Lots of young people on disability?

sharpeimom · May 17, 2011

i hate seeing people with add (or adhd) get disability benefits. that chaps my butt royally. in fact a lot of disability claims do. i was given the chance to interview for a job with the ssa when i got out of college, but i turned it down because i thought it'd be boring. now, i think it'd be great to sit there and turn down frivolous claims for a living.

this post exemplifies what is flawed in today's world. for half my working career, i worked psych. i worked with some pretty bright neat interesting individuals, some real pita types, and everything in between. some patients drove me nuts, several i could have brought home to dinner much of the time and the other diners would have had no idea they had whichever disease they had. adhd and add really do exsist and most certainly can be major roadblocks. they aren't just problems for the person with the diagnosis, but can also create problems for the family members with whom they live, or to whom they are close.

i know. my husband was diagnosed (after many tests) with adult add. he is not on disability and won't be. he has a very responsible job and not one, but two, doctorate degrees. if he is organized and on time, or has his paperwork completed, it's only because of my lists, encourgement, and verbal prodding. he's won many awards, written several books, but can't walk from the front door back to the kitchen and tell me where he put his coat or his shoes along the way. he doesn't look different from anyone else. when he carries in bags of groceries, he's just as likely to put lettuce into the cupboard or freezer, as he is likely to put it in the drawer in the fridge. add and adhd can be very subtle. there are no scarlet letters embroidered on his forehead. sometimes, i wish there were because it might make people more patient and understanding.

i worked psych for enough years that i am not a wide-eyed naive new nurse. i realize many people manipulate and work the system any way they can and rear their kids the same way. i know that.

not everyone who applies for disability is conning. not by a long shot. there is more than one type of disability payment. every single paycheck i earned, had something withheld in the event i became disabled. i worked for the state, but in no way would it be a "welfare-type" payment were i to collect.

ok... off my soapbox for now. sometimes it's hard to keepmy mouth shut. :uhoh3:

SuzieQ_Scrapper · May 17, 2011

Ok, let me just say, I work in an ER and here are a few clues that SOME not all are drug seekers....

In triage we ask a whole host of questions that review past and current medical and social history (we take a holistic approach to nursing at our facility). Here are some typical questions and answers. When you get these answers paired with these questions....you go hummmmm.

What have you already tried for your pain (where ever it is located)? "Nothing, I just came here because I know that nothing I have will help." or "I have tried Vicodin or Percocet and it is just not helping."

What medications are you allergic to? "All NSAID's and a host of other pain relievers. The only thing that really helps me when I have pain is that medication that starts with a D an has la in it." Do you mean Dilaudid? "Oh yes, that is it. It is the only thing that helps this kind of pain"

What medications do you take at home on a regular basis? "None" Are the Percocet or Vicodin that you mentioned earlier prescribed for you? "No, those are my friends/family member's"

What illnesses do you have or have had in the past? "None"

Social History: What kind of work do you do? "I'm disabled" What was the diagnosis for your disability (thinking--since you just said you had no present or past medical issues)? "Well, I have high blood pressure" (I am NOT kidding that is what one young person told me!!!! The doctor questioned him on that saying, what about your blood pressure being high keeps you from working? He never did answer.) or "I had to see lots of doctors so they said I needed to be on disability."

After seeing the doctor the admission clerk collects insurance info and copy of card.

Now after they are treated for their toothache the doctor sends them on their way with a script for an antibiotic and pain medication. The scripts are tied to each other. Can't get the pain medication without getting the antibiotic filled.

Few minutes after d/c the pharmacy calls and says, xyz pt that was just in your ER has these scripts and wants to only get the pain medication filled since they left their insurance/medicaid card at home. Is that OK? Ummm, NO!

If that set of circumstances only happed once a month, I might not be so cynical, but multiple times a night and you just go....."Same song, second verse a little bit louder and a little bit worse."

AngelicDarkness · May 17, 2011

My sister is 19 years old. She just got her FIRST job, and yes, I've been working since 14. The economy is so terrible that just because McDonalds is hiring does NOT mean that they will hire any person who walks through that door. Who are we to ask if they applied? I'm sorry but aren't nurses to look at people as a whole? Maybe we should start keeping job applications in ER since people are concerned? lol;)

I did my praxis rotation last summer. It involved 500 hours free work. I applied for part time work at every McDonalds, Tim Hortons, grocery store, mall, etc in the city I moved to. Am I a horrible person because for 3 months I couldn't get a job? Considering I've worked 2 jobs since 14, I'm hoping not.

caregiver1977 · May 17, 2011

BTW I know for a FACT that many McDonalds like to hire people on disability because they get some sort of tax credit. I heard this from a woman who owns 5 franchises.

AngelicDarkness · May 17, 2011

Also random thought to throw in here, but ...

According to the 2005 Hunger Count, a national survey of food bank usage in Canada, Alberta is number one among provinces for the percentage of employed people who use food banks.

http://www.chumirethicsfoundation.ca/files/pdf/MeanStreetsGLaird.pdf

ImThatGuy, BSN, RN · May 17, 2011

You can't unless you are a physician. That is the thing the workers have nothing to do with it, the doctors do. That is where the problem is.

Part of the problem. Not even half of it though.

ImThatGuy, BSN, RN · May 17, 2011

this post exemplifies what is flawed in today's world. for half my working career, i worked psych. i worked with some pretty bright neat interesting individuals, some real pita types, and everything in between. some patients drove me nuts, several i could have brought home to dinner much of the time and the other diners would have had no idea they had whichever disease they had. adhd and add really do exsist and most certainly can be major roadblocks. they aren't just problems for the person with the diagnosis, but can also create problems for the family members with whom they live, or to whom they are close.
i know. my husband was diagnosed (after many tests) with adult add. he is not on disability and won't be. he has a very responsible job and not one, but two, doctorate degrees. if he is organized and on time, or has his paperwork completed, it's only because of my lists, encourgement, and verbal prodding. he's won many awards, written several books, but can't walk from the front door back to the kitchen and tell me where he put his coat or his shoes along the way. he doesn't look different from anyone else. when he carries in bags of groceries, he's just as likely to put lettuce into the cupboard or freezer, as he is likely to put it in the drawer in the fridge. add and adhd can be very subtle. there are no scarlet letters embroidered on his forehead. sometimes, i wish there were because it might make people more patient and understanding.
i worked psych for enough years that i am not a wide-eyed naive new nurse. i realize many people manipulate and work the system any way they can and rear their kids the same way. i know that.
not everyone who applies for disability is conning. not by a long shot. there is more than one type of disability payment. every single paycheck i earned, had something withheld in the event i became disabled. i worked for the state, but in no way would it be a "welfare-type" payment were i to collect.
ok... off my soapbox for now. sometimes it's hard to keepmy mouth shut.

so is this in favor of my post or not? i didn't see the point. i think anyone can work. mental problem or not; put a broom in their hand. they can sweep. you can do something besides sit home and earn a check. it isn't just add, etc., but that gigs me the most. it's the scumbags who walk into a doctor's office and say "i hear voices" so they can reap some type of government benefit. i love it when my doctor replies, "are they saying get a job?" you can read people.

digoe74 · May 17, 2011

this post exemplifies what is flawed in today's world. for half my working career, i worked psych. i worked with some pretty bright neat interesting individuals, some real pita types, and everything in between. some patients drove me nuts, several i could have brought home to dinner much of the time and the other diners would have had no idea they had whichever disease they had. adhd and add really do exsist and most certainly can be major roadblocks. they aren't just problems for the person with the diagnosis, but can also create problems for the family members with whom they live, or to whom they are close.
i know. my husband was diagnosed (after many tests) with adult add. he is not on disability and won't be. he has a very responsible job and not one, but two, doctorate degrees. if he is organized and on time, or has his paperwork completed, it's only because of my lists, encourgement, and verbal prodding. he's won many awards, written several books, but can't walk from the front door back to the kitchen and tell me where he put his coat or his shoes along the way. he doesn't look different from anyone else. when he carries in bags of groceries, he's just as likely to put lettuce into the cupboard or freezer, as he is likely to put it in the drawer in the fridge. add and adhd can be very subtle. there are no scarlet letters embroidered on his forehead. sometimes, i wish there were because it might make people more patient and understanding.
i worked psych for enough years that i am not a wide-eyed naive new nurse. i realize many people manipulate and work the system any way they can and rear their kids the same way. i know that.
not everyone who applies for disability is conning. not by a long shot. there is more than one type of disability payment. every single paycheck i earned, had something withheld in the event i became disabled. i worked for the state, but in no way would it be a "welfare-type" payment were i to collect.
ok... off my soapbox for now. sometimes it's hard to keepmy mouth shut.

i could not agree more with you! very well said... :yeah:

sharpeimom · May 17, 2011

so is this in favor of my post or not? i didn't see the point. i think anyone can work. mental problem or not; put a broom in their hand. they can sweep. you can do something besides sit home and earn a check. it isn't just add, etc., but that gigs me the most. it's the scumbags who walk into a doctor's office and say "i hear voices" so they can reap some type of government benefit. i love it when my doctor replies, "are they saying get a job?" you can read people.

you say that anyone can work. try again. in 2003, i had a massive stroke, caused by a congenital aneurysm. my right side was left paralyzed, i can only walk a few feet without my hemi-walker or cane,

i use a scooter or wheelchair, have very impaired speech despite much speech therapy. i have had hundreds and hundreds of hours of pt, and this is as good as it gets. i tore my right ratator cuff and have had much therapy, but the tear is nearly 4" long and i'm not a candidate for surgical repair. :crying2:

i was lefthanded before. post stroke, i have edited the morificecripts for two books and several academic articles for my husband. there is an absolute exaustion that follows a stroke that is unexplainable. it isn't anything a nap cures.

i'm curious... since you have stated that anyone is employable, just what would you suggest someone in my situation do? (i'm not asking seriously) i went to school long enough to have earned two undergrad and two masters degrees and yet, here i sit in my electric recliner. lazy? entitled? unmotivated?

nope... i don't feel sorry for myself either. i just become frustrated by idealistic wide-eyed kids sometimes. before you hit "report," i'm not attacking you specifically.

to think people used to describe me as a dynamo...

ImThatGuy, BSN, RN · May 17, 2011

you say that anyone can work. try again. in 2003, i had a massive stroke, caused by a congenital aneurysm. my right side was left paralyzed, i can only walk a few feet without my hemi-walker or cane,
i use a scooter or wheelchair, have very impaired speech despite much speech therapy. i have had hundreds and hundreds of hours of pt, and this is as good as it gets. i tore my right ratator cuff and have had much therapy, but the tear is nearly 4" long and i'm not a candidate for surgical repair.
i was lefthanded before. post stroke, i have edited the morificecripts for two books and several academic articles for my husband. there is an absolute exaustion that follows a stroke that is unexplainable. it isn't anything a nap cures.
i'm curious... since you have stated that anyone is employable, just what would you suggest someone in my situation do? (i'm not asking seriously) i went to school long enough to have earned two undergrad and two masters degrees and yet, here i sit in my electric recliner. lazy? entitled? unmotivated?
nope... i don't feel sorry for myself either. i just become frustrated by idealistic wide-eyed kids sometimes. before you hit "report," i'm not attacking you specifically.
to think people used to describe me as a dynamo...

well, you managed to type make two long posts. how about something working with a computer?

i'm not saying there aren't times when disability isn't acceptable. welfare programs are there for those who really need it - not to help pay for the escalade and 52" tv which is where i've seen the most abuse as an officer. it's often the white elephant in the room because society has become so concerned with self-esteem and political correctness that people are often too intimidated to ask pointed questions and deny people what they want. i'm often surprised we still have prisons quite frankly.

Trauma Columnist · May 17, 2011

Okay everyone - let's not make this personal.

Its only going to end up with hurt feelings.

I'm going to close this overnight to give everyone a chance to wind down.