Our safety net system is so fucked up

[Marrah_G]

As of january first I could no longer do my job that I had for 12 years. Since then I have lost my home, had to send my autistic adult son to his grandmother in north carolina, lost my car and even had to give away my dog. I would be homeless without the charity of a fried allowing me to stay in a spare room.

I get food stamps and medicaid, but the wait for SSDI and knowing it will probably be denied the first couple of times is slowly killing me. I have had no income in close to 6 months, relying on some charity from my parents when they can afford it.

In the meantime the government is making it harder and harder to get disability and there is no safety net for adults without minor children. I suffer from severe major depressive disorder and social anxiety that is only getting worse. I don't go out and I have a very hard time speaking on the phone, even when it's necessary. I have physical problems that make walking any sort of distance impossible.

All the stress over pending homelessness, in my condition, makes it hard to keep going. I have been on the verge of suicide a number of times, because the thought of dying in the woods somewhere or under a bridge to me is unthinkable.

Even government housing has waiting lists years long.

What are adults without minor children supposed to do? If not for the kindness of my friend I would honestly, probably be dead by now.

We need to fix this. This should not happen in this country of such wealth and resources.

I just needed to vent as I sit here in tears. SSDI says i should finally have a decision in a week or so. I am terrified that like so many others, it will be a denial.

[progree]

1. I can't come up with anything but lame words but will try

I agree that the safety net is a major fail especially in the area of mental health. Most decision-makers, including those with the (D) after their names, have no conception of what it's like.

I haven't been quite in your situation economically, though have been close a few times, and at times in my life suffered through an awful combination of anxiety and depression worrying about my economic situation. And suicidal thoughts. (And 8 suicide attempts though none since I was 22, 40 years ago)

Please be good to yourself and good luck with the SSDI

[Marrah_G]

3. I'm so fortunate to have a friend that is giving me shelter

It is just so frustrating. Once upon a time homelessness was just something I rallied against, tried to vote against, give money and food too, etc. I never thought I would find myself looking at it so up close and personal.

[Tobin S.]

2. If you are denied your benefits this time, please hire a lawyer to help you.

They don't ask for any money up front and are only paid if you receive benefits. I hear most of them are reasonable.

[Marrah_G]

4. I am definietly going to

I looked into what qualifies and I definitely meet and surpass the standards so the only reason they would deny me, in my mind, is to try and make me give up. They charge 25 percent of the back owed benefits which to me is cheap if it means i can have at least a little income.

If I get denied I will hire one. Hopefully one who can make house calls.

My only real glimmer of hope is that the psychiatrist who did my evaluation for them at the end looked at me very sincerely and said "please, make sure you have all your paperwork in"

[PoliticalMalcontent]

5. I'm sorry, marrah.

I jjjust started a similar process and have had very similar thoughts.

The safety net only seems to 'work' if you've already slipped through the cracks.

Anyway, best of luck to you,

[Marrah_G]

6. You too!

If I figure out anything that helps I will let you know

[ladyslipper]

7. Please feel free to vent here. You make me feel less alone.

I have been on your same path and am on a slightly different one now. I have a low income, I have a credit rating; I have some savings. I got suddenly bumped out of my housing by a sale of the building and found I do not qualify for anything but subsidized housing or a roo mate situation and boy is that a gamble when you are already stressed out.

Using my savings as a hotel hobo while waiting for subsidized and looking for somethink cheaper. A couple of disastrous hotel stays in the last few months. Trying to learn how to van camp when that runs out because affordable housing is 18 month lists here and I have only been on one list 2 months. A long way to go. I was told I could speed that up by going to a shelter but I have held onto my Dad's now 12 year old cat. She gets me up and going. So sorry about your dog.

Kids have their own struggles and because I have always managed they think I will now too. I am not so sure this time but I will stay strong if you will. Things change. Hopefully soon. Most people really don't know how bad it is but things eventually work out most times.

[Marrah_G]

8. ~hugs tight~

Our society has to find a better way.

[TexasBushwhacker]

9. If you don't have an attorney already, I recomend you get one

They don't charge you up front and they only get paid a percentage of your back pay. If you don't get any back pay, they don't get anything. It can make all the difference. I got approved on my first try because of my attorney's guidance.

You said you can't do what you were doing before. Is there any kind of work you can do, even if it required some training? I only ask because SSDI is really low. I had been making around $38K before I became disabled and I only got $1288 per month. At least in Texas, that's too much to qualify for food stamps for a single person. If your state has a disability office, they may provide training for a new career at no cost. You generally don't have to be already getting SSDI to qualify.