Hi everyone,

I'm having a sort of internal struggle with the possibility of applying for disability. I'm a 17 year old grade 12 student suffering from OCD, and have been told by a woman working at some government place dealing with disability that I should apply for it. My psychologist and psychiatrist thought it was an OK idea as long as I didn't use it as a crutch, and my social worker said he thought it was a bad idea.

The most obvious pro is that any money would help me TONS next year when I start university. Another pro is that there are scholarships offered to students who are on disability, so this could open some doors.

Cons? I'd feel guilty about it. There are days when I feel almost normal, and so I keep thinking to myself "You don't need to be on disability, you're fine." But the fact is, my pills have to be kept in another house so I'm not tempted to overdose. So I AM struggling, it's just about 50/50, is all...and it fluctuates.

Another con is that I might end up using it as a crutch, who knows? It's a big worry because my dad is on disability for depression, and has been for many years. I worry that I could end up like that, and it scares me.

Does anybody who has been/is on disability have any insight? Would it be a bad idea for me to apply? Thanks!

[amante]

The whole process of applying for disability is a very long drawn out, very tedious and very painstaking thing to go through. You have to fit certain criteria with regards to mental disabling conditions. I'm sure your T would be very supportive if they are saying that it's ok to apply. It's not for the faint hearted, there is a ton of paperwork to do when putting an application in. that said, if you are approved for disability then that is great, you shouldn't feel bad if you have a diagnosis that is covered by SS and you cannot work because of it. If you do get it, it doesn't mean you'll end up like your father. I think you should really talk to your T's more about it to come to a conclusion if you should apply or not. Good luck with your decision. It's a hard thing to go through by yourself, I would advise hiring a lawyer that specializes in social security disability cases.

Thanks for your reply.
Yes, my dad has told me that when he applied for disability, he was rejected the first two times before finally being accepted. (And I'm about 99% sure that his condition was more severe than mine is currently).

The doctors/therapist that I currently have now, I haven't talked to them in about 4 months...so I'm not sure if they still feel the same way. PLUS, in about 2 months it's my birthday, and when I turn 18 they'll no longer be my doctors/therapist because they only help children. :/ So I'm not sure what to do about that.

It just seems like such a difficult process, I always get overwhelmed when I think about it and it makes me put it off that much longer. Also, I couldn't hire a lawyer because it would cost too much...and my family's only source of income is my dad's disability cheque.

Originally Posted by amante

The whole process of applying for disability is a very long drawn out, very tedious and very painstaking thing to go through. You have to fit certain criteria with regards to mental disabling conditions. I'm sure your T would be very supportive if they are saying that it's ok to apply. It's not for the faint hearted, there is a ton of paperwork to do when putting an application in. that said, if you are approved for disability then that is great, you shouldn't feel bad if you have a diagnosis that is covered by SS and you cannot work because of it. If you do get it, it doesn't mean you'll end up like your father. I think you should really talk to your T's more about it to come to a conclusion if you should apply or not. Good luck with your decision. It's a hard thing to go through by yourself, I would advise hiring a lawyer that specializes in social security disability cases.

[bebop]

with your age I think it would be a big issue. you haven't really worked enough quarters at this age to get much if anything. you might get ssi but that is a big maybe. are you still living at home? there is alot of paperwork and hon I went on disability at 50 and it is not easy. I bring in less than 800 a month to live on.

[serafim_etal]

I notice that your location is Canada...the disability laws might be quite different there than they are in the USA. I know from a book that I read in a Sociology class last semester, that many Social Welfare programs are different, and better, in Canada than in the USA. Many programs you all are entitled to simply because you are a Canadian citizen, whereas in the USA you have to meet many other criteria as well (like working a certain number of quarters before qualifying for social security disability). These are things you need to check into before applying.

As for being on disability...I have been on it for 6 years. In that 6 years I have progressed from questionable (sporadic) functioning, to being second semester senior with a high gpa, planning to graduate in December of this year, and preparing to apply to graduate schools. Being on disability has afforded me the opportunity to do this. Without it, I would be struggling to keep a low paying job, and not be able to go to therapy. Being on disability has also allowed me to get a wider variety of scholarships, accomodations through disability services on campus (required in the USA, maybe different in Canada), and the ability to "take my time" with school so that I am not overwhelmed. It took me 4 1/2 years to get my 2-year degree...I transferred to a 4-year university and am now in my 4th smester, finishing in 5 with a double major. While I sometimes feel guilty, I remember that I AM disabled and have earned this, that I am acheiving a goal, and will eventually be working and possibly helping other people who are on or contemplating diability.

[amante]

Serafim,

That is wonderful that you have accomplished so much with your schoolling along with being disabled. good for you, awesome. I hope I can go back to further my education at some point, perhaps when my youngest is in full time kindergarten.

Ohseedee,
I say keep going with the T, and set up a game plan so that when you turn 18 you can start with an adult T that can support you and look at the disability options that you have within Canada. Not sure how it works in Canada but in the USA, the lawyer gets paid from the SS, not directly from you. they take their cut out of your retro check depending on how soon you get approved.

Thanks for the replies guys.

Yes, bebop, I'm living at home. I definitely think Canada and the U.S are different when it comes to disability. We have CPP Disability, which DOES require that you work a certain amount of time before being able to get disability, so I couldn't get that. But there's ODSP, and anyone 18+ could get that without any previous work done. As long as you're accepted and deemed to have a disability that hinders you from working.

Serafim, it's great to see that you've been using your disability benefits in a positive way! That's very encouraging to me. If I ever did receive disability, I would only want to use it for as long as I needed it, and then start working.

[skyliner]

I wouldn't discourage you from applying. The fact that you are concerned that it may become a 'crutch' says a lot about your integrity and as such you can trust yourself to utilize the benefits wisely. It is a huge help to have that money and if you qualify for it there must be a good reason it is being provided.

A long while back I applied and was denied. I appealed via an attorney and won my case. The monthly benefits plus the retroactive benefits paid for my therapy for a whole year. I was only approved for one year. I had also hesitated, because I did not want it to become a 'crutch'. But just as a broken bone needs a crutch until it heals, disability benefits are a handy crutch until such time as we are ready to do without it.

[JayS]

From the start of applying, I got on ODSP within 2 months.... but My shrink and case worker did all the paper work for me, it was there idea to apply. I suffer from Psychosis.

Perhaps viewing disability benefits as another tool for use on the way to recovery may be useful?

[Stranger2]

When I applied for disability it only took six months..I got a letter from my therapist and my pdoc.. This helped escalate my process... I didn't have to hire a lawyer..If you get turned down then hire a lawyer who specialises in SS.. They will have to pay you back to day one when you first applied and your lawyer will take his money out of that..