Whats the process of filing for Social security.....? SERIOUS ANSWERS ONLY!?!

Whats the process of filing for Social security.....? SERIOUS ANSWERS ONLY!?

I have severe depression and anxiety disorders. I am not trying to flaunt that.....I’m wondering if someone will describe the process of social security. And tell me the positives and negatives of being on it......if you want to know more please message me. THANK YOU.
youngwiser@yahoo.com
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This is complex. But having had a close friend on SSI for a while now, I know a lot about this.

To begin with, if you're trying for SSI you won't likely get it if:

a) you are younger than age 30 or so, not for depression/anxiety, though if you ALSO have a physical disability concurrently you may have a chance. Friend has a birth defect which gave her very weak knee joints, which helped her case.
b) if you have a record of being able to remain employed for longer than a few months at a time, you'll be less likely to get it.
c) if you have a drug history (this used to be different until the late '90s, but occasional 'dual-diagnosis' cases make it. Depends on state and on personal history.)
d) if you own a car or home, or trust fund
e) If I recall correctly some states won't let you get SSI if you have a felony conviction (meaning a LOT of people needing it most don't get it and remain criminals instead.)


To apply visit your local soc. sec office and begin the application process. You'll be given a gigantic stack of forms, and asked for documentation of all psychological medical care received, hospitalisations, meds you are on, etc. and also you will fill out a typical day's activities. You'll have to convince them your condition is a disability.

This part is important. Hardly ANYONE gets SSI without first appealing. You will be turned down. Appeal, if you honestly just can't deal with working and have no other choice. Some get turned down twice and on their 3rd appeal succeed since each time the judges will be different.

It will affect your social life tremendously, that's the big negative. People will divide into two camps, those who accept your income source, and those who resent having to work while you get the free ride. The thing the resenters fail to realise is: SSI really isn't a free ride, it only pays for, at very most, housing. You'll have to figure out food and all other expenses on your own, meaning, unless you work under-the-table type odd jobs you eat at soup kitchens. Any income made by you must be reported if it's taxable - and you'll lose it from your next check. (This is a tremendous system-flaw since it is very demotivating! Ideally you would at least be able to keep some of your income if your condition improves but not completely and you do small amounts of work.)

I can't emphasise enough that you GET AN ADVOCATE!!! The means of doing so will differ depending on where you live. My close friend's advocate was very devoted and without her help she would probably not have made it.

Every few years you'll have to have a 'review'. This will be rather harrowing and if it's a psych review I hear the state reviewer spends maybe 5 to 8 minutes making the determination. Keep in touch with your advocate in case one of these reviews causes your payments to end.

You might want to get meds even if you're not going to take them since it gives the reviewer evidence you are under the care of a shrink. My friend got prescribed risperdal for schizoaffective disorder, but after two days of tripping over her own two feet, wisely decided to discontinue it, but continues to receive it from the doctor. A bit dishonest, but better than sleeping on the street.

Good luck...and be prepared to wait 9-14 months to hear from them after your first appeal, it takes a long, long time. Especially for mental disorders that aren't obvious.

The positive is you will not have to live on the street or in bedbug-infested transient hotels. The bad part is people will be judgmental. That always gets my dander up, since I doubt any of the jerks that give my friend a bad time would hire her for any job, because her affect is so screwy it just unnerves people. She gets fired not because she does not want to work, but because coworkers find her strange, and even though she bathes and washes her clothes scrupulously her mental problems cause her body odour to be different than 'normal' people, which is part of why she can't stay gainfully employed. Mental conditions and auto immune disorders can be very disabling. Be prepared for lots of negativity from people who don't get it. Remember, they'd be in the same boat were they in the same situation.