I applied for mental disability for the first time three months ago and just got approved, isn't that rare?

You got approved so quickly for a very simple reason - you were in a psychiatric hospital more than once in one year. That basically makes it automatic and immediate.

Any money paid directly to your college for your education will not count against you. Any money paid directly to the college bookstore for academic books will not count against you. If you are given money for living expenses - that will count against you.

People who are repeatedly denied are usually denied because they are unable to provide the necessary proof that they are disabled according to Social Security law. They are approved on a second or third try because their disability has worsened or changed, they have finally found a doctor who knows how to write the necessary report, or their functional assessment report was written to reflect a more disabled person.

Medicaid is handled by your state

Your state might be different than some others

and... the fact that you have a case-worker who apparently did their job in helping you

Also, being in a group home for a period of time (instead of with family) provided additional input that was used in your favor

and.... one of the most important things with any type of disabilities are your medical records... including your doctor visits

It seems that there is a logic.... if you NEED a doctor then somehow, someway you will figure out HOW to see one... even on extremely limited funds... even going to the indigent clinic if necessary

The part about your SSI, I don't know... they do count resources... I am just not sure how SSI views Pell Grants & Voc Rehab into your resources totals -- wish I could help with this part of the answer, but I simply can't... anything I say would be a guess & could prove to give you bad information.

Just some added info --- having a diagnosis (or several) does not qualify a person for disability... it is in HOW (or IF) those medical conditions affect the person

I had the same diagnosis when I was 20 as I do at 44

the difference is that my health got worse over time

I was diagnosed with 5 disabling diseases at 20 years old, It would have never occurred to me to file for disability because I was able to work... essentially, I was outrunning my illnesses

as time went on & my conditions progressed, then my health got worse.... and at 40, I was no longer able to out-run my illnesses.... that is the point that I was actually disabled

Missing 10% of time scheduled to be at work due to disabling illnesses is one thing -- missing 50% is something entirely different --- In my case, it progressed over the years from 10% to 15%, then 20% and so forth until my last year I missed more work than I actually was there to do my work

So many times, people think that they should qualify for SSI/SSD simply based on diagnosis and not on actually being disabled

In your case... your mental illnesses manifested themselves in some very disabling ways..... and while that it is tragic to have to live with, it also supplied more info that led to your disability determination

I wish you luck at college. Let's hope it goes well & your ability to become gainfully employed in a cooking career will work well for you :)

I think your extensive mental health records are the reason. I also was approved within 3-4 months of when my paperwork was filed.

There was a Republican in office at the time so, I don't think democrats were involved in any way.

You don't think that the government is watching you! But they are! Your award is based on your needs and your diagnosis is only a small part of the matter!

You must always inform the government when you are attending college. If you do the right thing, then they will stick by you. Don't know where you are, but in London, you can get mental financial help quick enough if you have a supportive support mental health network.

You are one of the lucky ones and you have great support. Do not let it go to your head! As professionals do not like smart patients.

Usually an initial claim is decided in about 90 days. Many, many people are approved on their initial claim. The more "disabled" you are, the quicker it is to approve you. There are sooooo many applications for trivial matters and minor problems. That is why you hear about people never getting approved or it going on for appeal after appeal. When you are truly, severely limited in your daily function, sometimes people get approved almost instantly.

Yes, it's rare. I'm trying to get SSI for both physical and mental disabilities but I've never been institutionalized and rarely see a doctor so it's harder for me to get approved. I've been trying since Febuary 2008 and recently got word that I SHOULD get a hearing by May 2010. You probably got it sooner due to your excessive hospitalization and very recent medical records. And a suicide attempt really helps and yes, I'm on my third try.