Social Security Disability (SSDI) Resources of Interest (US)

[Florida Guy]

There are a lot of free or low cost community services. There is a free clinic in my area that has volunteer doctors who help the poor and homeless. There are free legal services where you can get a short consultation with an attorney. There is the food pantry, people get bags of food. The red cross has some services available as do various city and state agencies. Its important to look around to see what resources may be available.

There may be discounts on property tax for handicapped people and low income. There are often senior discounts at stores. If you get turned down for a benefit, keep applying over and over with new info if possible.

People have made money on sideline businesses like going to yard and garage sales to pick up interesting looking items and put them on ebay. If you knit or paint perhaps you can sell your work. You could offer to baby sit There are a few legit work at home systems but most of them are scams so be very careful. Anything that requires you to pay upfront is likely to be a scam. I know most of those things probably sound too hard but you may find something you can do that pays off.

 

[gbells]

So you were able to get disability on what they claimed was a mental issue, but yours didn't expire in 2 years? Why? My mom got it on a mental issue and I don't think it had a 2 year timeline so I'm curious about this.

No you're misunderstanding what is going on. If you purchase a long term disability policy then get diagnosed as being disabled due to a mental disorder then they have a 2 year maximum benefit clause for mental disorders, pay you for two years and then cancel the payments.

This does not affect SSD benefits. They have no limits for mental disorders.

 

[Florida Guy]

I think the government wants to limit cfs/me benefits because its so hard to prove. They are afraid millions will claim to have it to get some free money. Realistically a lot of people would do it if it was easy. There needs to be a test that proves it one way or another. Since we don't have such a test, it becomes a challenge to snow them with tests that are out of norm and doctors who believe you No one should have to go through all that but until there is a test they cant argue with, thats how it is

Cancer, diabetes, MS, alzheimers, heart disease, etc they all have tests to prove you have it. For every disease it seems except ours. The way the system is set up, it will be like that until they make more progress. With a possible new administration there may be change. Until then we can lobby our reps and senators, governors, etc to fix the situation. People in power need to know there is a problem, that its not just one or two people but millions who have it.

 

[gbells]

That's why the neuropsychology exam is valuable. They rule out malingering.

Only 1% of ME/CFS patients are on disability. The system assumes you are guilty of scamming unless proven otherwise.