How does one apply for permanent disability or benefits?

get the book "social security disability" from nolo press, at nolo.com, or see if you can get it at your library (maybe even thru an interlibrary loan?) It will give you a lot of background on how to apply, what criteria are used, and how to fill out the forms.

You have to be profoundly disabled to get disability, and if you are relatively young and educated, it will be harder. But if you really can't hold down a job, and you can document that, you should get it eventually. You will almost certainly be rejected the first time, and the process takes awhile, so somehow you have to manage your finances in the meantime.

Keep in mind that once you go on disability, you will never get off of it, no one does. You will be in poverty the rest of your life unless you marry out of it or a miracle cures you. The ways the rules are make you dependent on the system, so keep that in mind when you are deciding if you want to do this. A lot of people have no choice, because they can't work at all, or they can't keep a job with insurance to get their pills. but it's still humiliating in America to have no job-people always ask when you are being introduced,"oh hello, what do YOU do for a living?" which ends up being a very nosy question without meaning to. If you can get supportive help from social services (in my state, they will pay for support groups and a social worker to visit and help with paperwork) or tweak your meds some more, or from a local consumer group (google the words consumer, mental, and your state. Consumer=person getting mental health services) then maybe you won't have to go on disability.

I'm on SSA myself, and need the medicare, so I'm not being judgmental, I just want you to know what you're getting into. Get the book I recommended, it will give you all the legal and inside information to see if you qualify.

all the best to you! I hope you feel better soon!

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You are going to need a psychologist and possiblity psychiatrist agree in writing to social security that you have mental health issues that will long term negatively impact on your ability to hold a job. That is very hard and it is supposed to be.

Before you apply you are going to have to go through extensive therapy which could include medications, which usually help reduce the anxiety and thus allow a motivated person to get and hold a job.

Call you local mental health center, state or county, and make an appointment since you don't have a job and insurance. But don't be surrprised if they tell you disability is not an easy road! One of the steps that may be required is a referral to Vocational Rehabilitation for testing and possibly training.

The system is not set up for people just to give up and automatically get benefits. Thank goodness or no one would work!

Good luck with staying in the adult mainsteam with a fun life and a job.

Permanent Disability Nj

God, this worries me. I suffer from intractable, chronic cluster headaches - getting anywhere from 4 to 12 a day. Totally debilitating. I went of temp disability, thinking that would give me the time to figure out a treatment plan to get them under control, but nothing works on me - drugs, even surgery have made no difference. The year of state disability is drawing to a close, and now I still won't be able to work. Seriously, does it really take that long to qualify and get approved? I have greatly reduced bandwidth and can only be away from home for very short periods of time without triggering and needing to be on oxygen, etc. Is this going to be a nightmare? I'm hoping that I can buy some time by getting on SSD so I can continue to pursue treatments, with the goal of getting back into the workplace. After all, I'm a very high wage earner, so all benefits will allow me to do is eat, keer the utilities running and pay for meds.

The best place to go is to a SSD attorney. To begin with they know more about Social Security benefits than you ever will. Also they will do all the up front work for you, letting you know immediately whether you are a good candidate for benefits. If you are they will represent you for free to the SSA since they are paid at the end when benefits are collected. Federal law states how much SSD attorney's can charge--its the same for all of them so pick the best! Even if you are a good candidate be prepared. It can take an average of 3 years to get SSD benefits and most applicants are refused at the first level.

Call your local Social Security office & tell them that you need some info on how to apply for disability. They will send you a questionaire to fill out. You will have to fill these questions out right away, as the SS office will schedule you for an over the phone interview, at which time, you will be asked to answer the question as you have written down on the questionaire. Please be ready to do a lot of paperwork & keep any correspondence from the SS in a safe place where you can refer to it in the future. Make copiesof all paperwork that pertains to your request for getting disability. You will need lots of documentation from your doctor & employers. You may be turned down for SS Disability or SSI, more than once, which is normal, but keep plugging away & you will probably be accepted sooner or later. You will then be eligible for Medicare, Medicaid, & food stamps.

Apply to the Social Security office for disability benefits. they will tell you what doctor's reports you will need. If you have a doctor's statement, take it with you. He will need to state that you are unable to work due to your disability. Best wishes

You can apply for SSD, but keep in mind, you have to be "totally and permanently" disabled according to their rules. You won't lose anything by trying, so do it. Be sure you have plenty of documentation by doctors, employers, personal, etc. Also, always keep a copy of anything you send them.

Good luck.

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EDIT....EDIT....

Eligibility for SSA Disability Benefits begins with the income you have reported to SSA for the previous ten years. If you have worked for roughly the past five out of ten years, then you are likely eligible for the SSA programs.

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Local Social Security office.