#SSDI

[brightlotusmoon]

[watercolor-freckles]

Even though no one is talking about it, disabled people will be the group that sufferers tremendously (if not the most) compared to other marginalized groups due to this US election outcome.

If Trump repeals the ACA, insurance won’t cover our medical treatments, aids, or procedures. It’s likely that SSDI (many people’s only source of income) will be taken away, other benefits will have a work requirement that is impossible for most disabled people to meet, educational protections will be removed for disabled students, prices of medication (that we need to live) will go up, the list goes on.

Many of us will die, become extremely ill, and/or become homeless due to even just the repeal of the ACA and removal of some SS/SSDI (many people’s only form of income). It’s uncertain what exactly is going to happen and when, but disabled Americans are going to suffer. Please be aware of what’s happening to us these next 4 years, try to advocate as much as you can, and support your disabled and chronically ill community members (since the federal government obviously will not).

[bitchesgetriches]

✨NEW POST!✨

The Social Safety Net for Disabled People Is Broken

The Center for American Progress interviewed disabled people who had been through the American Ninja Warrior obstacle course that is the bureaucratic process of applying for disability benefits. If I may summarize their experience in one sentence, it would be: The dehumanization is the point.

These folks described how they were treated like criminals and frauds; evaluated by unqualified medical professionals; judged by people who had no idea what their disability entailed; and how they spent money they didn’t have on lawyers just to access basic ADA protections.

Keep reading.

[yamimichi]

Ya know, I can understand that some people who are disabled want to keep working. They don't want to apply for SSI or SSDI. And that's fine. More power to them.

What bothers me though is when they say things like "I don't want to live off the system" in a very derogatory manner.

Some of us can't work. And SSI and SSDI don't really give us enough to live on. So we need food stamps. Some of us rely on subsidized housing. We struggle to get through each month. And we don't need people being derogatory to us because of our disabilities. We don't need people acting like we're "less than" because of our disabilities. And we especially don't need this coming from other disabled people.

[long-anti-covid]

Action item for people in the US with long covid:

the Long-Hauler Advocacy Project is asking people with long covid (and caregivers for people with long covid) to fill out their survey about the Social Security Disability process

they're trying to gather information that they can use in advocating to reform the disability application process

they are asking for responses from anyone with long covid, whether you've applied to SSDI or not (one of the things they are gathering data on is the reasons why people haven't applied.)

[sephirajo]

I know so many people besides me on SSDI who can only eat once a day, if that. Many of them are also on food stamps. When are we going to fuck shit up about this? Or will people keep ignoring it because it's the disabled and we're not worth it to so many of you, even other leftists who are okay throwing us off to die and never discussing just how intense these problems are, and how deadly.

[whatarewedoingheree]

So I had a conversation with my coworker about me being on disability and she says “ugh can I go on disability?” Because she doesn’t want to work. And it’s like wow how insensitive???? Does it just sound soooo fun to be disabled so you CANT work at all or not full time? It’s not a silly little choice it’s a fucking disability. People don’t realize/understand that I have an actual disability because I “look” able bodied (despite having a chronic physical illness) and don’t act like my mental illness controls my life cuz I mask really well (meanwhile my anxiety is controlling every action I take)….

[snarp]

Current daily problem under Biden administration: "How do we help this person who is too disabled to convince the SSA to give them disability benefits?"

Projected daily problem in 3 years under Harris: same but maybe 2x daily.

Projected daily problem in 3 years under Trump: "How do we convince this person that disability benefits no longer exist?"

(I think it'll probably take a couple years to gut SSDI completely? Could be wrong.)

[smoov-criminal]

in case anyone forgot how bullshit the american disability system is, i submitted my ssdi application a few days ago and it told me the average wait time for the first decision is 397 days. not even the entire process including appeals, just the first decision. im lucky enough to have stable housing but we still got bills, what the fuck am i supposed to do for like 2+ years while i wait? what about people who don't have reliable housing that whole time? they truly expect us to either give up or die before the final decision is made

[serenityquest]

[almostfini]

You really should have thought of that before you became disabled!

Been trying to get on disability for over 2 years and I just found out they won't even review my appeal for another year. Shitposting through the pain as always

[geezerwench]

Anyone on Social Security or Disability should know, Project 2025 totally eliminates ALL benefits.

[seasickzig]

I was recently denied for SSDI after my first application, and thats normal and I’m going to reapply. One of the reasons I cannot work is because I have Psychogenic Non Epileptic Seizures, which can be Grand Mal, Absence, or Atonic.

An SSDI letter clarified that my seizures are not “frequent or severe enough” for me to miss work.

I have never been asked by a doctor how often I am seizing, so I’m not sure how SSDI thinks they know how often I am seizing, but it is at least once a week. I seize in grocery stores, I seize while microwaving meals. I can’t drive anymore because of the seizures!!!

Also, I think the idea that any amount of seizures is an acceptable amount of seizures is wild? Like, “Oh yeah, I just had to lay down and have a grand mal seizure at my desk, but lets get back to work! Also lets ignore everyone staring at me like I’m a wounded puppy!” How many seizures do I have to have at work before I can go home? How many seizures do I have to have at work before they fire me (and say its for a different reason)?

And this is TOTALLY ignoring the fact that I also have Autism and Ehlers Danlos Syndrome and a whole host of comorbidities. There are some days I cannot speak. at all. There are some days I don’t make it to the bathroom in time because my body doesnt tell me. I cannot lift 50lbs, I cannot stand for a whole shift, I can’t even stand for 15 minutes. Oh yeah, and I CAN’T DRIVE! How do you get anywhere or do anything in America without reliable transportation!

Anyway I’m re-submitting my SSDI application because there’s no way I can work. Wish me luck!

[bitchesgetriches]

Hey bitches! I have something that might be a useful thing for some of your readers. I’m disabled and started getting SSI recently. There is a thing called an ABLE account that lets a disabled person save money that SSI/SSDI would otherwise count against them. I was scared about making the account but it was really easy. I don’t think it’s a really well known program but more people should know about it. There is a basic rundown and links to state by state programs here: https://www.ablenrc.org/what-is-able/what-are-able-acounts/

Great work, babycakes!!! We're so proud of you for getting your ABLE Account started. Here's that link for everyone else: https://www.ablenrc.org/what-is-able/what-are-able-acounts/

We covered a bit about ABLE Accounts, SSI, and SSDI during Disability Pride Month this year:

Why There’s So Little (Good) Personal Finance for Disabled People 

The Social Safety Net for Disabled People Is Broken

Short-Term Disability Insurance Is a Waste of Money… With Two Very Specific Exceptions 

Long-Term Disability Insurance Is a Necessity… and a Scam 

Did we just help you out? Say thanks on Patreon.

[dr-archeville]

Disability Benefits: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO) [source]

"John Oliver discusses why disability benefits can be hard to get and easy to lose, how getting them can turn people’s lives upside down, and why John fucking hates mimes. Ya, you heard us. John Oliver fucking hates mimes. Spread the word." [24 min 5 sec]

[pumpkinspicedmochi]

Feel like ssi/ssdi is wayyyy harder to get than it should be..why are they allowed to tell you that you not in pain as if they would know how YOU feel inside own body..it feels like they are more worried about "people lying" than they are with actually helping disabled people..but like not surprised