[Side of the Angels]

I have been wondering if I can get disability due to my mental afflictions. And was looking for anyone who has done it. Any help? I have PTSD and BiPolar disorder.

[krisakira]

Yes, i am on disability for major depressive disorder. You can do it on your own by visiting the social security website, and fill out applications online- it is much faster this way. also if you have questions you can call social security. some say its hard to get approved the first time you apply , but i did. you have to have proof of being in treatment for the disability and proof that you cannot work a full time job, by telling them what exactly you cannot do during the day, you will also have to get another person, relative or friend who knows you well, to fill out what they believe your symptoms are and what you do during the day... if you have been hospitalized, it helps. to get medical records, all you do is sign a release form and they get the records for you. Try all this WITHOUT an attorney, it is doable without one, unless you have applied, got denied and did an appeal. after that you should look into an attorney.

Yes, I am on disability for Bipolar Disorder and Borderline Personality Disorder. I'm not sure how it works outside of Canada, but I imagine it's similar to what I had to do. I filled out the necessary forms, and also had to get my psychiatrist to do his part too. I needed proof that I wasn't mentally capable of working a job, and my psychiatrist helped to prove it. There was also a part where I had to write from my perspective - the symptoms that affected me most and why I felt I needed to be on disability. I was accepted the first time I applied, but there are those who are initially denied. If this happens, you are allowed to appeal your case.

[toolate4help]

Originally Posted by toolesque

I have been wondering if I can get disability due to my mental afflictions. And was looking for anyone who has done it. Any help? I have PTSD and BiPolar disorder.

My 18 yr old daughter is receiving SSI & gets medicaide for the same thing you have. I applied for her & she was approved & got her benefits within 4 months.

[SunAngel]

I have been on Disability for years due to BP Disorder.

If you are thinking about this, most people get denied on their 1st try, so I would get a Disability Attorney to help you out when you 1st go for it.

[moonbeam2]

question about the disability,do you have to have put atleast 5yrs of work into it before you can collect any money for it ? i herd that but im not shure it was for disabilty or ssi ,im going to try to get disabilty & im not shure i have a solid 5 yrs before i left work can someone answer this question please ?

[krisakira]

Originally Posted by moonbeam2

question about the disability,do you have to have put atleast 5yrs of work into it before you can collect any money for it ? i herd that but im not shure it was for disabilty or ssi ,im going to try to get disabilty & im not shure i have a solid 5 yrs before i left work can someone answer this question please ?

You have to have worked a certain amount of time (to have paid enough toward social security) to get SSDI. SSI is the option for those who haven't worked enough, and you can work part time with SSI

[Rose76]

I'm glad to see these posts by Krisakira, which are by someone who knows exactly what she is talking about.

There is a lot of misinformation out there. I'm sorry to say this, but a major source can be the very people that are working as psych professionals, or with advocacy agencies. I say this based on my experience of being encouraged to apply for SSDI by therapists who seemed to greatly underestimate the difficulty of the process. Fortunately for me, I tend to be skeptical and, repeatedly, I am finding that what sounds a little too easy to be how it is turns out to be how it isn't. I was just over applying for Section 8. What I got told there conflicted with what an advocacy agent had told me. The agent had helped me prepare paperwork, which the housing authority said was not in order and sent me away to get more stuff. Peers who have been through the process are the most reliable source for getting some initial info. At least, that's what I am finding out.

Yes I am on SSDI..finally. You have to have worked 60 quarters during the last 10 years I think. But that's the easy part. If, and you will be, you are denied, reapply immediatly. (Unless you do not have enough work history.) Once you have SSDI you are allowed to earn $700 a month and keep your social security. Good luck and don't give up. It can be very confusing. Do you have an advocate or social worker to help?

[krisakira]

Originally Posted by Rose76

I'm glad to see these posts by Krisakira, which are by someone who knows exactly what she is talking about.

There is a lot of misinformation out there. I'm sorry to say this, but a major source can be the very people that are working as psych professionals, or with advocacy agencies. I say this based on my experience of being encouraged to apply for SSDI by therapists who seemed to greatly underestimate the difficulty of the process. Fortunately for me, I tend to be skeptical and, repeatedly, I am finding that what sounds a little too easy to be how it is turns out to be how it isn't. I was just over applying for Section 8. What I got told there conflicted with what an advocacy agent had told me. The agent had helped me prepare paperwork, which the housing authority said was not in order and sent me away to get more stuff. Peers who have been through the process are the most reliable source for getting some initial info. At least, that's what I am finding out.

Thank you. I don't know about SSDI because I have never gone through the application process any further than finding out I had not worked enough. I have found the application process for SSI easier than I thought it would be. I got it the first time and only after 3 months. I hear horror stories about this and don't really understand it. Sure it takes a long time to get all the paperwork filled out, then get sent more paperwork to fill out. It takes weeks. But you will never be "left in the dark" so to speak, because they send you lots of paperwork and information and if you read it all, you will not get confused.

[Flooded]

Yes, I'm on disability due to BPD etc. I also have a severe back injury.

[Yoda]

I am on SSDI disability for bipolar and PTSD. I had attorneys help applying and was accepted on my first time in 2000. I am hoping to return to work part time later this year or early next year (have to complete a refresher course before I can work).

If you apply, and get denied, do NOT reapply, appeal it , get a lawyer who doesn't get paid unless they win your case, . If you reapply, then it starts from square one. If you appeal, the lawyer appeals it for you before a judge from the date you applied originally and when approved, you get a back pay check from the originial date you applied...and then the fee of the lawyer is taken from that back pay check ...

I got my SSI disability on bipolar, ptsd, fibromyalgia, degenerative disc disease. I was denied in the beginning due to the fact they didn't get all my medical records ...my lawyer had "field day in court" , his words. and it only took 2 months to get it after I got the lawyer..

Good luck to you.

Karren

[nicoleb2]

I am on disability for depression and bpd. I was approved on my first try, so it can happen, although rarely

[wiprwill]

I am on Disability for schizo Hired a layer before I filled out the app. After I filled out the app the lawyer did everything else and was approved in 4 months

[rory587]

Yes, I am on SSI for major depressive disorder and PTSD. It took a while for me to be approved. I applied and was denied, then never appealed. A few years after the denial, I re-applied, was denied again, started the appeals process with a lawyer and was approved. It took 22 months from the date of the second application, but they pay you "back pay" for the months that you have been waiting. I don't care who knows my financial stuff, so I'll put it out here so you have a general idea of what you could expect. (although keep in mind everyones situation may be different). I received $14,000 in back pay, Welfare took a chunk ($2400), the lawyer took his fee (the good lawyers only get paid if you are approved) which was around $5000. Social Security then makes 3 payments to you....the first is around $2900, six months later another check for $2900, then six months after that the remaining money owed to you if there is any. (The back pay payment process is the same for everyone, according to my Social Security worker).

It wasn't a particularly painful process, the hardest part was going in front of the judge who decides if you qualify or not. From what I've heard, and from my own experience, one should expect to be denied the first time, but appeal. The Doctors who evaluate you work for Social Security and they don't really want to give any one money, so they will often times try and make it seem like it's not as bad as it is. BUT it can be done....you just have to be patient, and make sure you retain a lawyer specializing in Social Security.

Also, for Social Security Disability Income, you do need to have a certain number of work credits. I personally did not have enough, but I applied for both SSD and SSI at the same time which made my process faster and easier. If you qualify for SSD then your checks will be based on how much money you were making while working. I'm not entirely sure how that works, but it's somehow related to previous income. On SSI the check in my state (NY) is $697 per month, with $23 of that being paid by the state. I believe each state pays a different amount, so your check could be more or less than $697, but it will be similar to that amount.

Good luck!

[advena]

I am on SSI for bi-polar disorder. I got approved on my first try. My psychiatrist was immensely helpful and he did an excellent job supplying all the information required. He also helped my therapist fill out her paperwork. Its beneficial to have an advocate. My psychiatrist really cared.

I am in the disability network of employment services which helps unemployed disabled people. I don't see anyone in wheelchairs so I assume everyone else is crazy just like i am.

[Crew]

It took me years and years to get on disability.

I am happy it took 4 months and such for others however it wasn't ever

that easy for some of us. Just my own opinon.

[popeye]

Yes ...I got a Medical retirement and social security for Bipolar Mixed and PTSD.

I was approved for SSI on my first try, but now I no longer qualify because my husband makes too much money. If I had SSDI instead of just SSI, I could still get that, but I never put in enough work hours of my own to qualify for SSDI.

[fritter16]

I'm from Canada I got my first try. Although I was turned down by the federal program CPP Disablity Benefits cos, I was didn't contribute enough CPP benefits when I did work. I was accepted by the provincial program AISH which pays 1,188 month, plus all medical coverages/medication 100% covered. Plus you get low cost housing which you pay 460.00 month for brand new apartment. So it not a bad deal. The part that sucks is I'm sick with schizophrenia which consumes every moment of my life. The ability to work is out the door and so is all the other daily functions most people enjoy who don't suffer from mental illness - so the trade off *ucing sucks.