How many here are on disability benefits?

[Deleted member 22693]

I am on benefits here in the uk aswell and the financial woes add to the mental health troubles no to mention the stigma of long term unemployment (a year and counting) I hear you on the budgeting front it isnt easy contrary to what others think and the struggle gets to you, for me though they declared me unfit for work which I had to take an assessment for, so where to go from here ?, feels pointless at this point no purpose and no meaning, how are you op I wont say any cliche comments like you get out there like there are others etc, because that doesn't help your situation any, but could so relate to this post sending virtual hugs to any going through the indignity of this peace and blessings

 

[signifying nothing]

Yeah, for 5 years now, sometimes feel it's too much, sometimes not enough. I'm alive, I survive. I wonder how much I am paying in terms of my health to be 'benefitted' in the way I am... I can't see I have any reasonable alternative though.

 

[Donk]

I've been on disability benefit for over a year now. I'll take feeling better and go to work than be stuck in bed any day. Some people thinks it's great to have a steady flow of income stream while unemployed and that's far from the truth. I wouldn't qualify for benefits if my condition wasn't bad enough.

 

[wanttodie]

yes i am

 

[Thatdude]

What assessments do you have to go through to qualify in the states? Is it a points based system or a questionnaire about conditions? Do they reassess regularly? And how do they decide a rate to pay? Does it factor in rent cost based on area? What about medical coverage? Any help with energy bills? Do you pay council tax (for water, sewerage and garbage collection)? Do you get discounts for any bills?

I can't answer this since I never been on disability. I simply don't qualify for SSI, and haven't worked enough for SSDI. But I can tell you from a lot of resources that SSDI is a nightmare. SSDI you need to go in front of a judge, and even if you're clearly disabled they can say you aren't. Like if you're autistic, it's known you have a near 0% chance of getting it. Because you were autistic prior to working, during the job, and after. Therefore, you're just lazy and need to get back to work.
As far as SSI, I know if you're legally blind then you automatically get he full amount. But you disqualify if you own more than $2k in assets or anything. So like if you need a car to go to work, then you can disqualify. In fact, I think there is even an upward limit to how much someone can earn in a month.

Because our system is basically SSI and/or SSDI. There is a ton of people who truly need help that can't get it. Like there is ton of shady lawyers around this that try to get part of the disability checks in order to fight for people.

Those seem like healthy monthly sums to me, who in the UK, gets less. And knowing many Americans have to work several jobs to cover costs. But I do have a few discounts, such as council tax and free medication that reduce overall costs.

Those amount is only from SSDI. Like I mention, SSI doesn't pay that much. And SSDI only pays part of your salary. So the richer you are, the more protected you are. And this means many are screwed since against SSI upper limit in assets is $2k. So someone in poverty can easily be too rich for SSI, but been too poor for SSDI to matter.
It is possible it is a state thing, but most states don't help disable people.

Universal healthcare is a big one I know, except that it almost completely fails due to underfunding, understaffing and underdevelopment.

Is there any social housing at all? People here can apply for council homes to rent, and the rent comes out of their benefit allowance. The homes have a decade long waiting list though, nowhere near enough of them.

In many areas there is social housing. But it's horrible IMO. There is a lot of push for slave labor in the USA. Like disabled people can legally get paid less than $1/h. And many who live in these places don't work by maybe a good 1 or 2 hours a day at best.

The current view is social housing is only worth it if someone is basically mentally retarded. Like the person can't wipe their end, and need help. Many are extremely dirty, treated extremely poorly (to the point once in a while there is reports of rope burns where they tie them to chairs for 14 hours a day, or arrest on staff forcing people to fight each other for money), and overall it can cause more problems than not.
So again, yes it is there. But being homeless is better than being there. Like that was even an option my parents brought up to the state for me when I was growing up, and the state person beg my parents to not send me there because it really is that horrible.

There is section 8 housing and stuff. But like with your area, there is long waiting list. Many simply can't get help from our country.


As far as myself, I don't qualify for SSDI because I haven't worked in a long time. And the stuff I did work in was freelance and other things which wouldn't be able to pay into needed systems. I don't qualify for SSI because I have over $2k in stuff. Luckily, I'm living with my parents and I'm using things like 3D printer to help make some money. And luckily, my state taxes doesn't care if I report taxes if I make less than $10k a year, and IRS doesn't care about anything below $12,400. So at least on my income side that helps. But capital gains tax is still a pain. Even more with things like this market with a pull run.

 

[Seiba]

My mother is. Being twenty one myself and otherwise physically healthy I don't think they would ever give them to me.

 

[Talvikki]

€1050 a month (Netherlands)