I need to rent an apartment, but I hate/fear answering "What do you do for a living?"

I have been on disability for several years and when asked what I do I say "I volunteer with an animal rescue group and I love it." This usually turns the conversation to the volunteer work I do. If I didn't volunteer I would say "I don't work."

But when I first started getting that question I felt I needed to answer and I would fumble my words, but then I realized it's no ones business where my money comes from.

A simple - "I'm unemployed at this time and receiving disability payments. It is guaranteed income of which you will receive your monthly rental payments from."

People can demand anything they like, it doesn't mean that it's legally acceptable or that they deserve specifics regarding your illness.

This is easy; just say you work for the "security services". Maybe say NSA if the landlord really presses for information.

"What do you do there?". "Classisfied".
"How long have you worked there?". "Classified"
"How much do you earn?". "Classified"
etc etc

References from previous landlords will go in your favour. Many people will apply for a property and what you do is not as important as having a steady income. Disability payments are as regular as clock work. I have rented many places but I normally stay there for a long time and that's what land owners like. Estate agents will also have a range of vacant properties which they want to getting some return on. Tell them how long you lived in the cabin and the owner died. Maybe you can get somebody else that the agent can ring to back up what happened.

You will find a place to live. It will be the right one.

Not sure, what type of income you have available for the down payment factor of renting. If you have an extra half months rent, finding a 'rental finder' is another option. They'll sit down, look over you income sources, run the credit report, for an application fee. Usually involves money orders, cash is king mentality. If you can find one, say, taking a ride through the neighborhood of interest, often they use those red and white 'for rent' signs, they get a fee from the landlord and a fee from you, they want the cash, the landlord needs a tenant and the renter needs a rental...that's another possibility. I like the idea of getting either a course(non credit, small fee course...works well..) or volunteerism into that application, no matter how recent. Just something to consider...

To add: part of the SSI/SSDI only incomes, might also be a fear of how you are drudging up emergency cash. TBH, there's ppl that I am familiar with, solely on the disability payment sect, that have less than clean behaviors. Landlords worry about where the money comes from, as far as emergency situations, that come about. Where, do the meds, really go? Sad state of reality, but it could be less the MH aspect and more how there are those bad apples that create the reputation for everyone else...

It doesn't matter, as they cannot ask the nature of your disability. I've rented apartments before and I tell them I'm disabled and on social security. I just say "I have a medical condition that prevents me from working". And for the apartments I've rented, they didn't ask any further questions. Their main concern is making sure you can afford the apartment rent. My income wasn't high enough alone to rent (it had to be 3.5 times the rent), so I had a family member consign for me. Just make sure you look clean-cut, wear a nice outfit and don't look scruffy.

Renting a room is another story, people are generally more concerned with details about things because often times you're living in close proximity to people in someone's home and you're sharing a lot of the same space...and they want to make sure everything will go okay, that they don't get someone who wouldn't fit in with their lifestyle, or someone who will trash the house--throw loud parties, does illegal drugs, etc.

As for your neighbors...you don't have to tell them anything. I hardly ever saw my neighbors. It's none of their business. And if they're nosey, make something up...they're not going to find out it's not the truth. And you can always say you're in school (I sometimes say I've been working and now I'm going back to school to finish my degree---and I'm not a traditional student age either).

I would just say I had a chronic pain condition or epilepsy or diabetes or some other disability that was hidden. It's not ideal that you feel you have to lie but hey it's your health and not anyone else's business. It's also a shame that there is still so much mental health discrimination.

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