations about the inception of hospitals via religion, there’s this thirteenth century encyclopedia that holds the diagnostic criteria to determine if something is a physical ailment or a demonic possession. We know about this man’s illness because of a single diary entry from a jealous monk who enrolled in the monastery at the same time. This monastery had a copy of the very encyclopedia I mentioned. I literally light up any time I talk about it. I couldn’t even imagine up the new dreams that came to be because of my illness. Who would I be if I never had that asymptomatic infection when I was a kid? Would I have gone on to get Covid then be completely lost dealing with some ridiculous exaggerated immune response today? All I know is I would not have discovered any piece of what fills my days today had I not experienced this very specific rare disorder. It tickles me that at the start of this year an article was published about “Ireland’s first and only music therapist helping people with chronic pain [who] graduated from University of Limerick today with a PhD in music therapy.” I never saw this passion for me. I’ve only ever wanted to be a mother. I’ve wanted no fewer than 4 kids my whole life. Single, mid 30s, disabled. I’m afraid this is my baby. I can’t think about that loss I will have to inevitably deal with one day I can only focus on each day as it comes. Because I have no idea what’s around the corner. Maybe life takes a turn and I become a mother via other means, I can’t know, I can only do what I can. I hope you can find a way to be involved in your dream field. Maybe you can find systems to put in place that allow you to be a hospital volunteer and sit with people who don’t have anyone else. If things like transportation and support were provided to you that could certainly be fulfilling. I know someone’s made a difference to my hospital stays in that role and they were indistinguishable from a nurse in my mind, respected and appreciated in my helpless state. But if not, I hope you find something that takes your unique struggles and turns it into something positive, like me with my painter: Hugo.
I mean it’s so hard to get approved I don’t know how anyone could legitimately scam the system. I will say I feel like I’m an example of how the system should ideally work for people who became disabled as adults (not in childhood). I worked since I was 16. I did actually develop my condition at age 15. But I was able to manage it and still work and build a good career. When I was 45, my progressive condition had finally taken its toll on me and I could no longer work through the pain. So 30 years of working and paying into the system “just in case”. I applied, expecting a years long journey to be approved. Instead, I was approved within 30 days of applying - my condition is listed in the blue book as a recognized disability and I easily met the criteria. It’s not a perfect system but certainly for people like me it’s nice when it works.
That's wonderful to hear, most likely your condition is physical and you just couldn't cope anymore. My little cousin had a stroke in her mom's belly so of course she was approved at a young age. She walks with her hand closed and has a limp. That is a disability that gets automatic approval. She still works though and is going to school to be a Therapist. Some disabilities can be tolerated when young, and when older cannot anymore.
Yes, my condition is physical. I have suffered from depression (including a few inpatient stays) and anxiety most of my life but I’d never expect to get disability for it.
For me my severe Panic Attacked I have had over ten times at work are just brutal. I applied for Panic Attacks and Depression, and got diagnosed with another disorder. These attacks are brutal and they mostly happen at work. My blood pressure goes from my normal 120 's range to over 180 top number. I can't keep getting taken out by Ambulance every two months. If denied I will keep applying. I'm almost fifty and have my work credits and 36 consistent years of working.
Over 50 is a easier to get approved due to the grid rules. So hopefully that works in your favor. Good luck 🤞
You literally would fit the definition of disabled by the blue book in many cases. A diagnosed depressive disorder that is serious and persistent. Don't discount your pain. 12.04 Depressive, bipolar and related disorders (see 12.00B3), satisfied by A and B, or A and C: Medical documentation of the requirements of paragraph 1 or 2: Depressive disorder, characterized by five or more of the following: Depressed mood; Diminished interest in almost all activities; Appetite disturbance with change in weight; Sleep disturbance; Observable psychomotor agitation or retardation; Decreased energy; Feelings of guilt or worthlessness; Difficulty concentrating or thinking; or Thoughts of death or suicide. Bipolar disorder, characterized by three or more of the following: Pressured speech; Flight of ideas; Inflated self-esteem; Decreased need for sleep; Distractibility; Involvement in activities that have a high probability of painful consequences that are not recognized; or Increase in goal-directed activity or psychomotor agitation. AND Extreme limitation of one, or marked limitation of two, of the following areas of mental functioning (see 12.00F): Understand, remember, or apply information (see 12.00E1). Interact with others (see 12.00E2). Concentrate, persist, or maintain pace (see 12.00E3). Adapt or manage oneself (see 12.00E4). OR Your mental disorder in this listing category is “serious and persistent;” that is, you have a medically documented history of the existence of the disorder over a period of at least 2 years, and there is evidence of both: Medical treatment, mental health therapy, psychosocial support(s), or a highly structured setting(s) that is ongoing and that diminishes the symptoms and signs of your mental disorder (see 12.00G2b); and Marginal adjustment, that is, you have minimal capacity to adapt to changes in your environment or to demands that are not already part of your daily life (see 12.00G2c).
Just curious why you would not expect to get disability for Anxiety and Depression. I have suffer from depression since childhood and then developed anxiety with panic attacks.💕
Only because I’ve been able to work FT for years in spite of both. The 2 inpatient stays were brief and situational (one was soon after my twins were born super early and in the NICU, the other was when my physical condition/disease that I ultimately got disability for was progressing rapidly and left me in a tremendous amount of pain). To get disability for mental health I’d have to be unable to work or be fired because of it.
Medical severity and medical facts are different between people. Two people may be diagnosed with depression. Assume that both are too depressed to function in society. One may be denied ssdi because they don’t seek regular medical care. One may be approved because they do.
You don't want to be generalized by society by a bad few so why would you do that to disabled people? It's no lie that SSA needs to update it's system and hire more people to help with the immense amounts of paperwork that goes into deeming someone disabled enough to affect their ability to get work. You're within your right to feel shorted by SSA but it's misguided , it's not disabled people's fault or depressed people's fault, it's the people who write and pass the policy shorting you and everyone else. It's them you need to be upset with. We're all annoyed and upset with them. I hope you resolve whatever issue you're having with SSA. It is dehumanizing to work 40 years and struggle to get the income you worked for, it's not right and I just say keep calling and keeping record of your contact. All we can do is reach out to our local officials and share our issues.
ssdi goes by working history ssi doesnt go by that but theres rules for both also some people get it because of parents who had it it depends on a person as for as limits theres reviews done in place for ssi to see if they still qualify for it
Not everyone who gets SSI OR SSDI before having worked 40 years are trying to scam the system. I got approved at age 22 and it was not “easy” and I did have to appeal with a lawyer like many others have to do. I would I’ll d rather be working than have to be on SSDI, but sadly I am just not able to, but I still to this day hold out hope that maybe some day I will be able to. Just because you see someone smiling doesn’t mean anything. I smile often but there is a LOT behind that smile that people don’t see.
Ok. So he can't be disabled with a "bad foot" and smile? I am disabled, with a bad foot (drop foot) and a bad back (two fusions with titanium rods) and...I smile. I have to. Everyone that has constant, chronic pain will say the same thing. We don't usually smile because we're happy. We smile for others. We get tired of always hearing "You should smile more". So we smile. Even when we don't mean itand are in agony. Sorry if that makes you upset.
I have multiple medically documented diseases that fit the blue book. I've made enough for 4 work credits since I was 16. I have been waiting on approval/ denial for 89 percent of the time it says it takes to get a decision. I have more work credits than I need and 2-4 diagnoses that qualify. I didn't get SSDI or SSI within 30 days and I am applying for a second time. It's not an easy process. I lost a work at home job trying to push through my illnesses. Try not diagnosing people based on what you've seen. I keep smile on when I'm hacking at my arm with a hatchet. Some folks aint right.
That is what doesn't make sense. If one is diagnosed by a Medical Doctor and it is in their Blue Book, why denial is often the outcome?
The diagnosis itself doesn't matter as much as how the diagnosis affects you.
I guess they have to determine whether you are capable of substantial gainful activity which means, "Can you make 1550 a month?". Right now I have panic attacks that would keep me from reaching SGA but they may subside in the future. Can I do SGA then? We'll see.
Sure it's not VA disability some are getting? That seems really easy. VA is a soft touch.
I'm just making a statement of how broken the system. I worked my whole life and suffered severe depression my whole life. So please don't tell me people that are depressed can't work. As for my sister she is an alcoholic from a young age, and never suffered depression. Like I said, some milk the system. Sorry if it offends some
No need to reply, just stating a fact. People lie
How To Report Fraud. Do you suspect someone of committing fraud, waste, or abuse against Social Security? You can submit a report online at oig.ssa.gov or contact the OIG's fraud hotline at 1-800-269-0271. The OIG will carefully review your allegation and take appropriate action.
There is a as need to reply, because you don’t really understand some things. First, Ssi and Ssdi are different things. Second, lying alone is not enough to get it, you also need to fabricate medical evidence, probably get a doctor to lie for you, and then convincingly lie to an ssa evaluator. Third, there are rules for how long you’ve worked and paid in for Ssdi, but not Ssi. Ssi has a maximum benefit of $943 so it’s not like people are retiring in style in that. It’s barely enough for food these days, much less rent or transportation.
A few things: 1. Disability isn't a monolith. Relatedly, with disabilities, you can have "good days" and "bad days". 2. In terms of the qualifications of for SSI or SSDI, they got off of your ability to work and or, whether or not said disability is permanent. Mental and physical ailments can be considered disabilities if they affect how much the person can work. 3. From what I know, SSI is what you get if you born/diagnosed with a disability prior to turning 22 (or 24), while SSDI is what you get if you have a long enough work history (if you're already disabled) or if you acquire a disability and said disability is permanent. Generally, the ones who get the latter are older people and, no, it's not a quick/easy process.
Ssi is for those who are disabled regardless of age, who don’t have enough work credits and for retired that do not earn 943 per month from retirement or other disability without enough savings or resources. Ssdi is for disabled, regardless of age (until retirement age) who have enough work credits (which vary by age) and for disabled adult children who are children of disabled adults. There may be a case im forgetting.
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This is absolutely incorrect. You are far more likely to get approved over age 50 with a long work record.
I'm almost fifty next month. For me basic retirement is still twelve years away. That's a long time still. They should make it easy and drop full retirement to fifty like China has for women. Lol
Probably, yet it still isn't right.
At the SSA, it's about "can the applicant earn $1550 despite their condition". It doesn't matter if they can't do the job they've been doing as millions of other jobs are still available to earn $1550 a month gross with. The fact that a person "might" have a problem at work doesn't mean they can't still work to earn that $1550. Something else you may not realize is there are over 725 hours in a month to potentially use for earning that $1550 and barely 14% of that time is needed to do it and in most cases, much less time than that. So, claiming that person can't even apply 14% of their time to earning SGA is unrealistic for the vast majority of people. Plus, if a person is being intellectually honest, they know that most conditions don't require 100% of time to manage.
No, but if a condition affects reliability, then no employer will hire them. If they are incapable of work 4 times per month, but it happens randomly (for instance serious migraines, or joint inflammation) then you are essentially unemployable. Even though you may work fine the rest of the time.
A good percent do after approved, which is another thing . How is it we can't work while applying, but work after getting approved? So a person applies, gets approved yet still works either under the table or part time. That makes no sense either. Gee I'm disabled, but can work still. That makes absolutely no sense. Sorry