Considering disability social support in place of regular job

[JCPHN]

So, I've been employed with the same employer for about four years now. It's my second highest-paying job I've had to date, and one that can accommodate some of my problems occasionally, which also makes it the least stressful job I've had to date. However, recently my other psychological issues like PTSD have made things pretty difficult, such as daily shutdowns and getting angry over insignificant things. I've tried a few medications and realized quickly that route wasn't going to be one I would take. I work for a small business wherein most of the people are good friends and socialize with each other a lot, which creates an environment that isolates and singles me out often. This has gotten to be too hard for me, and I'm a bit worried that if I cannot handle what's probably the easiest job I've ever had, what could I handle in the future?

I'm considering more thoroughly pursuing a diagnosis and course of treatment through my psychiatrist at the clinic I go to, in order to see what my options are as far as a disability benefit or something like that. Is anyone here currently or formerly a recipient of government assistance? I would really like some advice from people who are knowledgeable about those subjects because this issue has been on my mind a lot lately, and I'd like to take some sort of decisive action.

Thanks! Looking forward to hearing your experiences and opinions.

 

[Spiller]

I'm considering more thoroughly pursuing a diagnosis and course of treatment through my psychiatrist at the clinic I go to, in order to see what my options are as far as a disability benefit or something like that.

I can't say I'm an expert, but I struggled more and more at work over the years and just tried to put up with it, until I had a massive burnout and, for the moment at least, can't work at all now.. sometimes it's a huge effort just to leave the house.
I've been on benefits for 18 months so far and am pursuing a diagnosis.
In some ways I'm much better for not having the stress of work, but I have suffered from the burnout.. I feel.. impaired somehow.
Now I have the time, I'm working on ways to help myself (as the UK NHS is snail slow regarding AS/ASD) by learning about this condition, as I see no reason I should be 'disabled' for the rest of my life.
The downside is lack of money, which means I'm unable to pay for any treatments - councelling, etc and I can't afford to join groups where I might be able to socialise (I'm one of those Aspies who needs social contact), or internet - I have to find hotspots to spend time on AC, which helps me greatly. So I have a lot of time on my hands at the moment and am sometimes even more isolated than before.. it's not fun, it's ironic, really.
Have you considered working part time, or finding a job better suited to you? If this is such a problem for you, in my experience, diagnosis and treatment, though I've found it a long, hard road, is the best option.. I can't do another burnout!
I hope my experience, while not a positive one as yet, is of use to you JCPHN.
I wish you good luck, whatever your choice.

 

[dragonwolf]

Yeah, that sounds like burnout, or something close/similar. When was the last time you had a vacation that actually allowed you to relax? That might be what you need.

Does your work allow for remote working, or would they be open to it? I ask less because of the actual remote working and more because the infrastructure (namely text communication) may help you socialize more, which can help you feel more included. It's worth considering, at least.

If going on disability is what you need to do, then there's no shame in it, but it is a very tight living, and often provides only very barely enough even for the most bare essentials. Additionally, it also has its own stresses (paperwork, jumping through qualification hoops, etc). So be mindful of that when considering your options.

 

[AsheSkyler]

I'm a fan of remote work and self employment. Self employment does have additional stresses and responsibilities. True of everything I guess, so I guess in the end most people have to choose the lesser of the given evils.

 

[JCPHN]

I have never taken a vacation of any kind because the money just isn't available. As far as working remotely, I don't have skills that would apply to my current job where that would be possible. I have been trying to find better work for about two years now, to no avail at every turn. I have a cheap living space with a roommate, so as long as I could pay rent and feed my animals, I would be happy, if I had to go on disability.

 

[dragonwolf]

I have never taken a vacation of any kind because the money just isn't available. As far as working remotely, I don't have skills that would apply to my current job where that would be possible. I have been trying to find better work for about two years now, to no avail at every turn. I have a cheap living space with a roommate, so as long as I could pay rent and feed my animals, I would be happy, if I had to go on disability.

And there lies the problem. Depending on how much your government pays and your cost of living, there's a good chance you won't be able to. Having a roommate helps, but might not be enough. That will be something you'll need to research on your own.

As for vacations, you don't need to go anywhere at all. You just need to be able to take time off work to relax and recharge, more than what a typical evening or weekend does. These breaks are crucial to avoiding burnout, even for NTs.

 

[JCPHN]

I think the best plan for me at the moment is to try working part-time (because that's what my hours have been reduced to lately due to a badly-planned move of our facilities, and my physical health issues) and see if I can get benefits that help things a bit. I'm going to talk about everything with my psychiatrist on Friday and see what she thinks.

BTW, thanks everyone, for your insight. I can't even explain how much it helps.

 

[Spinning Compass]

While I have not had any personal experience with disability/social security, I do know people who are on it, and this is what I have observed.

As others have pointed out, you will barely get enough to cover your basic needs. You will not have much choice in where/how you want to live as you will be restricted to where you can afford to live. My personal experience with low-income housing is that it is generally not aspie-friendly. You have a lot of noise, a lot of chaos, a lot of problems with neighbors, drugs, crime. The lower you are on the income scale, the worse these problems will be. There are very few low-income housing options that will take into account your various sensitivities. This I do know a good deal about, because I am in the high end of the low income scale.

If you do go on disability, then make sure that you are aware of your rights. There are a lot of places out there who feed off people who are on disability. I have a neighbor on social security disability who is being taken advantage of by our landlord to the point where it is destroying his health. I am going with him to court tomorrow so that I can see for myself just what is going on and perhaps provide some support. But make no mistake. People on disability are prey to many unscrupulous operators and there is a lot of them out there. The key thing you should ALWAYS keep in mind is not, "is it fair," but "is it LEGAL?" You would be surprised at how many absolutely sh*tty things there are out there that one human being can do to another that are perfectly legal.

Personally, I would avoid the disability trap as much as possible, based on what I have witnessed. You really are at the mercy of other people who may or may not give a crap about you and your issues. You are just another number in an already overloaded system.

 

[Spinning Compass]

Also, you need to be prepared to fight hard and long for your rights. You need to be as tenacious as a bulldog. Meek and mild, laid-back, mellow has no place in this world. Those who are not prepared to stand up for themselves, who are not willing to stand up for themselves, who are not able to stand up for themselves, will be eaten alive by the system. Make no mistake, this is not a route to easy living. In fact, you may very well find it far more stressful than working.