FAQ/Help |
Calendar |
Search |
|
Member
Member Since Dec 2012
Posts: 43
11 |
#1
I am in a turmoil of feelings right now. Angry, scared and sad. I recent got approved for SSDI for $921 which will go up to $1250 when my dependents get added. I will be eligible for Medicare July of next year. I was real fortunate and my government job gave me $2574 per month in long term disability but it ends now that I got SSDI and a back payment. I am still not well and have days where I weep and can't get out of bed. I need my SSDI safety net and Medicare. If I try and work now I am screwed. If I at least wait until July of next year I can use the Ticket to Work Program and I won't lose Medicare and benefits if I try and work and fail. My wife says what if she gets sick and that her job is stressful too. I guess she does not want to be the sole breadwinner but she has to realize I have serious mental illness and was receiving shock therapy only a year ago. I hope this does not break up our family....
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk __________________ One Day at a Time! |
Reply With Quote |
BrokenNBeautiful, happiedasiy, IowaFarmGal
|
Rose76
|
Pet Lady of Psychcentral
Member Since Sep 2005
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Posts: 4,564
18 71 hugs
given |
#2
Hey there. I undersand about how you feel about getting off SSDI and your wife's wishes. I dated a gal who wouldn't continue to date me if I went on SSDI in the first place. She claimed that she was in pain all the time and could still work (maybe she could work, but when she was off work, she couldn't move). Even if you wife does have to go on SSDI, with both of you receiving benefits, you should be doing alright. I wish there was something I could say that would make your wife understand, I would think that being on ECT a year ago should say it all.
I would stay on SSDI and do what you can. Remember that being on SSDI is not a death sentance and that's why they have the back to work program. Hang in there! |
Reply With Quote |
BrokenNBeautiful
|
Member
Member Since Dec 2012
Posts: 43
11 |
#3
Thanks
I did some research and found out only 1% of people on SSDI due to a permanent disability get off it and go back to work. I managed to do it once in my life but I am not in that place now. My wife is getting over the initial shock. Sometimes I have to give her space. I have yet to tell her my long term plan but I will when things calm down. Our kids will get some benefits and some back pay that should help with the transition. The holidays are always hard for me mentally and financial problems don't help. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk __________________ One Day at a Time! |
Reply With Quote |
Anonymous32810, IowaFarmGal
|
BrokenNBeautiful
|
Grand Magnate
Member Since Aug 2011
Location: Washington State, U.S.A.
Posts: 3,169
12 2,427 hugs
given |
#4
some people have a hard time with other people being on disability
__________________ "Sometimes you have to hit rock bottom before you can see the top." -Wildflower http://missracgel.wixsite.com/bearhugs |
Reply With Quote |
BrokenNBeautiful
|
Wise Elder
Member Since Dec 2010
Location: ???
Posts: 7,864
13 5,031 hugs
given |
#5
I worry about my son being on disability and wish he could get off. My concerns are:
1. In the current political environment, I fear the disability will suddenly be removed at some point in his life. Not likely, I guess, but I still fear it. He's only 27, so he has many years ahead of him. 2. There's a stigma associated with it. I'm less worried about others stigmatizing him than him stigmatizing himself. I don't want him to see himself as disabled to the point that he doesn't make an effort. 3. Work is therapeutic. It gives us something to do. It helps build up our self-esteem and our self-image. It lets us contribute to society. It makes up feel successful and useful. It gives structure to our days and something to do with our time. It challenges us and makes us grow. It gives us social contact. Those are my main reasons for hoping my son could get off disability. If he never gets off disability, that's ok, but I do hope he'll try. Right now he's in his third week at a new fulltime job. It's very stressful. There's a high chance he'll fail at it. I worry about the blow to his ego if he's fired, but frankly staying home all the time is hard on him too. He's bored out of his mind. Maybe in other cultures it's easier. A person like my son living on a family farm, for example, could contribute as often and as much as he was able without being overtaxed. Or if there were a family business he could work in. There needs to be some understanding that he will have periods when he can't take on as much. And there are times when he can function pretty close to normally. __________________ "Hear me, my Chiefs! I am tired; my heart is sick and sad. From where the sun now stands I will fight no more forever."--Chief Joseph |
Reply With Quote |
BrokenNBeautiful
|
Grand Magnate
Member Since Aug 2011
Location: Washington State, U.S.A.
Posts: 3,169
12 2,427 hugs
given |
#6
Quote:
And nowadays, you need a college degree to work at McDonald's, for cryin' out loud! So more than likely, if he got off of disability, he would end up with no income at all. And, while it's true that work is therapeutic, you did mention that his job is very "stressful and there's a good chance he'll fail at it." Which is worse? At least having somewhat of an income, or constantly working at jobs that are too much, only to keep losing them and having no income at all? That's not gonna help his self esteem much either. Perhaps he could do some volunteer work. At least when you're volunteering, you can get away with taking as many breaks as you need, taking time off when you get overwhelmed and doing hours that work for you. __________________ "Sometimes you have to hit rock bottom before you can see the top." -Wildflower http://missracgel.wixsite.com/bearhugs |
|
Reply With Quote |
BrokenNBeautiful
|
Wise Elder
Member Since Dec 2010
Location: ???
Posts: 7,864
13 5,031 hugs
given |
#7
Quote:
He's managed to find some - without a college degree. Quote:
I don't think it's a matter of just going off disability immediately. You go slow and make sure you can support yourself. He can earn quite a bit of money without losing any of his disability. Over $900 per month on average. It's not really an either/or thing. Quote:
It's been very hard on his self-esteem to not work also. The best way to build self-esteem IMO is to make an effort and succeed. There's always a risk of failure. But there's also a chance of success. Quote:
He won't do volunteer work. He says if he's going to work, he wants to be paid. He won't go to school either. Trust me we've covered this ground ad nauseum. No volunteer work. No school work. And sitting home alone all the time sucks too. He has very little social life and no hobbies or special interests. I wish there were some easy answers. He's considered starting some kind of home-based business. Maybe that will work out for him one day. We're just doing the best we can. I only responded to the OP to provide a possible alternative perspective. I wasn't trying to criticize anyone. __________________ "Hear me, my Chiefs! I am tired; my heart is sick and sad. From where the sun now stands I will fight no more forever."--Chief Joseph |
||||
Reply With Quote |
shortandcute
|
Grand Magnate
Member Since Aug 2011
Location: Washington State, U.S.A.
Posts: 3,169
12 2,427 hugs
given |
#8
Quote:
__________________ "Sometimes you have to hit rock bottom before you can see the top." -Wildflower http://missracgel.wixsite.com/bearhugs |
|
Reply With Quote |
IFG
Member Since May 2012
Location: Iowa
Posts: 112,457
(SuperPoster!)
12 18.9k hugs
given |
#9
My son has vocational rehab working with him. He goes to a sheltered workshop and they coordinate services through there. They work with him to overcome his challenges in applying for work in the first place and improving skills. Does your son have help like that? I lost my job and am on a senior citizen training program. I wish I had a team helping me like he does. A home based business would be great! I wish I had something like that myself.
__________________ |
Reply With Quote |
Wise Elder
Member Since Dec 2010
Location: ???
Posts: 7,864
13 5,031 hugs
given |
#10
My son has been through voc rehab twice. The first time I thought their services were great. He still wasn't able to maintain employment. The second time it wasn't so great. What frustrated me was that they seemed to be pushing him to apply for jobs which were patently unsuited for him.
Ideal situation would be maybe half-time, low stress, with a few "safe" (i.e., emotionally mature) people that he has contact with. The jobs they were suggesting were so inappropriate. One job they wanted him to apply for was 'crowd control.' There is no way on God's green earth that my son can deal with argumentative people and belligerant drunks. I don't know what they're thinking. Quote:
__________________ "Hear me, my Chiefs! I am tired; my heart is sick and sad. From where the sun now stands I will fight no more forever."--Chief Joseph |
|
Reply With Quote |
Member
Member Since Dec 2012
Posts: 43
11 |
#11
The time I went off SSDI first I did a lot of recovery work including one year of partial hospitalization. I worked a few jobs and failed right away. I decided to work as a peer counselor that was the best of both worlds. I learned about mental illness while helping others with theirs. I did that for a couple years and went back to school and got a masters in psychology. Department of Rehab did not think I could hack Grad school so they did not help until I went back to them with a 3.7 GPA report card in hand. My education and good mental health came together at the right time so I went back to work never looking back until I had a major episode a year ago.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk __________________ One Day at a Time! |
Reply With Quote |
costello, winter4me
|
costello
|
Wise Elder
Member Since Dec 2010
Location: ???
Posts: 7,864
13 5,031 hugs
given |
#12
Quote:
I remember reading something a few years ago about recommended reforms to disability. They had ten suggestions I think, but the one that stood out in my mind - the only one I remember - is that mental illness tends to be episodic. People go through periods when they're doing better and then they do worse - back and forth in a cycle. Disability doesn't seem to have a mechanism to deal with that. I think there may be a fear that if you're doing better and you try for employment - and maybe you even are successful for a while - you may lose your disability, and it might be hard to get back. So you're kind of forced into a situation where you can't work up to your potential during good times. At least that's my understanding of the situation. __________________ "Hear me, my Chiefs! I am tired; my heart is sick and sad. From where the sun now stands I will fight no more forever."--Chief Joseph |
|
Reply With Quote |
Member
Member Since Aug 2012
Location: USA
Posts: 397
11 302 hugs
given |
#13
SSDI does allow you to work a little if you are able. Check the regulations. It is around $700 per month. There are also provisions for a trial work period for somewhere around 9 months. There is also a program called Ticket to Work for job training. I think under some of these you also keep your Medicare benefits for awhile.
I am sorry I am so vague. I also endured ECT and the side effects have been dehabilitating. Even so, I hope to be able to go back to work sometime. That goal is something I am living for. I hope someday we are both healed enough to be employed. Good luck. |
Reply With Quote |
Member
Member Since Dec 2012
Posts: 43
11 |
#14
Quote:
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk __________________ One Day at a Time! |
|
Reply With Quote |
costello
|
Legendary Wise Elder
Member Since Dec 2003
Location: Coram Deo
Posts: 35,474
(SuperPoster!)
20 1,651 hugs
given |
#15
Sounds like you have thought this over rather well, even in your distressful feelings. It does sound like sticking with what you have is the right choice for now... and since you only have a short time for increases, the "what if's" of the spouse are less likely. She sounds a bit traumatized by your illness as well, and I hope you are both in therapy together at least once in a while.
Being mentally unwell in the USA (IDK about other countries) is often the choice between bad and worse care. Do your best and pray! __________________ |
Reply With Quote |
costello
|
Member
Member Since Apr 2012
Location: NH
Posts: 469
12 |
#16
Quote:
If you're unable to work right now then tell your wife. Does she think you'd be better working mentally or is about the money? |
|
Reply With Quote |
costello
|
Member
Member Since Dec 2012
Posts: 43
11 |
#17
Quote:
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk __________________ One Day at a Time! |
|
Reply With Quote |
costello
|
Legendary Wise Elder
Member Since Dec 2003
Location: Coram Deo
Posts: 35,474
(SuperPoster!)
20 1,651 hugs
given |
#18
Quote:
__________________ |
|
Reply With Quote |
costello
|
New Member
Member Since Jan 2013
Posts: 1
11 |
#19
Quote:
|
|
Reply With Quote |
shortandcute
|
Magnate
Member Since Nov 2010
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 2,439
13 25 hugs
given |
#20
Quote:
|
|
Reply With Quote |
Reply |
|