Disability Claim?

[EParade]

Hi everyone, hope I can get some help on this. I've had depression for well over a decade now, and have been in treatment for it for around 7 years, most of it while in college. I've had trouble keeping jobs for the past couple years since graduating due to it as well as developing anxiety alongside it. Right now I work a part-time job, only 2 days a week, about 5 hours each day, and even that is starting to overwhelm me. Just thinking about going in to work makes me feel suicidal.

Thankfully I have my parents to support me, but they won't be able to forever, and I'd like to be able to provide for myself eventually anyway. This has led me to look into getting on disability. I've looked around online and found bits of info on it, but I have no clue where to start. Do I talk to my doctor about it? Try to find a lawyer? If anyone has advice on what to do I'd appreciate it. I live in California if that helps.

[Strongheartforever]

There have been a few posts about this lately. It’s not the way to go. Go out and find your purpose, use it to help others, thrive, heal, push yourself out of your comfort zone, learn how to interact with others and share your heart with them. Do not find a way to hide. It’s not good for you. I don’t mean to offend. Us sensitive types may feel vulnerable but we are strong as steel. Don’t sell yourself short. We need your light! We need you to share your gifts, that’s what you’re here for.

I’ve been on this forum for a year and never til recently did I see this mentioned. Disturbing. All of us could go on disability. Then what?? It’s not good for you, me or anyone else. Leave it for those who really need it to survive.

Just my thoughts! Please don’t bite my head off. We are not victims.

Please no more questions about going on disability. It will ultimately cause you to waste your precious life!

[EParade in reply to Strongheartforever]

So where do I start, trying to not feel like a piece of garbage? If I can't hold down a job and just mooch off my parents, and can't support myself through disability, what am I supposed to do? I don't have any skills, or any real experience. Jobs I apply for won't respond to me. What's the point in trying? I know you're trying to be helpful but I don't see a way out of this situation outside of my own death.

[Strongheartforever in reply to EParade]

Tell me something you love to do. Tell me what passion comes naturally to you, makes time stand still, and gets you energized. Whatever it may be.

[Jennysue75]

Hi there 😊. So you feel like you want to apply for disability? Have you talked to your doctor or therapist about it? How old are you? I'm not going to be like the other person who responded to you but a small part of me agrees with them and a part of me does not. I have Bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, and Agoraphobia which I have been battling and seeking treatment for for years, about 17yrs you be exact and I'm 43yrs old. I recently had to file for disability retirement from my government job of 19yrs and I am still trying to accept the fact that I will never work like I did again and I'm devastated. Getting a disability retirement is however a lot different then just applying for disability but I had to do that as well so I can give you some information. I consider myself lucky, at least I'm trying to think that way to get me put of this funk I'm in. Since I was a Federal employee and now disabled and cant do my job I did for 19yrs. Which I absolutely loved by the way, anyways they still want me to be able to work so if I can find something that I can do and it's in no way like my other job, so nothing in supervision, I can still work and make up to 80% of my retirement and they wont touch my monthly income. Now if you go on just disability thru the state you can work too but you cant gross more then 800 dollars a MONTH or they will take your disability. This is in the state of Michigan but I can guarantee you that all states are similiar. Do you know how little that means you could bring in weekly if you cant gross more then 800 a month. I mean you might as well not work and that is sad because they honestly do not give you enough to live on. I had to apply just in case I got approved for disability because then the state would pay a portion of my retirement so my job wouldnt have to pay as much. I did NOT get approved for disability thru the state, I was happy about it but I was also confused. I was going to the doctors for nearly 20yrs and not only did I have my psychiatrist backing me, I had my therapist and primary doctor as well. The state said they felt I could still work at least part time. Now I was told that everyone gets denied the first time, and I pretty much know this to be true. I was told that it's at that point that I would want to get an attorney. You dont need an attorney when you first apply for disability, only when you get denied and you appeal it. Also if you plan on applying you cant work and it takes a LONG time to go thru. I know you said you have your parents, so during this time you will definitely need their help financially. It honestly could take a year to a year and a half or maybe a little longer. The amount you get varies and if you havent worked alot in your life then when your time comes to get married, if you choose to do that then you will most likely lose your disability. If you have worked enough then it doesnt count against you like that. They make it tough because you will not get enough money to take care of yourself fully and you will need to always depend on someone. So if you havent finished school and you are able to hobyo school with the help of your parents then it really is the best thing to figure out what makes you happy because doing what makes you happy isn't really like going to work everyday, it's like doing something you are passionate about everyday. So that's why I agree a little with the other person who commented. I got my disability and now I'm trying to figure out what makes me click because I dont want to stop living, I dont want to sit here and be bored out of my mind. Yes we have a illness but along with that illness comes different qualities that others dont have. We just need to figure out how we can use them. I can however answer any questions that you may have for me about applying for disability. You need to talk to your doctors first and make sure they support you because you need their support first.