Re: How to get SSI/SSD (was Re: More on the meltdown)

[Guest guest]

Considering that I am in therapy for depression, should (or COULD) I ask

them to take that off their what-they're-treating-me-for list and have them

focus only on improving my Asperger's? I'm rather scared of pulling-out of

their system, because I get Effexor at no cost through my clinic. Without

Effexor, I tend to be far too " high-strung. " With it, I'm not actually

depressed.

What's different between " now " and " then " is that the dot-com bubble burst.

I don't know if they're take that into account, but I was a geek when geeks

were in high demand. Now, all the technical support jobs have gone to

India. My skills are no longer needed in my country.

Also, something I know they won't take into account at all so I won't even

mention it, my longest employment period (almost two years) was with a

company that was staffed mostly by homosexuals and drug users (as far as I

know, only one person fell into both catagories), so my eccentricity was

tolorated, if not actually understood. (Since I didn't know I was autistic,

I'm not sure if anyone else realized it, either).

If I can find a company that can " present well " during the interview, and

that wants to hire a person who is good at technical support, I'm fine.

But, right now, *there are none*.

[Guest guest]

Kaiden Fox wrote:

> Considering that I am in therapy for depression, should (or COULD) I

> ask them to take that off their what-they're-treating-me-for list and

> have them focus only on improving my Asperger's? I'm rather scared

> of pulling-out of their system, because I get Effexor at no cost

> through my clinic. Without Effexor, I tend to be far too

> " high-strung. " With it, I'm not actually depressed.

I can't give you legal advice, but I can pose a question: If you don't

give them any records from the place you go now, or mention it to them,

how will they know about it? They have to send releases with your

signature on them to get your medical records.

[Guest guest]

Kaiden Fox wrote:

>Considering that I am in therapy for depression, should (or COULD) I ask

>them to take that off their what-they're-treating-me-for list and have them

>focus only on improving my Asperger's? I'm rather scared of pulling-out of

>their system, because I get Effexor at no cost through my clinic. Without

>Effexor, I tend to be far too " high-strung. " With it, I'm not actually

>depressed.

>

>

Were you on it or off it when you had your meltdown?

>What's different between " now " and " then " is that the dot-com bubble burst.

>I don't know if they're take that into account, but I was a geek when geeks

>were in high demand.

>

If you make that argument, they will try to claim that you aren't

disabled, just another unemployed techie and not their problem.

>Now, all the technical support jobs have gone to India.

>

They may not stay there. Some companies are bringing their

calldesks back home, because India is not working out for them.

> My skills are no longer needed in my country.

>

>Also, something I know they won't take into account at all so I won't even

>mention it, my longest employment period (almost two years) was with a

>company that was staffed mostly by homosexuals and drug users (as far as I

>know, only one person fell into both catagories), so my eccentricity was

>tolorated, if not actually understood. (Since I didn't know I was autistic,

>I'm not sure if anyone else realized it, either).

>

>

People who use recreational drugs are often more understanding

of us than people who don't. The NTs in that category have some

experience in not being NT (temporarily), and there are others

who are self-medicating for various ND conditions. You probably

weren't the only one there on the spectrum.

Have you tried contacting anybody from that company to look for

job leads?

>If I can find a company that can " present well " during the interview, and

>that wants to hire a person who is good at technical support, I'm fine.

>But, right now, *there are none*.

>

>

The economy will turn around once we vote out the

robber barons and fundies who are wrecking it.

Like father, like son: Bush = Recession and war.

Ride the Music

AndyTiedye

[Guest guest]

> Were you on it or off it when you had your meltdown?

OK, here's the short version. I had a training to attend that took place

during the hours I normally sleep. I decided to take one day to " dry out "

and reset myself. However because I worked both the night before and the

night after my class, I didn't take Effexor on Thursday (the day of the

class) or on Friday night. My meltdown was on Saturday night, I had taken

my Effexor that night.

> If you make that argument, they will try to claim that you aren't

> disabled, just another unemployed techie and not their problem.

Yeah, I'll just keep it as simple as possible, then. My employment history

has never been more than two years. I'd like to use an attorny, so that I

have a neurotypical and experienced " coach " to help me out.

> Have you tried contacting anybody from that company to look for

> job leads?

Not this year, but within recent memory. I'll have to track down people and

see what's going on.

> The economy will turn around once we vote out the

> robber barons and fundies who are wrecking it.

> Like father, like son: Bush = Recession and war.

Yeah, I won't get into a big political debate, but historically the ecconomy

starts going to hell whenever a Republican is elected president. Republican

presidents = layoffs. I'm not sure why, but it is an historical trend. Of

course, 2000 was an interesting year, because a Democrat was elected

president, but a Republican was sworn in due to " unusual circumstances. "

[Guest guest]

Kaiden Fox wrote:

> Yeah, I won't get into a big political debate, but historically the

> ecconomy starts going to hell whenever a Republican is elected

> president.

The economy started downhill when Clinton was president. It is

upturning now with a Republican president, just like it did under Reagan.

> Of course, 2000 was an interesting year,

> because a Democrat was elected president, but a Republican was sworn

> in due to " unusual circumstances. "

A Democrat was not elected that year.

FRank

[Guest guest]

Here in Ohio we have what we call DA (disability) cash assistance. It is

only $115 per month, and you have to have almost no income to get it. If you

qualify for the DA, you also get Medicaid coverage and $141/month Food

Stamps. The Medicaid is retroactive for 3 months, so unpaid medical bills

can be covered. When you get your SSI approval, the DA cash account is

repaid from the SSI award. If you don't get SSI awarded, we don't make you

pay back the DA cash, but you do have to reapply and keep appealing until

you have exhausted the appeal process. If you have a hearing before the

admin judge, and he denies the SSI, then we start all over and apply for SSI

again. This keeps the DA cash coming, as well as the Food Stamps (like an

ATM card), and the Medicaid coverage, there is no time limit. Once you get

your SSI, you are still eligible for Medicaid and Food Stamps, but no cash

assistance.

Louis

In my house, " normal " is only a setting on the dryer.

From: Klein

Oh, and one more thing... Arizona has a cash benefit you can

get while waiting for SSI/SSD to be decided. It only pays for six

months, and if you are approved, you have to pay it back out of your

back payments, but it's there if you need it. It is only about $178 a

month, but that plus about $200 in food stamps (which is really a food

card, like an ATM card) can help you until you get your decision. The

food stamps do not run out in six months; as long as yoiu keep up with

the appointments, they don't go away as long as you have low enough

income to qualify.

I do not know if other states offer general assistance (the cash $178)

as does Arizona. They should all offer food stamps, though. I know

that California does not pay food stamps to SSI recipients; the

rationale they give you for the extra amount you get in CA is that this

is your food stamp benefits. I think that CA will still give them to

you before you get SSI, though.