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What do you all do when you are either waiting for disability benefits or denied, cannot work and have no savings or income?
Hi Andy,
I totally understand about not being able to get a good diagnosis. Many people with cfs go through this.
Did they give you any kind of diagnosis? Quite frankly, even if their diagnosis was wrong, you can still get on disability for it. For example, if the doctors all think you are crazy and label you with a psych condition, you can get on for that, even if you know in your heart that the real problem is CFS.
When they wrote you the denial for disability, do you remember what it said? I am wondering if you were disqualified on a technicality. For SSDI you need to have paid social security taxes to the U.S. And for SSI you need to be in the country. When you worked in Japan was U.S. Social security tax taken out of your check?
So, good that you are coming back! I'm not sure you would be eligible from Japan.
Yes, if you come back and get on medicaid, and build up a medical history here I think that will help you.
The person at SOAR wrote me back but did not recommend a particular program. If I were you, I would try contacting the links I sent above and let me know if those do not work out I can look for more. Also, let me know if there is a particular program or area that interests you so we can look up the medicaid regs in that state. In some states, you will have no problem getting on medicaid, in other states they won't let you on at all!
If you don't mind me asking: do you have a psych diagnosis? it seems like there are a lot more programs that help homeless people with a mental health diagnosis.
p.s. I thought about it a little more. It's possible they would allow you to apply for SSI while in Japan, but you couldn't collect any money until in the states.
I found a map!
If you want to be on medicaid, you want a state that is green. Maybe blue, if you look into how the medicaid works there. Not orange.
https://www.statereforum.org/Medica..._4z4ACsM5kOlGBagY8h9t8j5A9UzHQmcfMRoCF3_w_wcB
My biggest concern is having a place to call home/transportation and being able to pay for repairs, gas, camping, etc. when necessary. So as far as programs go it seems like I'm gonna need some temporary cash assistance for this... unless somebody can give me another idea. I'm naturally a pretty resourceful person but when your energy levels are regularly around 15-20% of what you would consider healthy/normal, even when you're able to come up with alternative solutions, finding the energy to engage in those is well.. not entirely feasible to say the least.
Here in my city in Southern California General Relief is only ~$234 a month, they don't want you to have more than $5 to your name (when you apply and at the end of the month), and your rent needs to be less than $234 or free. You can't be getting any money from elsewhere to make up for the rent difference. I think food stamps is around $180 a month. (This is what it was 8 years ago, I'm sure it hasn't changed that much.)
I'm naturally a pretty resourceful person but when your energy levels are regularly around 15-20% of what you would consider healthy/normal, even when you're able to come up with alternative solutions, finding the energy to engage in those is well.. not entirely feasible to say the least.
If you're willing to look for other programs I'd greatly appreciate it m(_ _)m
Hi, Andy (@enginewitty).
General Relief (Welfare) is an option. It's not much but helps. Each city and probably state has different amounts and requirements. Some may not even have it. Where I live the amount is very low, I'm told lower than other areas. I think you have to pay it back with any back pay you get from SSDI, at least you do where I live. They also want you to be able to work while on it, but a waiver can make it so you don't have to, if you can't because of health. It also was a 6 week process to get it. This is my experience from 8 years ago. Not sure if it's better now and how it is in other cities.
Thank you! I did not even know that general relief still existed. I thought all those programs were gutted, but I do see it on california website. I wonder if it is in every state, or every city.
Andy
I found where SOAR has the highest success rate in the country. 96% success for Ssi applications! philadelphia. Of course you still need some kind of medical records.
if doctors told you that you are depressed, they may have put that diagnosis in your records. If you think you can get those records, that could help you.
oh, sorry, just read the rest of your post. I totally respect your decision on this.
I am just going tell you what I have found by looking some more online. I am just providing info here, so you know what I know.
services for mental health:
there are services in most places for people who are homeless and have serious mental illness
there are many housing and supportive housing programs -- I don't know what the waiting lists are, but I know many many programs exist.
there are many soar programs that assist with disability applications
there are public hospitals and mental health agencies everywhere - again may be waiting lists but they exist and all take medicaid
there are many many people on disability
Services for cfs
there are some soar programs that will assist with physical disability applications, but much less
there are very few cfs specialist in the country -- I have no idea if any take medicaid
I couldn't find any housing programs that serve people who are not on disability already -- not saying they don't exist but I couldn't find them
it is hard to get on disability for cfs to the best of my knowledge
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oh, I don't know why I thought you were appealing your disability case. I must have totally misunderstood something.
I don't want to be the bearer of bad news, but I believe you will not be able to find a lawyer right now. there is no way for a lawyer to make money off your case at the moment. if you continue to appeal, you could find one in a year or two.
You can get free help from SOAR, which in my opinion is much better than a lawyer for initial applications anyway. I don't know if they can do a lot without some kind of medical records.
from what you have described I feel like you would be applying for SSI. I feel pretty sure, but you can double check if you wish by creating an online account at social security website and looking up what it says about your eligibility.
SSI is $733/month. your work history does not matter.
Sounds like you have a good idea looking into general relief
If I were you I would still contact those other agencies, see what homeless services they have available... even if you don't want the housing, they may be able to help with applying for disability, medicaid, food stamps, etc.
I wondered about Canada too! I do not know if you could use services there if you are not a citizen?
but if you want to live outdoors... I would prefer to live somewhere really warm? No?