Please be aware anyone who has any condition, whether physical or mental, can apply for disability benefits either on their own, or with help from any representative of their choosing, if they believe their condition affects their ability to work. As we live in the United States we will focus on US Social Security Administration laws, rules and regulations, with regards to who can and cannot get benefits. For those who can work, to substantial gainful levels, this thread is not meant for them, as we are glad for those who can function like that.
For those others who do not care about such label, and who want to consider disability benefit assistance, I will give some key facts and important information to consider before applying, as the Social Security Administration is not in the business to be fair, but to make things tough for those who are applying.
(1) Those who have very inadequate work histories, regardless of diagnosed condition or perceived condition severity, meaning those who did not have many jobs whereby they were employed at substantial gainful levels, like full time jobs up to a year in duration in length, will likely have an easier time getting approved, if they state their case merits clearly and convincingly.
(2) A formal diagnosis is needed, and preferably from an MD or Phd medical doctor, like a psychiatrist or psychologist, or some general doctor or specialist. But, other reports, like from a mental health social worker, nurse practitioners. etc. has to be considered, by the SSA, too. If you have no diagnosis yet, or limited medical history, the SSA will likely send you to a consultative exam doctor.
(3) Consultative exam doctors scheduled by the SSA are often biased towards minimizing someone's condition, as they are paid by the SSA. Such examiners usually are not thorough, and they are more apt to create a report favoring the SSA's preferred position of a condition that is not severe enough to warrant a disability label, unless the condition was obviously severe from the surface, and then that consultative examiner would fear more minimizing the condition. That is why one should make sure to have adequate medical history before applying for benefits, otherwise, a consultative examine doctor will be brought in.
(4) Do not rely on just the application and medical reports to win your case. Have attached signed witness statements, besides the copies of medical reports, and lots of other supporting materials to prove your case. If you yourself cannot do this and vigorously state your case in writing, and attach with the completed application many supporting evidence attachments, find someone that will. It could be a lawyer, a family member, friend or other person who is very familiar with things, like basics of SSA law, all your limitations and daily living problems, and how it impacted you at work or would impact you at work and your ability to work at most all jobs outside the home, and how it impacts you in various surroundings. This all needs to be documented, in professional format if possible, so the SSA knows you will put up a good fight, and not run away easily throughout the process or after any unfavorable initial decision.
For instance, the SSA's application for disability benefits will have limited spaces for you to provide answers to several of the daily living activities and functioning questions. Why do you think they have such limited space to write how your functioning and daily living activities can affect you ? Why do you think they may have a statement on a form also saying "We can get this information (medical reports) for you?" It is because they do not want you or your representative to provide lots of information supporting your claim, and for you to see lots of medical information supporting your claim. Another trick they sometimes do is to provide a self-addressed large thin envelope that only their application will fit snugly in. Submit your own larger mailing envelope with up to 50-100 pages of supporting attachments if need be. Also, they often want persons to apply through the computer, knowing often these claimants will be briefer online, and not submit attachments if applying in person or through mail.
(5) The SSA purposefully makes it harder for mental conditions to be approved as a disability, as seen by their forms where most of the questions are physical related in origin. But, please be aware that even for many of these questions, there is a way for an autistic person or those with another condition or traits of such to state some difficulty, even if the physical section is regarding walking, seeing, hearing, talking, etc. For instance, for walking some Aspies and/with ADHD, OCD, traits could say, "Yes, I walk too fast, or walk away from people." For seeing, one could say, "It takes me time to process what I see, or my mind jumps around when I read." For hearing some could say, "I often take things literally. I do not understand properly the talk from NTs." For talking one could say, "Yes, I often cannot talk to people I do not know or trust." These are just a few examples, and the answers would vary, but be as long and relevant as possible in the written replies. The wording for the SSA questions usually is, "Do you have any problems with.." They never stated the answers had to be traditional type answers.
So, on those lines in the application next to each such physical or mental limitation or a daily living activity question, say "Please see exhibit "A" which could be like a numerous page document detailing those application question issues more. We chose at least one page of written information for each limitation. The more information submitted the better.
(6) Their application may not have questions that involve other limitations and daily living problems you have, as again, their form is basic and often focuses on physical ailments, and with limited space to write, so feel free to create your own section called "Other" where you detail other things that would indicate disability and problems with functioning and daily activities. Attach this section "Other" at the end of the just mentioned typed several page document, to answer in complete detail all their functioning and disability questions on their form there.
(7) Please understand the SSA has to base their disability criteria on all your conditions and signs and symptoms combined, meaning if you feel your one condition may not qualify, it could qualify if you combine it with the other issues and conditions. They have to look at all conditions combined, to determine disability. Truth be told though, anyone who has very inadequate work history because of anxiety, stress, depression, or concentration issues could get benefits if things were worded right, with just one diagnosed condition, though the more conditions one has, the less the SSA could try to convince you you were not disabled.
(8) Yes, Autistic children can get disability benefits, and even those on the higher Spectrum end. All one needs is a savvy person to know how to deal with the system, and how to present the case; one who is vigilant, proactive, and can see in detail and fight for the child's current and future rights, which could help with future health benefits and accommodations too.
(9) Please find someone who does not take things literally to fight your claim. If the SSA says, 'You are denied, because you do not have sufficient medical evidence,' or saying 'Your condition is not severe enough to be deemed disabled' do not assume that is true. The SSA persons are the biggest liars, cheats, rule hiders, rule breakers, condition minimizers you will ever find. Do not assume or trust what they say regarding you are not disabled, if they ever say such, unless you have exhausted all appeals. A lawyer will be taken more seriously by the SSA, but realize lawyers do not create 50-100 pages of additional evidence. They get reports, state a brief law, and wait. It is your job or family members or friends job to provide them with additional material like specifics regarding work history, and why the problems there, and functional limitations, daily living limitations, etc. They do not know you, or have time or ability to analyze all of that. You or your other representative can help them with that.
(10) Appeal unfavorable decisions within the time frame allowed. Do not stop fighting for benefits because of a 1st stage denial, and then apply again later. Although you can do it that way, it shows lack of determination by the SSA, and lack of conviction. Denials are common for the first stage, and often reversed the 2nd or 3rd tage, if you have a medical report proving a condition whereby work and daily living is difficult, and with a witness supporting statement would help, too, as they could know how functioning and daily living activities was affected in numerous environments.
(11) For a medical visit, prior to applying for benefits to the SSA if possible, submit a letter on one of the visits that details your extreme limited work history and why you cannot work at jobs, and why you have to apply for benefits because of severe work related stress and being around people, if applicable. Submit reasons why you quit, never worked or cannot work, or got fired. Submit information of your daily living problems, and functioning problems that would make work impossible now without severe trauma. Do not expect any doctor to do the work for you, as they often only know what they see on the surface.
This is just some basic information for those who are considering disability benefits. I have much more knowledge for those interested, if you have questions or comments to make in this thread, or privately. Thanks.
For those others who do not care about such label, and who want to consider disability benefit assistance, I will give some key facts and important information to consider before applying, as the Social Security Administration is not in the business to be fair, but to make things tough for those who are applying.
(1) Those who have very inadequate work histories, regardless of diagnosed condition or perceived condition severity, meaning those who did not have many jobs whereby they were employed at substantial gainful levels, like full time jobs up to a year in duration in length, will likely have an easier time getting approved, if they state their case merits clearly and convincingly.
(2) A formal diagnosis is needed, and preferably from an MD or Phd medical doctor, like a psychiatrist or psychologist, or some general doctor or specialist. But, other reports, like from a mental health social worker, nurse practitioners. etc. has to be considered, by the SSA, too. If you have no diagnosis yet, or limited medical history, the SSA will likely send you to a consultative exam doctor.
(3) Consultative exam doctors scheduled by the SSA are often biased towards minimizing someone's condition, as they are paid by the SSA. Such examiners usually are not thorough, and they are more apt to create a report favoring the SSA's preferred position of a condition that is not severe enough to warrant a disability label, unless the condition was obviously severe from the surface, and then that consultative examiner would fear more minimizing the condition. That is why one should make sure to have adequate medical history before applying for benefits, otherwise, a consultative examine doctor will be brought in.
(4) Do not rely on just the application and medical reports to win your case. Have attached signed witness statements, besides the copies of medical reports, and lots of other supporting materials to prove your case. If you yourself cannot do this and vigorously state your case in writing, and attach with the completed application many supporting evidence attachments, find someone that will. It could be a lawyer, a family member, friend or other person who is very familiar with things, like basics of SSA law, all your limitations and daily living problems, and how it impacted you at work or would impact you at work and your ability to work at most all jobs outside the home, and how it impacts you in various surroundings. This all needs to be documented, in professional format if possible, so the SSA knows you will put up a good fight, and not run away easily throughout the process or after any unfavorable initial decision.
For instance, the SSA's application for disability benefits will have limited spaces for you to provide answers to several of the daily living activities and functioning questions. Why do you think they have such limited space to write how your functioning and daily living activities can affect you ? Why do you think they may have a statement on a form also saying "We can get this information (medical reports) for you?" It is because they do not want you or your representative to provide lots of information supporting your claim, and for you to see lots of medical information supporting your claim. Another trick they sometimes do is to provide a self-addressed large thin envelope that only their application will fit snugly in. Submit your own larger mailing envelope with up to 50-100 pages of supporting attachments if need be. Also, they often want persons to apply through the computer, knowing often these claimants will be briefer online, and not submit attachments if applying in person or through mail.
(5) The SSA purposefully makes it harder for mental conditions to be approved as a disability, as seen by their forms where most of the questions are physical related in origin. But, please be aware that even for many of these questions, there is a way for an autistic person or those with another condition or traits of such to state some difficulty, even if the physical section is regarding walking, seeing, hearing, talking, etc. For instance, for walking some Aspies and/with ADHD, OCD, traits could say, "Yes, I walk too fast, or walk away from people." For seeing, one could say, "It takes me time to process what I see, or my mind jumps around when I read." For hearing some could say, "I often take things literally. I do not understand properly the talk from NTs." For talking one could say, "Yes, I often cannot talk to people I do not know or trust." These are just a few examples, and the answers would vary, but be as long and relevant as possible in the written replies. The wording for the SSA questions usually is, "Do you have any problems with.." They never stated the answers had to be traditional type answers.
So, on those lines in the application next to each such physical or mental limitation or a daily living activity question, say "Please see exhibit "A" which could be like a numerous page document detailing those application question issues more. We chose at least one page of written information for each limitation. The more information submitted the better.
(6) Their application may not have questions that involve other limitations and daily living problems you have, as again, their form is basic and often focuses on physical ailments, and with limited space to write, so feel free to create your own section called "Other" where you detail other things that would indicate disability and problems with functioning and daily activities. Attach this section "Other" at the end of the just mentioned typed several page document, to answer in complete detail all their functioning and disability questions on their form there.
(7) Please understand the SSA has to base their disability criteria on all your conditions and signs and symptoms combined, meaning if you feel your one condition may not qualify, it could qualify if you combine it with the other issues and conditions. They have to look at all conditions combined, to determine disability. Truth be told though, anyone who has very inadequate work history because of anxiety, stress, depression, or concentration issues could get benefits if things were worded right, with just one diagnosed condition, though the more conditions one has, the less the SSA could try to convince you you were not disabled.
(8) Yes, Autistic children can get disability benefits, and even those on the higher Spectrum end. All one needs is a savvy person to know how to deal with the system, and how to present the case; one who is vigilant, proactive, and can see in detail and fight for the child's current and future rights, which could help with future health benefits and accommodations too.
(9) Please find someone who does not take things literally to fight your claim. If the SSA says, 'You are denied, because you do not have sufficient medical evidence,' or saying 'Your condition is not severe enough to be deemed disabled' do not assume that is true. The SSA persons are the biggest liars, cheats, rule hiders, rule breakers, condition minimizers you will ever find. Do not assume or trust what they say regarding you are not disabled, if they ever say such, unless you have exhausted all appeals. A lawyer will be taken more seriously by the SSA, but realize lawyers do not create 50-100 pages of additional evidence. They get reports, state a brief law, and wait. It is your job or family members or friends job to provide them with additional material like specifics regarding work history, and why the problems there, and functional limitations, daily living limitations, etc. They do not know you, or have time or ability to analyze all of that. You or your other representative can help them with that.
(10) Appeal unfavorable decisions within the time frame allowed. Do not stop fighting for benefits because of a 1st stage denial, and then apply again later. Although you can do it that way, it shows lack of determination by the SSA, and lack of conviction. Denials are common for the first stage, and often reversed the 2nd or 3rd tage, if you have a medical report proving a condition whereby work and daily living is difficult, and with a witness supporting statement would help, too, as they could know how functioning and daily living activities was affected in numerous environments.
(11) For a medical visit, prior to applying for benefits to the SSA if possible, submit a letter on one of the visits that details your extreme limited work history and why you cannot work at jobs, and why you have to apply for benefits because of severe work related stress and being around people, if applicable. Submit reasons why you quit, never worked or cannot work, or got fired. Submit information of your daily living problems, and functioning problems that would make work impossible now without severe trauma. Do not expect any doctor to do the work for you, as they often only know what they see on the surface.
This is just some basic information for those who are considering disability benefits. I have much more knowledge for those interested, if you have questions or comments to make in this thread, or privately. Thanks.
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I can work just fine, however the industrial shop I work at has had two months of 10 hour work shifts, physical work... I'm starting to get very tired, even on weekends when I like to stay active... 
