[Jellosea]

I was diagnosed with bp at 13. I was recently denied for social security disability. I haven' received the letter yet but was told over the phone I've been denied. I immediately contacted an attorney to make an appointment for a consultation. At the consultation, the attorney basically told me I was too intelligent, too well spoken, and too attractive to convince a judge that I'm unable to work. My symptoms are occasionally subsided enough to upkeep myself. Most of the time, I don't shower for days. I do, however, for appointments with say, an attorney or court, style my hair, wear a little makeup, brush my teeth, and show up on time. I feel like that is discrimination. Apparently, bipolar applicants are only approved if we look like bums. Any others out there have a similar experience?

I would contact another attorney, your appearance on a certain day should have no bearing on the evidence that should be in your paperwork, ie. Work patterns, hospitalizations, dr's evidence. Also, just because we are mentally ill doesnt mean we are stupid! Good luck!

[thickntired]

I was told in the past to not show up for a psych eval looking "rich." I do agree that you need another atty AND a Dr or pdoc's written statement that you're unable to work due to mental illness.

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[cool09]

That is extremely odd. "Normal" people don't get it. It goes to show you that you can't judge a book by its cover. I was in a similar situation when I went to SSDI court. At times my hygiene is okay, at other times it is a mess. I had a chance to say something in court and I could not put my thoughts together. Afterwards, my lawyer said to me that I did not verbalize that well. Well, yeah! That's part of my mood disorder! They don't get it.

My lawyer told the Judge that I was having trouble getting along (socializing) with other workers and the Judge raised his voice and said "Lots of people don't get along with their co-workers!" Ignorant people.

I would get another lawyer. I had an excellent lawyer in the Phila. area.

[pink&grey]

For me, looking presentable is part of how I hide my disorder from others. It takes a ton of work for me to pull myself together to the point that I'm viewed acceptable by society. The fact that is so damn hard is just another reason why work is such an obstacle. Your lawyer obviously doesn't get it. Maybe you can find one with more experience in mental illness.

[ResaLock]

I'm not going to apologize for laughing....I am sure its not funny...I am not laughing at you...
but that is just ridiculously funny.

please take no offense... I am sure you had to laugh in unbelief. Maybe even flattered. LOL

Well. Maybe next time if you apply again. If you have to encounter people that you have to go through to get disability. You should roll around in the dirt before you go in or to speak to them...and start picking your nose, while speaking to them...
I don't know...

but yea that is ridiculous...

It does make you wonder though if people are getting disability and diagnoses because of their looks. I have actually thought that about myself. That people treat me like they do because I am ugly.
Its very possible you are considered not disabled because of the way you look.
I would file a lawsuit. I think that would be a GREAT case. For all people...because it is outward appearance discrimination.

[jesusplay]

If you have to play a role to get what you need, then play that role.

[Mandysue]

I got approved for disability last month, and I was so bad a few months ago when I applied they didnt have me come in for interview, but i did have to go in recently, I didnt wear any make up or fix my hair..lol but thats stupid....new lawyer!

[Victoria'smom]

Please get a new lawyer. I don't feel s/he feels you should have it so s/he wont fight as hard for you. Please get a new lawyer

[cool09]

Mental Illness does not discriminate. People of all backgrounds, races and education are susceptible to chronic mental illness. Society just does not get it!

[nbritton]

Originally Posted by sbkovash

Most of the time, I don't shower for days. I do, however, for appointments with say, an attorney or court, style my hair, wear a little makeup, brush my teeth, and show up on time. I feel like that is discrimination. Apparently, bipolar applicants are only approved if we look like bums. Any others out there have a similar experience?

Do you want the assistance or not? Be your normal disheveled self, you may even want to consider going off meds. The judge needs to see the real you.

[nbritton]

Originally Posted by pink&grey

For me, looking presentable is part of how I hide my disorder from others.

Trying to "hide" your illness from your attorney and the judge is completely counter productive. Attorneys are officers of the court too, they can't in good faith present your case to a judge if they themselves believe you're capable of being gainfully employed. Do not hide your illness from, any of, your attorney(s).

[Rose76]

Originally Posted by sbkovash

I was diagnosed with bp at 13. I was recently denied for social security disability. I haven' received the letter yet but was told over the phone I've been denied. I immediately contacted an attorney to make an appointment for a consultation. At the consultation, the attorney basically told me I was too intelligent, too well spoken, and too attractive to convince a judge that I'm unable to work. My symptoms are occasionally subsided enough to upkeep myself. Most of the time, I don't shower for days. I do, however, for appointments with say, an attorney or court, style my hair, wear a little makeup, brush my teeth, and show up on time. I feel like that is discrimination. Apparently, bipolar applicants are only approved if we look like bums. Any others out there have a similar experience?

I got approved for SSDI a year and a half ago. I used one of those nationwide disability law firms. I got approved on my first try, within a matter of a few months after calling the law firm to take my case. Nobody at the law firm has ever seen me. (I did everything with them over the phone.) No judge has ever seen me. None of these people has any idea what in the heck I look like.

On a good day, I'm as attractive, intelligent and well-spoken as most anybody you'ld meet. A case manager told be I'ld never get SSDI because I had "too much education." Well, she was talking out of her butt. None of that has anything to do with anything.

SSA turned you down because you didn't make a compelling case for why you can not work. It's that simple. The lawyer turned you down because he doesn't think he can get you approved. He turned you down because he doesn't think he can make any money off you. It's that simple.

Before filing, I talked to several lawyers on the phone. None of them asked me what I looked like. They all wanted to know the following: Are you under the care of a doctor? Does the doctor think you should apply for disability? What meds are you on and for how long? How long has this disability been going on? What is your history of treatment for this disability? Were you ever hospitalized for your diagnosis?

Those are the answers that lawyers are interested in. The lawyer that you saw was screwin' with your head. (Plus, he just flat out didn't see potential in your case.) Call a few of those numbers you see advertized on TV. Someone, usually a paralegal, will call you back real quick. You'll be asked the stuff I mentioned above. Then, you'll get a second call back from the law firm, and they will tall you if they are interested. If you've been on enough medication for a long enough time, they will be interested - even if you are a genius who looks like a runway model.

Since you got diagnosed at age 13, I am going to guess that you have had significant problems. It's unfortunate that you applied without the help of a law firm, IMHO, because the law firm is great at collecting all your medical history from all the places where you got treated and getting that in to the SSA. If you filled out all those questionnaires that the SSA sent you, you probably didn't put down answers that helped your case. They like to see that you tried to work, but failed miserably. Or that your daily life is such a huge challenge, that going to work is just beyond you. If you can document a history of not getting along with people, that is extremely helpful.

It costs nothing to call one of these disability law firms. If they think you have an 85% chance of success, they will take you. They base it on the stuff I listed above . . . nothing to do with how you look or how well you sound.

I really didn't think I had a good case, myself . . . especially as I present very well and am high functioning. However, I did have a very long, well-documented history of being treated for depression, and they seemed to think that was golden . . . plus that I was on a number of psych meds. I spoke to several law firms, and they all had the same assessment of my chances. I think they tend to be excellent judges of how far you will get.

[Nightside of Eden]

Lol. This story reminds me of the day the cops and medics ended up at my house. I was at the bottom of a depressive episode and my fiance was extremely manic. I was sitting on the sofa, dressed and calm. He was running around outside in the cold without proper attire and shouting. Guess which of us was planning to take all mommy's pills and slit their wrists for good measure? And guess which of us ended up hospitalized? Yup. Not the one who was actually a threat to herself and anyone who got in her way. I even went as far as telling the authorities the truth about how I was feeling and they still didn't believe me. Clearly I just want attention, since I still know how to brush my hair. I don't know what survival instinct stopped me from cutting right in front of the police, but I was strongly considering it, since clearly nothing less would convince them I was telling the truth.

Anyway, it's totally f-d up how these things can go, but I don't get the impression that being told there's nothing wrong with you because you still know how to dress yourself is unusual.

[Mandysue]

Originally Posted by cool09

Mental Illness does not discriminate. People of all backgrounds, races and education are susceptible to chronic mental illness. Society just does not get it!

so true cool!!!! Society acts like we are just crazy people...makes me mad people are the way they are.

[hamster-bamster]

Rose76, I am so glad to hear that you won. So glad! I remember how much stress you had to endure while waiting.

OP, if you are in California, contact me via PM for an attorney recommendation.

[marmaduke]

People should not be judged on appearance, but in reality they are.

Someone going for a interview gets dressed up, because they know they will be judged, evaluated. Go scruffy & dirty you ain't gonna get that job.

A friend of mind went to a doctor because she possibly has IBS, and is underweight. She wore black leggings with a black top & black coat. She smokes occasionally.
The doctors report (after a short consultation) remarked on her appearance and made much of the fact that she was dressed 'In black' and that he 'could smell smoke', and that she was 'underweight'.
His conclusion was that she was anorexic, and deliberately not eating.
My friend was fuming after reading his report. She is so not anorexic! She wants to put on weight, she does not see herself as fat. He came to this diagnoses because of her appearance, because she wore black! She just happened to wear a black top & leggings that day, it was no big deal.
She swore from that time forward she would only wear bright jolly colours to see her doctor.

Doctors can assume (wrongly) that if you look smart, clean and stylish with nicely applied make-up that you must feel OK.
They believe (wrongly) that if you felt real bad you would be too disorganised, too exhausted to care about your appearance, they expect you to look untidy, greasy hair, dirty, with no make-up.
It would then be noted that 'This person is not coping with life and needs help'

jesusplay
If you have to play a role to get what you need, then play that role.

This is good advice.

[Cocosurviving]

I'm dealing with a slightly similar situation. I've applied for disability too. My attorney
is really concerned abt my education. I had my hearing last month and he thinks it
went really good. The judge was given a recommendation by the dept of labor
that I should not work. SSA did not complete a psych eval on me. My attorney has
requested it be completed and we are now waiting to receive the appt date. I really
hope my education does not hurt me or I'm not expected to work a job as a housekeeper (no offense).

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