Is anyone on SSI benefits? (ANxiety/BPD/Bipolar/Depression)

Hi everyone!

I was wondering if any on here is on disability for their mental disorder?

I haven't been diagnosed with BPD but all the criteria fit me, my psychiatrist thinks it's Bipolar II because she sees my good days as me being manic (which I completely disagree with). I've been diagnosed with Panic Disorder and Depression though, and all together it's so bad I can't keep a job and just the thought of working scares me. I've kept my longest job for about a month and a half. I've had many people recommend I try to apply for SSI but I'm so scared they'll think I'm faking, or I'm not "crazy" enough. I don't even know how to go about doing it to begin with.

I was wondering what other people's experiences with Social Security is? What's the interview like? Why do you have SSI? What's the likelihood of getting it if I've been to the ER for suicidal idealisation before because I was working?

After being to the ER for suicidal idealization because of working, not being able to hold a job for more than a few weeks and having issues with functioning I've been told by many people to try for disability.

I have Panic Disorder and what I believe to be BPD (but my psychiatrist thinks it's Bipolar II because she thinks my good days constitute as being manic). I'm afraid of responsibility (when it comes to working) and authority. I'm constantly afraid that nothing I do is good enough and that everyone around me will hate me for making little mistakes. Working and just the thought of it makes has made me suicidal before and I've been to the ER. I've never been hospitalized before though because I'm too afraid of giving up my life for a week to random people. I'm paranoid that something bad will happen to me if I'm "put away".

I'm not currently seeing a therapist because everyone around me has a waiting list, I do have a history of seeing them though. I also have two psychiatrist and my PCP who have documentation of all my issues. I'm too afraid to apply for disability even though I really need the help, I feel like **** having to live off my boyfriend and roommates wages. I feel so f***ing terrible about being a mooch...

I don't even know how to go about applying. What's the interview like? What do I need for documentation? What's your guy's experiences like with SSI? I'm so scared I'll get denied...

Lots of paperwork to fill out first: How To File For Supplemental Security Income

Here's the New Hampshire differences/how to do: Filing For Disability In New Hampshire - Resources, SSI Supplement, Information for SSDI & SSI Claims | Disability Secrets

I did my initial interview over the phone. I was a little nervous about that, but it went fine. They sent me information ahead of time about things they would ask me (doctor's names and contact information, names & contact info. for hospitals, medications I take, diagnoses I've been given.) They also asked some questions about jobs I'd had and what had happened with those.

They then ask your doctors for copies of your records.

The people doing all this work for Disability Determination Services in your state.

If they do deny your claim, try to keep in mind that it is totally impersonal. Someone who doesn't know you and has never talked to you looks at your medical records and compares those to their list of what impairments qualify for disability.

If they decide that yours don't, you will generally end up having to go to a judge hearing (this is an employee of the Social Security administration, not a regular court judge).

The judge is allowed to award disability even if you don't quite fit the rules for being disabled. For example, if you have 3 conditions and each one is not quite bad enough to qualify you for disability, but all three together make it impossible for you to work, the judge can declare you disabled for that reason.

The whole thing is a 3-step process, and you can be awarded disability at any step. Step 1 is the interview and doctors' records.

Step 2 usually involves sending you to see doctors (this can sometimes happen in Step 1 as well.) Step 2 is pretty much just like Step 1 - disability determination services gathers more medical information and takes another look at your claim.

Step 3 is the judge hearing.

If you get a letter saying that your application for disability has been denied at any step, appeal it. That usually means signing a form they enclose saying that you don't agree with the decision and returning it within a specified time period. If you don't appeal, the process will stop.

If you decide to do this, good luck to you. Having SSI income can help to take some of the stress off. If you become able to work or want to try to work in the future, there are rules in place that will let you do that.

I was just awarded SSI earlier this year. I was worried about doing the interview (I chose to do a phone interview rather than going in to my local Social Security office,) but the interviewer was very nice.

I don't know what to tell you about the likelihood of being approved. Based on you've said, I'd say you have a good chance, but it's impossible to say for sure.

Does your Pdoc ( psychiatrist) support you in filing for SSI ? It's almost impossible to qualify if your Doctor(s) don't agree you need it.

Good luck

I am on SSI..for autism spectrum disorder/developmental disorder NOS depending on if you look at my evaluation by the neurologist or what they have on record at the mental health center i go for, for therapy and prescriptions. Then I have Generalized Anxiety, PTSD, reoccurring major depression, features of avoident P.D...and am on SSI. It is more difficult to get SSI for mental issues than physical disabilities but possible...though its likely you'll get denied, in which case I think its best to appeal and get a disability lawyer(they just get a percent out of your inital back pay or whatever and might have to pay like 75$ for the work they do digging up all your records to win you the case. If you don't get the disability than you don't owe them anything.

But yeah that difficult part with me is I am not incapable of any task that can be applied to a job...I just have difficulties with consistency, hard for me to keep up with the expected pace of things like it can take me longer to do a lot of things but am still effective once I do accomplish the task. Its hard to stay focused and I get overwhelmed with stress very easily to the point I can't function and I start getting frustrated and can lash out, which isn't good for working with people. I have sensory issues due to the autism spectrum thing so certain frequencies of noise, or constant noise like say cash registers going of and such aggravate me and the PTSD does not help either, with that sudden loud noise, movement or the sound of little kids screaming sets off anxiety and I sort of freeze up or at least get really clumsy and its hard to focus on anything. I might end up taking excessive bathroom breaks not because I need to use the bathroom but so I can hide in the very last stall in the corner for a while to try and calm myself because I feel on the verge of going mental. So a little hard to explain that on the sheets they send you to fill out about how your condition effects your ability to work. Not to mention if I am overwhelmed by noise, or just too many people on a busy day I can also miss verbal instructions and forget simple yet important steps to certain tasks.

Anyways for more practical stuff you do need a proper diagnoses of a disorder that qualifies for SSI, it does help however if you have multiple conditions, but without a diagnoses its next to impossible. I've had a diagnoses since I was 15 of anxiety and depression as I attempted suicide and it was difficult getting a diagnoses of PTSD...and I ended up having to go the the hospital for sucidal thoughts a couple times before and after I applied it was so bad I was neglecting to eat even close to enough so I was pretty underweight and unhealthy because of that to...so they had me drink this gross nutrient shake thing to get me back to a healthier weight. So those instances sort of helped prove my case.

If you are not currently on medication for your symptoms, then I would say your chances of being considered disabled by the Social Security Administration are rather slim. Your age is a critical issue, also. The younger you are, the harder it is to get approved.

One way to get started is to start calling law firms, asking if they will represent you. I recommend calling firms that specialize in disability, and I recommend calling several. That's what I did, and I heard back from all the firms I called. You learn a lot from the questions that they ask you. They know what the SSA is going to be interested in.

Another approach is to call or visit social security and request an application. Or you may be able to do this on-line. Keepong track of the paperwork without the help of a law firm can be very challenging.

I applied for SSDI and was denied and this is normal in many cases the first time. I am at the point now where I am waiting on a hearing date to speak with a judge to be approved for SSDI. Its almost been two years I believe for me but I initially got denied because I was embarrassed to tell the phone interviewer how I was really living. If you think you are in need of SSDI go for it. Expect to be denied the first time, but go to the doctors and build a paper trail. You may need to hire an attorney but look at it this way. Attorneys will not waste their time with a case they don't they can win. The main thing is to be in a psychiatrist care and taking your meds.

Hi there - I am a 21 year old currently collecting SSI. I got it for Schizoaffective disorder Bipolar type and severe anxiety. I was approved in 5 months on my first try.

They say about 70% of people get denied their first time. This is why tons of medical records are needed. For me personally, I had medical records from psychiatrists dating back to when I was 7 years old. I faithfully continued to get help for my issues from age 7 up to my current age now.

I'm sure the fact that I also worked 7 jobs in 1 year helped me case. They ask you on the form you have to fill out what jobs you worked at and how long.

You also need to be medicated - they want to see you atleast are trying to get help for your issues rather than not taking anything and obviously getting worse.

I never did a phone interview(atleast I dont think) but they mailed me TONS of paperwork... I had to fill out forms about my daily life and the activities i do everyday.. I had to fill out forms about all the medications I take, doctors ive seen and jobs ive worked.. Its a long drawn out process.

Oh and then they sent me to be evaluated by their ssi doctor.. He asked me all sorts of questions about my mental health and even argued with me(he was really rude) and at the end he told me my meds just needed to be adjusted -_-

A lot of people end up needing a lawyer to help them...Funny thing, when I first applied I was looking into getting a lawyer to help me..The one I called declined helping me.. Good thing because a few months later i ended up winning by myself so I didnt have to owe anybody money..Lol.

anyways GOODLUCK! and absolutely apply! I will say, there was times during the 5 month process I was about to give up and quit doing the paperwork..I thought NO WAY was I going to be accepted.. I didnt think I was considered disabled enough..but something keep nudging me to go through with it and then bam..I was accepted.

Oh and i was approved and have never been hospitalized

I have SSDI and I applied online and was approved three months later. I didn't have to be interviewed or see one of their doctors. I had all my medical history in order and there is a lot of it so I think that helped. My treatment team thought I should apply. Good luck.

I didn't have a lawyer and I didn't go to court or anything and I wasn't denied. I have schizoaffective.

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