Has anyone else NEVER been able to work?

[Kielso]

I'm just wondering. I've never worked over a week in a row, and ony averaged a job every year or so. Sometimes I feel alone in that...Has anyone else had this problem?

 

[lemonflavor]

I've never been able to work full time and I'm in my early forties. The one time I had a full time job it only lasted a few weeks. I had to find an excuse to quit. After a couple weeks (was probably in an up cycle at first) by 1:00 every day I was so exhausted I could hardly stand it. Career has been a struggle and source of shame my whole adult life. Finally in the past few weeks with the bipolar diagnosis I might have a better idea why it's been such a struggle.

 

[meh]

My employment record is in shifts of one year. I can keep it together sometimes for two. But then a really large breakdown will come and everything goes to pieces. I also have a huge number of missed days in the time span.

I was on disability for 3 years. Working for myself the past 2 has helped with all this. But on the advice of my shrink I'm looking into disability again.

So I haven't had the same experience, but I do understand. I really do.

 

[wonderwaleye]

Dear Kielso and LemonFlavor

I just found two openings for full time employment for both of you.



There are things you will NEED to consider before taking them.



1. You will be on call 24 hours a day.



2. Some study will improve your quality of service considerly.



3. This job requires total commitment.



4. When the BOSS thinks your ready he will send you on a mission.
A. All your tools will be supplied.



5. Milk and Honey will be the food of choice till your ready for the REAL FOOD.



6. Don't apply unless you have LOVE in your heart.



7. Broken lives makes the best workers.



8. HE'S and EQUAL OPERTUNITY EMPLOYER.



9. The pay is out of this world!



If this fits within your abilities apply WITHIN.



JOB WILL DIFFENTLY MAKE IT EASY TO REMEMBER:




XEven though you can't see Him, GOD is there!O
( click on the X and move to the O ) ( then feel who is around you )

 

[Alive again]

Dear Kielso and LemonFlavor

I just found two openings for full time employment for both of you.



There are things you will NEED to consider before taking them.



1. You will be on call 24 hours a day.



2. Some study will improve your quality of service considerly.



3. This job requires total commitment.



4. When the BOSS thinks your ready he will send you on a mission.
A. All your tools will be supplied.



5. Milk and Honey will be the food of choice till your ready for the REAL FOOD.



6. Don't apply unless you have LOVE in your heart.



7. Broken lives makes the best workers.



8. HE'S and EQUAL OPERTUNITY EMPLOYER.



9. The pay is out of this world!



If this fits within your abilities apply WITHIN.



JOB WILL DIFFENTLY MAKE IT EASY TO REMEMBER:




XEven though you can't see Him, GOD is there!O
( click on the X and move to the O ) ( then feel who is around you )

Amen!!!

 

[Alive again]

My son is 20, onset of bp about age 6, never finished school, but praticaly aced his GED's, flunked out of college due to absentism and unfinished work, 2 jobs fired from first after 2 mos now in second -part time has lasted 6 mos but is barely hanging in there-absent, late, written up -we are already applying for ssi-having an ex rn for a Mom who is on ssdi will allow him if successful to also get $ from my claim, we pray he will be approved, in appeal now, next appel is to the hearing judge.

 

[mmreed]

Im curious... how difficult is it to obtain disability status for this? Does the disability income provide enough to live on?

What types of skills, talents, occupations do you focus on? Are there things you can do from home to "work"?

 

[Alive again]

There are several types of social security and many different scenatios that impact the amount you get. So a few basics related to disability- the basic types of social security I know of are SSI (Social security income) and SSDI (social security disability income). SSI is a program designed for low income senoirs and disabled. You do not have to have worked to qualify for this program, but you do have to meet the income (lack of) guidelines and the disability (according to social security guidelines) or age guidelines. SSDI you must have worked and worked enough credits to have access to these funds and be disabled (according to social security guidelines), If you get ssdi you are then automatically eligible for medicare (but not with SSI). The amount for SSI is around $500-550 range, but there is some variations based on cost of living in your area if I understand correctly, but this may be wrong. You can qualify for both programs, ssdi and ssi if your ssdi payments is low enough to meet the income guidelines for ssi. Using ssdi now does NOT effect your retirement pay at all. When you retire you will get the higher of the amounts, your ssdi amount or your retirement amount.

The amount of ssdi you get is based on your amount paid into the social securiyt system and if high enough and you have dependent kids you may qualify for auxillary benefits which also varies based on amount you paid in. It gets more complicated when you have a spouse who worked and paid in and is deceased becauses widow's benfits overlap. Sometimes it feels like the amount of monthly income is pulled out of a hat by Social Security.

SOOO The only way to know for sure is for you to call social security and ask.

So don't hesitate to call. the process of application can be long and discouraging. but if I have one word of advice it is don't let the system discourage you, appeal and appeal and go befoe the hearing judge. Tell the truth about how bad you get, talk about your worst days is the advice I was given by a social worker I knew. Ask you doc, but don't let others discourage you. Wonderwaleye has created some threads with thoughts and ideas also.

I personally applied and appealed all the way and hired an attorney for my hearing and was successful. For me it took 18 months, my son' s looks like it will take 2 years. He is btw eligible for both ssi and will be eligible for the auxilary portion of my ssdi as a disabled adult of a disabled adult clause in the social security law. so don't be afraid to ask questions!!!!

Others will prob share their experiences as well. You can choose an agent to do the paperwork for you if you need this help.

HOpe this helps, feel free to pm me, but I sure don't know everything about this system!!!!!

Blessings

 

[Yusuphhai]

Hello Kielso (and Family),

My case is very like yours. First reason, whatever depression or mania, a patient of BP is hard to pay attention to work .Second, his(her) social function is injured. Third, the society ( I mean in China, maybe much better in U.S) can not provide an effective employment opportunities for the weak. So I have been used to unemployment and laziness.

But I am trying hard to change this negative status. Now I am learning English, computer, doing some household chores labor and serving the society, such as visit an old people's home and help others fixing computer. I am going out of depression and my mood line is rising up (but not mania)! Maybe in one year I will have ability to left home to work in the society.

Really happy to meet you all here. This is a warm home for us to be encouraged and encourage others. BTW, everyday I need medicine and Word of Lord (Bible).

Sincerely, Yusuph in Messiah Jesus

 

[wonderwaleye]

There are several types of social security and many different scenatios that impact the amount you get. So a few basics related to disability- the basic types of social security I know of are SSI (Social security income) and SSDI (social security disability income). SSI is a program designed for low income senoirs and disabled. You do not have to have worked to qualify for this program, but you do have to meet the income (lack of) guidelines and the disability (according to social security guidelines) or age guidelines. SSDI you must have worked and worked enough credits to have access to these funds and be disabled (according to social security guidelines), If you get ssdi you are then automatically eligible for medicare (but not with SSI). The amount for SSI is around $500-550 range, but there is some variations based on cost of living in your area if I understand correctly, but this may be wrong. You can qualify for both programs, ssdi and ssi if your ssdi payments is low enough to meet the income guidelines for ssi. Using ssdi now does NOT effect your retirement pay at all. When you retire you will get the higher of the amounts, your ssdi amount or your retirement amount.

The amount of ssdi you get is based on your amount paid into the social securiyt system and if high enough and you have dependent kids you may qualify for auxillary benefits which also varies based on amount you paid in. It gets more complicated when you have a spouse who worked and paid in and is deceased becauses widow's benfits overlap. Sometimes it feels like the amount of monthly income is pulled out of a hat by Social Security.

SOOO The only way to know for sure is for you to call social security and ask.

So don't hesitate to call. the process of application can be long and discouraging. but if I have one word of advice it is don't let the system discourage you, appeal and appeal and go befoe the hearing judge. Tell the truth about how bad you get, talk about your worst days is the advice I was given by a social worker I knew. Ask you doc, but don't let others discourage you. Wonderwaleye has created some threads with thoughts and ideas also.

I personally applied and appealed all the way and hired an attorney for my hearing and was successful. For me it took 18 months, my son' s looks like it will take 2 years. He is btw eligible for both ssi and will be eligible for the auxilary portion of my ssdi as a disabled adult of a disabled adult clause in the social security law. so don't be afraid to ask questions!!!!

Others will prob share their experiences as well. You can choose an agent to do the paperwork for you if you need this help.

HOpe this helps, feel free to pm me, but I sure don't know everything about this system!!!!!

Blessings

Dear Alive again

Very good job explaining SSD.


I work on SSD claims for neighbors as a representative and have done so for some years.


The one thing that is best for everyone here to know is: " GET A LETTER FROM YOUR DOCTOR STATEING YOUR TOTALY DISABLED "



File with your new claim or any appeal.



If it's filed with a new claim often it will NEVER go to an appeal.



Consider it as the CONCRETE FOUNDATION under your claim. Never had one to crack or go bad.


No matter what the paid in full BY social security doctors say.



ALWAYS REMEMBER:




XEven though you can't see Him, GOD is there!O
( click on the X and move to the O ) ( then feel who is around you )

 

[cac]

My son is 20, onset of bp about age 6, never finished school, but praticaly aced his GED's, flunked out of college due to absentism and unfinished work, 2 jobs fired from first after 2 mos now in second -part time has lasted 6 mos but is barely hanging in there-absent, late, written up -we are already applying for ssi-having an ex rn for a Mom who is on ssdi will allow him if successful to also get $ from my claim, we pray he will be approved, in appeal now, next appel is to the hearing judge.

I get ssi and rsdi, thank god that programs like this are out there for us who have tried but cant hold down a job. I never have been able to and my psychiatrist does not recomend it. I hope and pray your son gets what he is after. Gods blessing be upon you.

Go for ssi and rsdi, I get a combination of both of these and get 623.00 per month. I used to be on just ssi but when I became and adult I qualified for rsdi also. Another thing I get medicade and medicare plus I get help from the state paying for food. Check into all this stuff.

 

[cac]

There are several types of social security and many different scenatios that impact the amount you get. So a few basics related to disability- the basic types of social security I know of are SSI (Social security income) and SSDI (social security disability income). SSI is a program designed for low income senoirs and disabled. You do not have to have worked to qualify for this program, but you do have to meet the income (lack of) guidelines and the disability (according to social security guidelines) or age guidelines. SSDI you must have worked and worked enough credits to have access to these funds and be disabled (according to social security guidelines), If you get ssdi you are then automatically eligible for medicare (but not with SSI). The amount for SSI is around $500-550 range, but there is some variations based on cost of living in your area if I understand correctly, but this may be wrong. You can qualify for both programs, ssdi and ssi if your ssdi payments is low enough to meet the income guidelines for ssi. Using ssdi now does NOT effect your retirement pay at all. When you retire you will get the higher of the amounts, your ssdi amount or your retirement amount.

The amount of ssdi you get is based on your amount paid into the social securiyt system and if high enough and you have dependent kids you may qualify for auxillary benefits which also varies based on amount you paid in. It gets more complicated when you have a spouse who worked and paid in and is deceased becauses widow's benfits overlap. Sometimes it feels like the amount of monthly income is pulled out of a hat by Social Security.

SOOO The only way to know for sure is for you to call social security and ask.

So don't hesitate to call. the process of application can be long and discouraging. but if I have one word of advice it is don't let the system discourage you, appeal and appeal and go befoe the hearing judge. Tell the truth about how bad you get, talk about your worst days is the advice I was given by a social worker I knew. Ask you doc, but don't let others discourage you. Wonderwaleye has created some threads with thoughts and ideas also.

I personally applied and appealed all the way and hired an attorney for my hearing and was successful. For me it took 18 months, my son' s looks like it will take 2 years. He is btw eligible for both ssi and will be eligible for the auxilary portion of my ssdi as a disabled adult of a disabled adult clause in the social security law. so don't be afraid to ask questions!!!!

Others will prob share their experiences as well. You can choose an agent to do the paperwork for you if you need this help.

HOpe this helps, feel free to pm me, but I sure don't know everything about this system!!!!!

Blessings

SSI is (Suplemental security income) social security is SS.

I get SSI/RSDI 623.00 per month between the two, RSDI being (Retirement survivors disabilitie insurance).

Fore health insurance I get medicade and medicare.

 

[PorcelainHeart]

I usually am able to work, I'm stable most of the time, but I had a job kinda of a few weeks ago and I totally lost it because of my mood swings, they happen because the woman was really rude to me dissing me, and saying I'm rude and need help, I dunno what she was talking about. I'm usually very sweet. But I am able to keep a job because most of the time I'm under control.

 

[Daysoni]

This is a new diagnoses for me. One to add to a long list. I've been wondering myself if this is why I can't keep a job. I just start breaking down and haveing anxiety and panic attacks and "I have to quit. I had hopes of returning to school. But if I can't heep a part time job how can I attend school and function. Any advice?

 

[Splayd]

Hey guys! This is my very first post in these forums. For the life of me I don't why I ended up posting in this thread first but I hope I can be of some encouragement.
Until the age of 28 I couldn't stick with anything. I'd dropped out of school twice, been sacked from or quit about 7 jobs and entered uni as a mature age student only to get kicked out for failing to attend exams. One time I even smashed my thumb with a hammer so I would have an excuse to leave a job.
The upshot of it all was that I had so much time to give to God in other ways. My experience with drugs etc... (a lot of us bipolars have been there and done that in our teens) gave me a great deal of compassion towards street kids. Eventually I had up to 40 teenagers staying in my garage, recovering from drugs and finding Christ (when I was only 17 myself). In time I was invited to speak at various churches and camps. God was using me in ways I couldn't envisage, but if you read through the bible He has a habbit of picking people like us to do His work

By the time I was 28 I was married with three kids at school and I'd still never held down a job for any length of time but God had been using me the whole time and somehow the bills were getting paid. Sometimes the bipolar would become a HUGE obstacle and I'd do something stupid that would jeopardise the work that was being done, but all in all God had things under control. Eventually I came to a crossroads - do I try (I mean really, really try) to hold down a job to support my family or do I stick with what I was increasingly considering my (unpaid) full-time ministry with youth. After heaps and heaps of prayer I received a phone call from a local Catholic school that had heard I was tutoring maths. They needed someone to fill in for 3 weeks and the fact I hadn't completed my degree wouldn't be an obstacle. At the interview they explained to me that as I wasn't Catholic I wouldn't be allowed to speak to the kids about my faith in case it was contradictory to their teaching. That was hard to accept, but after prayer I took the job.
6 years later I'm still at the school, but now as a full-time teacher with 2 promotions under my belt. What's more I'm the guy that does all the talks about God at the school retreats etc... as well as the person responsible for the students pastoral needs.
In the end God had an answer for me that was more than I had even asked for - He gave me a job (that I could hold down) and full-time ministry all at once.
I know my case is unique, as are all of ours and God won't have the same answers for your life as He does for mine. In the end though - the answer is simply to submit to God and give Him glory in all that you do - whatever that is, and to know that He is with you always. When we let Him, His will is done in our lives. Sometimes it seems simple and unimportant but we should rejoice in that. If He can trust us with little things - He can give us bigger things too.

Sorry about the length of my reply. I hope it's helpful somehow.

 

[rushingwind62]

I'm just wondering. I've never worked over a week in a row, and ony averaged a job every year or so. Sometimes I feel alone in that...Has anyone else had this problem?

Kielso,
I am 43 and haven't been able to hold a job for more than 3 months at a time. I am now on disability for my bi polar disorder.
Many bi polar have trouble holding down jobs and following through on things. It seems when we get under stress we fall apart. But counselling has helped me to learn to deal with stress better. I am hoping to eventually go back to work at least part time but this is taking time for me to get the tools I need.
I recommend counseling over a long period of time to help deal with all the issues that go with bi polar disorder. I have been in counselling for over 3 years and am only now gaining control over my life. There are no quick answers or miracle drugs that will change things overnight. Most of us spent years getting messed up and it ussually takes years to sort things out and get back on the right track....I am praying for you....God Bless You....Rush