My mission is almost done in about 4-3 months, and I was contemplating on my life immediately after the mission. What I really would like to do, is get a part time job and go to college in my town. However, there’s some adversity to this. My mind is shot, both with breakthrough symptoms and cognitive deficit. I’m on a lot of medication, and because of this, it has corroborated with my illness.
The next suggestion, and the one I’m leaning towards begrudgingly, is getting on disability and working part time. This would last only insomuch as my mind is shot. I just don’t want to be on permanent basis, and would very much like to do it with the utmost confidence to the enabling power of getting back to an area where I’m more stable.
I guess I’m asking this question, and everyone is free to answer with their own desired inputs, what is the right time to be on disability and a part time job?
I’d get on disability right away; it’s good to have steady money coming in. I’ve been working 42 years, mostly part time. When I get reviewed by SSDI I always say I can’t work enough to support myself and I always get renewed.
If you wait for the perfect time to get a part time job you may be waiting forever.
After I got diagnosed I didn’t work for 2 1/2 years. I spent a year in a group home, then 8 months in the hospital, then another 9 months in another group home. When I moved into the last group home I joined a vocational program which I would recommend. It got me prepared to work and after a series of small steps I became employed again.
I didn’t plan to get a job; it just kind of happened. I stayed there four years and I’ve been working ever since. So if you could get in some kind of vocational program that might be a big help. Otherwise I would say apply at department stores where you could get a job stocking shelves or maybe a janitorial position. Those are good solid jobs where you don’t need much experience or training to get them.
After high school, I worked straight for close to two years at a grocery store stocking shelves. I hated it and decided retail was not for me, but the more true aspect of it was that I hated the schedule, so I am open to it again.
Then I worked construction for the two years, I liked doing electrical work, but that’s about all I liked doing. Unfortunately, I can’t do hardly anything with tools because of Parkinsonism caused by haldol. At least not for a job.
Man, don’t do it if you really don’t feel you can do it. Not saying you have to bomb out of a job before you apply. If it’s so obvious to you that you can’t right now, that’s fine. Don’t make your health worse for no good reason, okay?
Yes, thank you. I shouldn’t overstretch myself. I’ve found that when I like the work I’m doing, that it is much more positive and pleasant. I still have time to improve, and I still will face this life with grit.
Yeah, do not force yourself into a position that puts your health at risk. I have done that twice and both times I suffered and had to quit because of it. It’s okay if you can’t work. Might be hard to come to terms with at first, but you will.
It is one of those things that you have to decide on your own. It sounds like it may be risky, so I would probably lean towards going for benefits at this point. Ultimately, the decision ends up being yours. Sorry if that isn’t the clarity in advice you are looking for, but I think it’s true.
I’ve been living on my disability income for going on 13 years. I’ve tried to work but it always ends poorly for my employer. You need to do what is right for you. It’s not wrong to accept help when you are facing challenges. Receiving disability is not like going to jail, you can stop if/when you don’t need it anymore. On the other hand, not getting the assistance you need can be like a jail sentence.