If you were young & mentally ill with a college degree, would you rather...?

Question

work in your desired career field & make a nice salary or live forever off of SSI & Social Security (not much money but free money so you don't have to work)?

I got my college degree, & I'm receiving SSI & Social Security, but I want to work, & many people are suggesting that I NOT work. I want to be ABLE. I don't want to be DISabled & live off of a small monthly income. Also, people think it would be stupid of me to start working & lose my benefits, but SSI & Social Security are not enough for me to live off of. I get paid $730/month.

What would you do if you were in this predicament? I didn't waste 5 years of my college education for no reason, & plus, how am I gonna be expected to pay my loans back?

Answer 1

In my oppinion, it's your decision to work or not. If you want to, go ahead. True, you did not put years into college just for stay and be someone that does not work. And to gain just $730 a month, is not big enough for your needs and college funds. If you want to work, work. It's nice to know that people actually want to work. Also, you'd probably gain more from your work than what you are gaining from not working. The more oyu work, the more pay hopefully. And the more pay, the more you can live in luxury (or something like that). Live your life the way you want, I support you! Experince what it is like to be a worker. As long as you are living a good life, and by good, i mean a proper life (not bad), then I support you. Good luck.

Answer 2

Dear Miss Chinky:

While I do not have a mental illness diagnosis, I have a heart transplant and since 2003 receive SSDI. I also work a professional counselor in residence (mental health field). I can tell you that the reason "people" tell you "not" to work is because they want to protect you. They worry that you will start working and do great, and then some day suddenly have a breakdown during which all of your psychiatric symptoms will come flooding back to you. Imagine then feeling unable to go to work or to be at work and then to fail at a task. Imagine what "all those people will say" when they find out you have a mental illness...."she's crazy?" huh? o my g-d!!" Yes, people are like this. Society is not yet mature enough to accept the fact that mental illness touches at least 1 in 4 people - in different forms of course.

So when those you care about say no don't do it they think of your feelings when and if such a thing happened.

But also they think about the hassle of reapplying to SSDI and SSI. Here's a hint: start working a few hours a week. Earn less than $640 each month and you get to keep your benefits! However, earn more than $640 per month and start counting 9 months. This is your "trial work period." After that, count 36 more months. this is "extended period of eligibility." Once 45 months have passed, your benefits will be taken from you if you are still employed and thus can prove that you are "no longer disabled." Remember that disability means "unable to work" for the Feds. Nothing about your symptoms, your need for meds, or other factors. Just work.

So if you want to work try it out. I have been working for over two years now and feel great about it. Of course, working is not for everyone. Work will bring stress and you need to learn how to handle it, or your symptoms will come back, whether mental or physical.

Good luck!

Answer 3

I fully agree with you! If you can work and want to, then you should!
The people who want to live off the taxpayers simply because they can are usually the ones who made up something so they could. I know many people who have serious disablilities (physical and mental), but still want to work, and even do to a limited extent.
Unless your (or their) mentall illness is so severe that they couldn't possibly make more than the allotment, definitely don't limit your income potential by settling for the SSI and Disability.
Also, some of the SSI programs will allow you to work a certain amount and still draw full benefit. Others have no limit on earned income and no penalty.
If you were smart enough and stable enough to make it through college, then go out and earn the big bucks. It may take you a while, but at least you'll have your loans paid off and also will retain your independence. Not to mention, that with insurance through work, you can pick better doctors than with the government benefits.

Good Luck!!!

Answer 4

If you are disabled then you owe no loans. Try working part time to start. Check it out by calling the 1-800 number for social security and talking to them. I think you can keep benefits and insurance for a year and then decide if you are able to work full time. If you take your medication and don't stop for anybody - ever - - and - you go to counseling probably twice a month, you can probably do this. If you are successful - they are going to want to mark you cured as the government wants them to justify their jobs some way. No matter what (and even beat the sh-it out of them if you have to) Don't let them try that "cured" **** on you. This is a lifelong chemical imbalance in your brain that must have daily medication and requires a lot for you to stay stable. No matter how good you feel never- never let them take you off your pills or you will crash and crash bad. My family is all unbalanced parents - 10 kids and most of 39 grand kids so I know how they work and how this problem works. Being a woman you may want to stop the pills or let them say cured - you will be sorry if you do. You should be able to work at least part time though if you stay in counseling to divert the extra stress. Good luck and god bless you.

Answer 5

I would try working. The way I understand it is that if try working and for whatever reason it doesn't work out, you can get your disability money again. I am not saying that will happen, but it should your disability money should be available to you if you are too sick to work. Do you have a caseworker who could help you answer these questions? I wish you the best of luck!

Answer 6

working could be a rewarding experience for you. like you said, you didnt waste 5 years of your education..... if you decide working isn't for you, then at least you know you can get your SSI.

Answer 7

your human beings grandson is in all danger no longer a sociopath, he's barely considered one of those human beings who examine out the international as everybody is evil. the rationalization he loves animals is by using the fact he's conscious they are harmless. yet understanding that people have a strategies and can be calculating, he thinks they are all undesirable and subsequently does no longer practice any be apologetic approximately for human beings. My brother is like that. He kicked my mom's glasses until eventually it broke the area and stabbed her eye, in basic terms approximately inflicting blindness. i grow to be there on the time, and remember precisely him in basic terms sitting contained in the motor vehicle guffawing and asserting, "it rather is your concern now, mommy." He grow to be 11 years previous and did that to his own mom. He had additionally bought an air/bb gun and grow to be working in the direction of capturing it. I walked by way of and observed that he grow to be capturing at some drawing he made up. As I took a closer look, it resembled a youthful woman, long hair, and who looked like me. I walked previous him and he in basic terms smirked. Now I dont comprehend if your human beings grandson is rather a sociopath, yet once you had to help him, you ought to attempt introducing him to very independent issues. Take him out to the park, the place their are little ones, and positioned across up the question as to why he hates little ones plenty. do no longer accuse him of something, particularly of being a sociopath, yet style of discuss with him and ask him why he's the way he's. do no longer tell him to no longer be so heartless, as sociopaths can't ever have a heart no rely how annoying you attempt. yet in basic terms ask him what's bothering him. maximum folk with psychological ailments or sociopath behaviors have underlying psychological desires. tell him your there for him and if he desires to talk to you he's welcome.

Answer 8

work. no one should stop you.