Well, you *can* work and still earn SSI, but it isn't worth it. By the time you factor in work-related expenses and the meager benefits crumbs that are tossed your way, oh, and you'll probably lose food stamp bennys, well, then it becomes crystal clear that you have two options: $710/mth. in SSI + food stamps or you can eat your worthless boot straps after tugging on them vigorously doesn't yield poverty-busting results.

Feck my fecking sociopathic government and their draconian SSI rules. No wonder people judge the disabled so harshly when our own government's approach to disability is to mete out punishment for getting sick.

Why wasn't I born a Swede?!? *shakes fist at sky for being born in a virulently capitalistic country*

As for suffering the slings and arrows of those not employed by the U.S. gov'mt, sure, I've been judged for having an invisible disability. I've gotten flack from family and former friends. I've been asked why I'm not working, I've been told I need to get a job, and I'm constantly barraged by my mother's "helpful advice", i.e. all kinds of alternative medicine goobledegook (no offense to those who are into alt. med. - I kind of am, too, but I'm highly selective about what I'll try). And then I'm peppered with accusations of "wanting to be sick" whenever I tell her I've looked into it and it's just not for me.

I guess maybe the latter is more magical thinking + control freak behavior than judgment, but it feels really judgy.

I try to preempt strangers' judgment by flashing them my approximation of a Puss-in-Boots expression whenever I tell them I'm disabled. http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-o5Pu1rMxxT...xpression.jpeg
I either look genuinely pathetic or genuinely insane, but it works