Disabled seems to have some new meaning!

[suanna]

I am amazed at how many young, seemingly healthy 20somethings come in with medicare for insurance, since they have SSDI-completely disabled. From what I've seen with my friends and family, getting approved for disability is about as likely as winning the lottery on the way to pick up your Nobel Prize. Any tips? My bones are killing me. I can barely walk to my car after a 12hr shift. My personal med list is longer than any patient I've taken care of in the last year. What is the magic that gets these people approved? I'm not criticizing them, I'm envious. At the rate I'm going, my only hope it to end up in a permanently vegetative state long enough to draw my pension. Even then, I bet the government will declare my decomposing as proof that I am capability of gainful employment-as a flower pot.

[Cobweb]

It's a weird system. I had a hard time getting a powerchair. I explained that I needed it to work. "Oh no," they said, "You are only supposed to use it at home." I don't need it at home (mostly), but I work in a hospital, and you know everything is a hundred miles away. I told them, "But if I only use it at home, I'll have to quit work. I need it for work." "Well," they said, "...just don't tell that to anybody. Say you need it at home."

[imintrouble, BSN, RN]

The SSDI trust fund is set to go broke in 2016.

You beat me to it.

The truly tragic part of this prediction, is those people who simply cannot work. I'm thinking more of the DD population and their families. The young people who live with their parents. Can you imagine the financial hardship on these families when SSI runs out?

A whole new segment of society will slide into poverty trying to provide for children who'll never grow up.

[FLAlleycat]

You beat me to it.

The truly tragic part of this prediction, is those people who simply cannot work. I'm thinking more of the DD population and their families. The young people who live with their parents. Can you imagine the financial hardship on these families when SSI runs out?

A whole new segment of society will slide into poverty trying to provide for children who'll never grow up.

That would be me:( I managed my son's care without any governmental assistance until recently. It's so sad to finally admit that the child for whom I had so many hopes and dreams will not ever be capable of fulfilling any of them. In thinking of his future without me around (extremely small extended family), I did apply for disability for him a couple of years ago. He was approved but for SSI which paid about $400. I petitioned to have him reclassified as an adult child with disability, which he is but I was capable of caring for him without assistance before he was 18 and didn't need to apply. That was denied, but I went before a judge (without a lawyer), presented our case and won. He now receives almost $1000. With some creative management, he will be able to live somewhat independently on that. If it is taken from him, he will be homeless. I have seriously been looking at my pension and retirement funds as well as considering moving to Central America or Ecuador (I've visited several places) where the buck will go further.

I absolutely love Judge Judy, especially when she grills someone claiming disability due to a back injury yet he was capable of doing a total kitchen and bath renovation, etc. I also work a lot in public health. There definitely are those who abuse the system, as with anything. I just don't understand why someone would want to be on disability, living check to check if they could actually work and earn more.

[imintrouble, BSN, RN]

That would be me:( I managed my son's care without any governmental assistance until recently. It's so sad to finally admit that the child for whom I had so many hopes and dreams will not ever be capable of fulfilling any of them. In thinking of his future without me around (extremely small extended family), I did apply for disability for him a couple of years ago. He was approved but for SSI which paid about $400. I petitioned to have him reclassified as an adult child with disability, which he is but I was capable of caring for him without assistance before he was 18 and didn't need to apply. That was denied, but I went before a judge (without a lawyer), presented our case and won. He now receives almost $1000. With some creative management, he will be able to live somewhat independently on that. If it is taken from him, he will be homeless. I have seriously been looking at my pension and retirement funds as well as considering moving to Central America or Ecuador (I've visited several places) where the buck will go further.

I absolutely love Judge Judy, especially when she grills someone claiming disability due to a back injury yet he was capable of doing a total kitchen and bath renovation, etc. I also work a lot in public health. There definitely are those who abuse the system, as with anything. I just don't understand why someone would want to be on disability, living check to check if they could actually work and earn more.

Your son is a lucky man to have you in his corner.

[vintagemother, BSN, CNA, LVN, RN]

I have 2 neighbors that are on SSDI or trying to get it. One has mental illness, Fibro and asthma. She is the one receiving it. She also is on a CPAP machine. With all her breathing problems she's still able to smoke those cigarettes..

I'm pretty sure your neighbor is my relative. /snarky/

[vintagemother, BSN, CNA, LVN, RN]

Viva....we are not, I am not, judging you. You are a person who is respected within this community.

Your speaking out about mental illness has helped me to remain strong through my dx.

Please do not take offense to much of what has been said, as it is not targeted at you. I think it's kind of like when I read about people on welfare being system abusers.... I just have to know within myself they're not talking about me because I really needed the help.

And you, Viva, have got to do whatever you have to do to take care of yourself.

(((HUGS)))

[VivaLasViejas, ASN, RN]

Thank you for that.^^

It's not that I take any of this personally; rather, I'm just disappointed to see so much judgment by educated professionals who know absolutely nothing of the people they're talking about. Yes, there are those who abuse the system, but I think it's safe to say they are NOT in the majority.

I used to be pretty judgmental myself, until I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and found out what life is like on the other side of the equation. Nowadays, I'm more careful about judging people and situations where I don't know the whole story, although I still catch myself doing it once in awhile. Karma is a royal (female dog) and she bites HARD.

[TriciaJ, RN]

Those who receive assistance legitimately should be especially disgusted by those who scam the system. They waste money that could help people who genuinely need it. They make everyone wonder who is a scammer and who isn't. If I was ever unfortunate enough to require help, I'd be doubly frosted with the freeloaders.

[vintagemother, BSN, CNA, LVN, RN]

Viva... I too agree that karma is a *****! I used to judge a lot more, until it happened to me.

[jadelpn, LPN, EMT-B]

And I think that there is a huge difference between someone who has put money into the system for many, many years--then needs to use it.

Or even parents who put into the system, then need it for their children.

My child is a high functioning autistic. We get what we can for services at present, to attempt at maximum function. Our goal is as independent of an adult life as feasible. But that has been no walk in the park.

It takes determination, advocacy, persistant follow up--all things that as part of a couple I have the time for--and make time. There are often single people, working, with kids who are constantly on the short end of the stick when it comes to services that they need to learn and function. And it should not be that difficult. But it is. And it is constant.

I sit in meetings and wonder how the heck parents in other situations do it. I am fortunate, I am older, I have been a parent my entire adult life, this is one of my many kids. And I am not easily intimidated. Other parents just get frustrated, and rightly so. They can get a "professional advocate" at thousands of dollars, otherwise, you are on your own against school systems whose goal is to get your child OFF any special services. Just sad.

Then, you have 20 somethings that haven't a clue how to live, as schools are not on parent's sides for teaching independent living skills or even unique learning. They are just sent grade to grade, year to year--until they can get the heck out of the school system. Then there's no choice but to go the SSI/SSDI and other services route. For any number, a elementary level education doesn't transpose well into adult independent living.

On the other end of the spectrum, there's adults who have worked for multiple years, put thousands of dollars into a system that they should have every right to use--as they would be living off the money that they put in--it is not as if they are getting thousands per week...

[applesxoranges, BSN, RN]

I'm just glad an old acquaintance from grade school was unable to get social security but she does need mental health help.

She convinces herself that she is too weak to do anything. Except dance and try to work at Gamestop since that's the only place she can work (she works seasonally there). Oh and raise service cats. She also begs on Facebook constantly for money. Money to train her service dog, money for vet care for service cats, money to pay for her expensive neurological tests because of seizures (which turns out she has a clean bill of health neurologically), money to pay to get her dog's nails painted and her fur painted for Comic Con, etc.

She also will complain about the ERs and she switches between them frequently instead of staying in one system. She also doctor shops and whines when she can't find one that will sign disability paperwork.

She is messed up in the head. Kids in grade school taunted her and she received sympathy from her parents and at school when she was injured or sick. She walked on crutches for 3 months for a "bruised hip." She constantly complains that the hospitals do not know what is wrong with her. That she has every diagnosis under the book such as hyperthyroid, hypothyroid, anemia, bladder infections, chronic acute bronchitis, PTSD, etc. I forget the full list.

She blocked me from her Facebook when I pointed out she should treat her service dog like a service dog instead of a pet.

[Dranger]

I work in a downtrodden and ghetto area (far away from where I live thankfully). I see so many people come in on SSI or disability that are my age (26) or younger I have begun to be desensitized and not care anymore. If that is how somebody wants to live their lives then so be it. When Father Time and Death knock on the door they can look back at their illustrious life and reflect on the years of scamming and mooching a system with great pride if they want, I don't care. I have seen so many BS diagnoses of PTSD, anxiety, depression and substance abuse problems it's almost pathetic. No worries though, these checks are used thoughtfully on Jordan's, fast food and iPhones! Even so, throughout the duration I am taking care of them they still feel the need to whine and moan about their sad lives, oh well.

I know of many healthcare workers and soldiers who have much worse PTSD issues with work related incidences yet they still carry on. The system is screwed but there is no sense in stressing over something we can't control.