My Support Forums - View Single Post - Does discrimination against mental illness qualify me for SDI?

sarahsweets · Mar 13, 2019 at 09:26 AM

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Originally Posted by TheUrOther

I am basically being openly discriminated against in the profession I have trained my whole life for, to the point where all firms are spreading the word not to hire me because they have exaggerated the effects of my mental injuries. No one will hire me, not because I can't do the work, but because I'm perceived to not be able to do the work. I can work just fine, but the entire industry is refusing to even entertain the possibility of hiring me.

If you can start gathering evidence you should meet with a lawyer asap and get the ball rolling. They are not allow to do that. They are basically taking away your livelihood and freezing you out of your own industry.

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Seeing that I actually have mental injuries, does that mean I qualify for SDI? Normally I would want to work for my money,

I just wanted to say something about this point because I hear stuff like this a lot. Its not about you not wanting to work for your money. SSDI has to do with how long you have worked and how much you have paid into the fund over time. That is what they use to calculate your benefits. You do not get more than you qualify for and you had to have worked and earned enough to get disability. Its a common gripe (not saying you mean it this way) that people on disability are just lazy people who are entitled to have the government pick up the tab. All of us who work pay into it through our taxes and if you need to use it you have as much right as the next person to get it. I think the difference betweem SSDI and SSI is that disability has more to do with what you have paid in and earned where I believe SSI is more of a set guideline (along with other factors) and has less to do with if you worked or not. Both are to help people who can not work due to illness, injury and disability and are meant to help you survive. You can also qualify for medicare part d which I think helps with prescription coverage. And i think you can also get medicaid depending on your income.
I am not trying to be MS bossy pants and correct you, I just wanted you to know that you deserve it just as much as the next person.

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but if the entirety of industry refuses to give me cent, I'm not left with much choice. As it is, I'm about to lose my apartment because no one will hire me.

While you figure out the financial stuff I urge you to go to your county's social services and apply for emergency aid. I know they can help with foodstamps but I think there is a service that helps with people that may be evicted soon.