Posted by socialdeviantjeff on January 5, 2004, at 19:32:33
I REALLY don't want to do this, but It's come to it. I'm applying for SSI.
Quick background:
In the last two years, I have only been gainfully employed about 10-11 months. I've been at my current job for 6 months, which is a landmark for me, even before my symptoms got very bad. I can only work about 24 hours a week before I 1)get bad psychological consequences or 2)practically collapse from fatigue, mostly due to meds. I have not been hospitalized, but I have been in the regular ER once for fainting, graying out, etc. See: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/alter/20031218/msgs/294755.html for details. Things seem to progress from bad to worse very slowly. I've had a lot of drug trials and so far I've only been stable enough not to do something stupid.Here's what it comes down to:
I can no longer afford my prescriptions. My pdoc will try to help as he can, but I can't live on samples. I can't afford to get tests for other physical problems getting worse, or a doc to administer those tests. I can't get Medicaid because the eligibility rules in Utah are <insert profanity>. Simply put, I would have to be on SSI to get Medicaid.I understand that these apps and in interviews the SSA looks for certain words or phrases. I've also been told that the fact that I'm still working is a big hurdle to getting benefits.
Is there a source of information on how to file the app and do the interview so I have the best chances? I've found plenty of people selling such info, but I can't afford it. Any freebies out there?
Any help at all is very appreciated.
poster:socialdeviantjeff
thread:296899
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20031229/msgs/296899.html