Do you think some people pretend to be mentally ill so they can have free housing, meals, and medical care?

Answer 1

Here there are lots of people who try to fake mental and physical disabilities to gain SSI benefits.

They do not pretend to be mentally ill just mentally challenged.
We give them cash so they can spend it how they wish.

Answer 2

I think that some people with milder mental illnesses may malinger, or exaggerate their symptoms to get benefits. As others have mentioned, the government benefit is so paltry (like $600 a month for SSI) that few would do this. It's not worth it to not work but then have to live in a roach infested apartment with no car. Also, there is then the stigma and legal repurcussions. In some states, if you are diagnosed with a serious mental illness, you lose your right to own a gun. Now maybe people in those states don't know that? Plus, family services may discriminate against you and take your kids, even if you provide reasonable care. Your family members may reject you, that is common. I think it is more likely to fake a back injury, generally.

It is an issue, tho, I had a psychiatrist accuse me of being a malingerer once. He said that no one who had been in graduate school could ever become mentally ill enough to be incapable of working. Then he saw my brother a year later (brother has similar severity of symptoms) in the psych unit and was very upset that he couldn't involuntarily commit him. I think that guy had issues!! Anyway, disability SUCKS because the first thing people ask you is "what do you do for a living?" How can I answer that? I just say I'm not working right now. But I feel very ashamed every time

Answer 3

People that pretend to be mentally ill do have a problem.
Their problem is not wanting to take responsibility for their place in society. They choose a path they think is the easy way out. If someone is mentally ill, this is not an easy path.
This is the difference between being mentally ill and pretending to be mentally ill.

Answer 4

ok- ok- why would someone pretend to be mentally ill?
I myself am mentally ill and on ssdi. I have a college education. I have a beatiful home. I left a 50,000 a year job, ill, for what to get 1200 a month of ssdi.
disability was not a choice for me, nor will it be my lifestyle, just insuranse for right now, while i get better. i do believe it is hard to fake an illness, and chances are if someone is faking one, they really are mentall, who thinks like that? who wants to live close to poverty just so they don't have to work? Please do not envy people on ssdi with mental illness, nor should you be angry with them, who really wants the stigma of being mentally ill?

Answer 5

Yes. I used to work for a mental hospital and there were people who would show up everyday trying to get admitted.

One guy was trying for several days and they wouldn't admit him.

Then another guy came in. When they refused to admit him he laid out in the busy street and then they admitted him.

Then the first guy did the same thing and they admitted him too!

Answer 6

Why would they do that? Anyway having a real mental illness doesn't necessarly mean you'll get that. Atleast that's how it is in th U.S.

Answer 7

It is possible. But you would have to be a damned good actor and you would have to know everything about the illness or disorder you are trying to mimic.

Answer 8

why would they wont to do that???
mental health is the most discriminated of health out... by everyone,,
I know of people that go to jail for the reason you have given but not mental health..

but yes anything is possible i think

Answer 9

no you should be a shame for thinking thatim mentally challenged and slow.i hate it. people are really born that way.

Answer 10

It's pretty difficult to fake, so it's not really all that common. Eventually they get their story screwed up...