Yes, I think it's safe to say that struggling with employment issues is pretty common among bipolar sufferers. I got to the point where I couldn't even hold a menial job. My attention span and judgement was just not good enough anymore.

SSI can be a struggle. I was fortunate that mine came pretty quickly, but I would have to agree with some of the other posters that the key is to make sure that they have every scrap of paper a doctor or therapist ever wrote about you.

I wish you the best... you're definitely not alone here.