What is it like living on disability?

I do not want to go on SSID. But I've lost 3 jobs this year because of my medical condition (syncope), and have been so depressed because of that I've attempted suicide twice in 5 months and was hospitalized again in between those for idealization. My therapist and I talked about going on it before a couple years ago and she was strongly against it then (that I would take on disabled as an identity, not having the structure of work in my life contributes to my depression, etc.), but now she's telling me I'm a shoe in and to really consider it, since I can't keep a job as everywhere I go tells me I'm a liability and I can't stay once I faint.

I just need to know more about like the day in the life with someone living on disability income. I live in MI if that helps. My cousin is on disability and has to live with his parents, which is an extreme fear of mine, though I think he has to because of his seizures not because of his income. Is it possible to live on your own with the amount you get? My home life is not healthy and the goal for years has been to get out, but I've never been able to get up the savings/consistent income. I can't drive cause of the fainting, so no worries about car payments and such. What do you do with your days? The thought of just vegging in front of the tv/computer does not appeal to me.

I can't live on my ssid without the income my husband gets from so and that barely gets us by. My home is paid for but I still have to come up with the taxes. Both vehicles are paid for and there's nothing left over for having fun. In fact, I need to cancel the cable TV to save money but it is our only form of entertainment besides the internet.

Being on disability and social security sucks.

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It is different for everyone. Really depends on how much or little you can live on. The earnings are based on your earnings history. Take into account your current debt to incomecratio then you can better plan for your future. good luck

Kind of scary but better than doing odd jobs. I still do the odd jobs but all told it isn't nearly enough to be self sufficient. I miss being self sufficient. A lot.
I hope it works out well for you!

jenniy,

You can find out online how much money you would get if you received Social Security Disability. Here's the link to the page where you can get info and also start to fill out an application online if you'd rather do that than do a phone interview or go in to your Social Security for the initial phase.

Whether or not you'd be able to afford to live on your own depends on how much you'd be getting in disability payments and also if you were able to get housing that's either government subsidized or that charges a flat percentage of your income. (usually 30%).

The amount of disability income someone gets can vary from the SSI amount (minimum of $733 + whatever, if any, extra your state adds) to regular SSDI disability which is based on the salary you made at your previous jobs. I think the max monthly benefit for that is around $3600 now.

So you can see, it's hard to answer a question like "will I be able to afford to live on my own" without knowing exactly how much money you'd be getting.

If you aren't getting that much money, you can be eligible for other benefits like SNAP (food stamps).

If you want to have your own place and are on disability, it's almost always possible if you take time to learn what kind of housing is out there.

As far as schedule, yes, you have to make your own schedule if you're on disability or your routine can become very shapeless.

That doesn't mean there aren't plenty of things to do. Depending on what your health allows, there is cooking, grocery shopping, other shopping, volunteer work, psychotherapy, exercise or physical therapy, getting together with friends, church if you do that, clubs or hobbies or meet-up groups, and pets if you want them.

Also, being on disability does not mean that you can't work at all. If you're young, a disability income can give you the support you need while you try to figure out what kind of work you can do that won't aggravate your health problems.

If you poke around on the Social Security program, you can find info. about the resources they provide to help people on disability find work that they can do.

I can tell you that my doctor for years told me to go out on SSDI and I said no then I crashed and started having seizures and couldn't work. I applied for SSDI and the SSA doctor told me not to worry that I would be approved but I was denied. I had to file an appeal and get an attorney. With the attorney's help I was approved.

But my husband works and we have to watch our money. I know people that have been fighting for their SSDI for 3 or more years. The only people who are shoe in's are people that are terminally ill or blind.

My son has an SSI case but he works so he does not get any money. I have to turn in his paycheck stubs to keep his case open. If he was to loose his job them his SSI case would kick in.

Some people who are on SSDI can get help with meds and housing etc. but it's hard because you get your money at the first of the month (or at least I do) and that money has to last the rest of the month

"Most SSDI recipients receive between $700 and $1,700 per month (the average for 2015 is $1,165)". It's based on how much you made/worked before. If you could not afford to live alone before, you probably will not receive enough to live alone after.

How Much in Social Security Disability Benefits Can You Get?

That article says the max benefit is $2600. I really thought I read $3600 somewhere else. $2600 is pretty sucky if you had a high-paying job. I guess that's why there is private disability insurance.

Yearly evaluations ... IMEs ... and reproving you're still disabled...

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It's definitely not easy. In some states, you're automatically eligible for Medicaid if you're on disability. In my state, I am eligible for SLMB (Service Limited Medicare Beneficiary) Medicaid. It covers my Medicare premiums and full Medicaid will kick in when about 1/2 of my annual SSDI money goes to medical bills. Near where I live, there's an apartment building for people who are disabled and/or senior citizens. Like Jo_thorne was talking about, it's a sliding scale fee.

I found it very disorienting at first, when I first went on SSDI. It's definitely good to have some kind of schedule. Also, like your T said, make sure that you don't over-identify with the disabled label. It can be tricky when you have to explain that you no longer work. Especially when it's yourself you're explaining that to.

I'm not sure about yearly reevaluations. I've always been told that it's every 5 years. It may be different in the beginning.

There is a lot of good info that others have posted. I've been on disability for a long time and there was stuff I didn't know about.

Hope you get what you need.

The things I miss
Theaters (plays)
Concerts
Weekend trips to where ever there was a special art exhibit
Spas
Buying what I wanted at the book stores and art shops
Eating out

I use libraries now
Watch free TV
Use redbox
Go to free or reduced days at the museum here
I travel by PBS specials
When I was able to I volunteered at places to get free admissions

You just need to be creative and pay bills first of the month it's possible to have a life...it's less impulsive though.

Its different for everybody.

I live with my family. I am at the bottom of SSDI income pretty much. I'm in my mid 30's. I have a friend who is also my age and he brings in the same amount of money. Granted, I was in school during much of my 20's so that factored into why I don't make very much. But on the plus side, I don't pay a dime for my medical insurance (Medicare) as my premiums and co-pays are paid by my state. If I start working, I'd have to make sure its a significant jump in order to overcome the amount I'd have to pay out of pocket in medical expenses.....sort of why I'm moving in the direction of getting healthy enough to go back to work, but won't actually do so until I am in a better place and can work enough to overcome that difference and then some.

What can you do with your time?

Anything you want to.

I am able to take classes tuition free in my state, so I have taken advantage of this program. (Thank GOD I live in a state that had the incredible foresight to think "hey, lets educate disabled people so they can learn to help themselves and one day get off of disability perhaps!")

Yes, I do have my days when I don't do much of anything, but I also have much more productive days. Maybe part of your goal should be fully focusing on healing? That would give you something to work toward.

A lot of people on SSDI do volunteer work. I think this is where I will start because it won't affect my income (and threaten my medical benefits) but it will give me experience with getting back to a working environment (of sorts) and it will give me a chance to socialize, too. (The only thing that has deterred me so far is that SO many places want you to interview for a volunteer position and my stress levels couldn't handle that right now.)

Oh, and there are SO many freebies out there....if you don't already, I'd start frequenting money saving blogs and forums. My birthday is this week and I can't even count all of the freebies I'm getting....free burger at Red Robin, free burger at Ruby Tuesday, free sub at Jersey Mikes, free drink at Starbucks, free pastry at Panera, free meal at Perkin's, free pancakes at IHOP, makeup freebie at Sephora, $10 off at Victoria's Secret (I got 2 of these....plus, they're always sending me freebie coupons in the mail), $20 off at the Finish Line, Free movie at my local theater, and I know there will be more freebies coming in closer to my birthday. Of course this is just once a year, but even so, you can get a LOT of free stuff and make your birthday special! (Do a search for birthday freebies....most of these you have to sign up for in advance, some at least a month+ beforehand.) There are a lot of other restaurants that offer free stuff for your birthday, so it pays to do a search and find all of the ones around you. Oh, and Denny's used to give a free Grand Slam on your birthday, but I'm not sure if they do that anymore or not.

I get a whole 800 & change every month. I can tell you that after rent, food and internet their is nothing left. I barely make my copays for doctor visits and medications. Life isn't fun on SSDI, at least not for me. Thankfully I live with someone whom I split the bills with so its not so terrifying. Also this year there is no cost of living adjustment. So I won't get that extra 17.00 I was looking forward too.

WELL... you can't do just anything with your time... well then yes you can but it might ruin your approval. You can't make money... well you can but it will be deducted from what you get on disability...and if you do something you say you can't do (like many people do who scam the system... say they have a bad back and then go work lifting 100 lb bags...) then you may lose it too.

Believe in Him or not --- GOD LOVES YOU!

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I applied on-line and the next day an attorney called and started the ball rolling. They will ask you about your medical/mental problems and will want doctors names to get your records. As above poster stated the income is based on work history. I left the last job I had because the suffering was unbearable. That was the date they used as the onset of the disability. When it was approved(to my surprise) I was given an appt. to see SSDI and to provide info on assets etc. As it took 1.5 yrs to get approved I received back pay for those 18 months. I used the back pay to clean up all my debts. I live frugally but since I never had a need for material things it is easy to live on the SSDI even with a little left over. When you get your back-pay and SSDI the first thing to do is intensify your treatment so you can get to a point where you can think of your future. As you like to code, there are work at home jobs to do just that. Maybe you can start a project of your own. According to SSDI you can earn up too $999 a month without the SSDI going down and you must report earnings every year. Personally, I am rather uncomfortable living off the "state" so I rarely tell anyone(of course I am a recluse). To reiterate the most important goal is to get better! If your SSDI is decent you'll be able to cover the necessities like food/rent/utilities. I read aplenty and spend time at the VA plus I look at TV. This site is a good resource to obtain ideas as to what you can do with the "down" time. You might discover new interests or find support groups near you. So good luck and don't lose hope!

SAID - Saskatchewan Assured Income for the disabled = $1200 In comparison here someone working fulltime at minimum wage would earn $1720. Both qualify for a low income housing subsidy of about $250
Leaving me then with an income of about $1450 (money in Canada goes no where near as far as it does in the states. Example books and goods are about 175% of the cost south of the border).

My rent is $800 which eats up a lot of my income. I live in a 50 year old building that has never been renovated but it is clean and well maintained. I live in a crappy part of the city but it is safe and walking distance to my needs. I struggle to eat well but there are ways to eat healthy on a small budget (ie. a cheap bag of dried beans goes a long way). I do have a realy old car that at least runs. My fuel costs are low as I walk most places. I park it during the winter, thus save on the insurance half a year, because I can't afford the snow tires. That leaves me bussing it. My biggest bill is my tv/internet. I need the tv even for the background noise otherwise I'd go batty.

Typical day:

Very early morning walk to my grocery store (I go every other day, otherwise food goes bad)
Coffee, and I usally soak beans every day or two, start a pot of soup (again stretches food dollars)
work on art and poetry at home
lunch (rice and beans, or eggs ad vegetables, or yogurt)
I walk the 1km to the hospital 3 times a week for outpatient programs
the other two days a week a counsellor comes to my home or treats me out for coffee (they pick me up)
try to read a book, clean, or laundry
dinner (soup I put on, homemade scones, fresh fruit)
hardest part of my day and also most depressing as I have nothing to do
bedtime (very early out of boredom)

3 times per year I get a tax rebate cheque from the Federal Gov't of $130. I put that aside for things like 2 small gifts for my children at Christmas, and car insurance.

I do not own any footwear less than 5 years old. I get my boots resoled instead. Much of my clothing is older than that. I change it up every year with things like new scarves and earings I make myself.

If I am in dire need of something my father or brother help me out in emergencies.

The only gifts I buy are for my children at Christmas and I spend well under $50. Every one else must make do with a greeting card.

It was really really hard when I first went on disability but I have become quite comfortable with it.

Hi rcat, i have been reading a lot of posts on PC and i just had to reply to yours..i find it shocking that people have to pay for medical care it should be a god given right to recieve free medical care. Where i come from all medicare is free including prescriptions........i have health issues and recieve disability living allowance and income support. I have ptsd and depression.......the money given is enough to be comfortable, but all is not rosy here as people who only recieve unemployment benefit can struggle and may have to go to a food bank and they get a few bags of food to keep them going.

I hope life improves for you and many others that are finding things difficult.

i leave you with love and affection.

It may be free for you, but the taxpayers are paying for it. Nothing is free, someone is paying the tab.

I am on SSI and have only had one phone call for my financial status from SS in the past 5 years and not before then. I have not had to reprove my disability in 21 years.

Wow Lucy you are very lucky. I have been on SSDI since 2008 and in December of 2014 - February of 2015 I had to get re approved which stressed me out. I also have a privet disability insurance and they used to give me a lot of trouble wanting doctors notes every 3 months to the point that my PCP said it was to much work and after having this doctor for 21 years she dropped me. They finely made me see a doctor of their choice and I ended up having a seizure in the office. Since then they ask for doctors notes once a year