Posted by Reggie BoStar on February 5, 2007, at 17:08:23
In reply to How many people are on disability????, posted by leo33 on January 3, 2007, at 14:00:42
I'm on SSDI for mental health reasons. Severe depression/bipolar, extreme social phobia, some agoraphobia. I've been through 7 ECT treatments, and got to the point where I bought a gun. My pdoc talked me down from that.
SSDI benefits are very helpful, but for me it is sometimes extremely difficult to deal with the stigma and negative comments regarding people on SSDI. There are many people who consider those on disability as lazy, taking advantage, just don't want to work, etc. This is especially true for people with mental illness, because the old stereotypes about depression (weakness of character, not a disease, etc) are applied to make it seem as though we don't deserve SSDI.
Of course my reactions to the stereotyping may be specific to me. There are also many support groups (on Yahoo, for example) that provide emotional and technical support for people on SSDI.
Of course, my negative thought processes pick up on postings in those groups which cause a large amount of guilt. For example, today I read a message about a person with cerebral palsy who manages to work part-time and collect SSDI benefits to make up the difference. When I see someone like this surmounting a very difficult disability to do what work he can, I become riddled with guilt about being on SSDI full-time.
But then again, my depression will manifest itself with such symptoms. Whenever I bring this up with my pdoc or therapist they always assure me that the SSDI benefits are justified in my case. I try to believe that. Sometimes I manage.
As far as the process goes, if there is a Social Security Office near you, you can just go there to pick up the application form.
Part of the application asks you to list referring doctors, psychiatrists, and therapists. This is where mentally ill people need to go to work. The professionals must all be contacted and informed that you are applying for SSDI benefits. You must ask them to please provide information to the SSDI office.
In addition, you will fill out the application in the presence of a social worker at the SSDI office who will ask you additional questions and enter the information on the SS computers. He/she will also advise you on how to fill out the form and which information is pertinent based on your disability. The social workers are very supportive and want to help anyone who deserves the benefits get them. They definitely do NOT try to prevent people from getting benefits.
I hope the last few paragraphs gave you the info you needed. Sorry about lacing the post with all my insecurities. The SSDI folks are actually very thorough and see to it that the vast majority of people on SSDI really deserve it.
I just don't think I'm in that vast majority. That's just another of my problems.
Take care,
Reggie BoStar
poster:Reggie BoStar
thread:719095
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/work/20061208/msgs/730083.html