I am not sure if with schizophrenia, I would become successful. I keep wanting to not go to university when I should, but when you don’t have to work, have your own space, and enough to live on, I feel silly to give that up and have multiple stressors. I might be bored, I might not, but what have you done? I have been diagnosed for 8 years and have only done 2.5 years of consistent work and 1 year of studying consistently. What should I do? My mental health is a priority, and I need to put myself first. However, I don’t believe I will be able to date while claiming. I’m curious how you got on and for how long, so I can relate and decide to delay university.
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I got tired of the boredom and the poverty (benefits here do not cover cost of living) so I made a run for it and managed to get back into working life. It’s not easy, but it’s worthwhile. For me. You’re not me so I can’t say if this is good for you.
Good luck.
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I’ve always worked. I need the money and I do not do good when I have nothing to do.
After I got diagnosed at age 19 in 1980 I was too psychotic to work for those first 2 1/2 years. I spent a year in a group home accomplishing nothing (I couldn’t have done anything even if I wanted to). Then 8 months in the hospital then moved into another group home and went to a vocational program and nine months later I got my first job as a schizophrenic. I’ve been working ever since.
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I’ve been on benefits since i was 18…i managed to earn a master’s degree in between there sometime but had trouble with working with other people and missing my job due to hospitalizations. So I’m 51 now and still on social security, and i get help paying my rent with public housing assistance. It doesn’t leave a lot of money to live on but i live frugally and manage to save some money each month for emergencies. It’s not an easy way to live, honestly, and i frequently get bored just going to appointments and my clubhouse. I would work if i could…
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I wish I could work or study. I can’t even leave my home without running commentary and paranoia messing with my head.
If I could work or study I would do it.
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I want to go back to school and ultimately get a job using my skill set.
I just don’t know if I can do it without compromising too much of my mental health, and therein lies the problem.
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if it were me and id worked before and gone to school i would go back to it. ive been diagnosed 21 years now and have never worked. at this point i think it will be really hard to get a job. i still want to tho
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Ive been on benefits since i was 21. And i was working before then, first at the Council on the mainframes - and then spent years working as a Nursing assistant in Nursing Homes, thats where i met my beautiful Lady emma.
At the end of the day - you simply have got to asses yourself, what your personal limits are, having an MI. If you can work, and you want to - all well and good.
And - why cannot you date, while claiming? Are you afraid of the stigma?
Many people do well, and have successful careers with Schizophrenia, i suppose it depends what end of the spectrum you are with it. It all comes down, to developing your own personal coping skills, and thats something you have to learn for yourself.
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I’m not able to work, sometimes I miss it. The adrenaline rush of working in a hospital. I’ve grown accustomed to my lifestyle now because I had to put of necessity. I tried working a few times when I first got sick and failed. I tried one last time putting in resumes and no one would hire me. I don’t blame them. I can’t tell what’s reality.
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Im trying to get on benefits now. I recently worked as a mechanic, but being on meds made it very difficult while being off meds makes it impossible. I have no interest in working really, and will only go back to work if I absolutely have to. I find no satisfaction in it. I like waking up with nothing to do.
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I’ve spent 2 decades on benefits and live a good life.
It’s different to most and I’m older so started in my 30’s but seriously. I sucked at jobs. Great worker but stress and paranoia were killing me and I only ever could do minimum wage.
So. It’s a lot harder now but I don’t regret moving sideways. If the benefits can help you live then it’s good and I’ve lived a great quality of life but after an overseas venture it’s helped as I paid back my family…these days the disability payments are just covering minimum and it’s hard to save but I don’t regret it…
You have to weigh up your function versus earnings. Can you do a job? Can you gain there but disability worked for me with family support…It’s not easy in this day and age where the poor and margiinalised are targetted over the rich but hey…you get what you pay for!
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As long as you can keep yourself happy
For me I work as @shutterbug says the benefits did not cover my costs at all
Just don’t give up on yourself
Whether it’s a hobby, work or something else
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I think it’s a personal choice you have to make, are you satisfied with more or less and the costs each brings about.
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The benefit system is only in place if people can’t work due to illness or unemployment.
If your able to work or study I’d go for it.
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This is exactly it. If you’re able to work then you have an obligation to. Leave the benefits for those who need them. Too many people on benefits results in lower benefits for all and those who have no other options suffer.
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I got a Game Design diploma that I got 7 years ago, never put it to good use. If any video game company would hire me I’d jump on the occasion. I earn enough to be independent on benefits but I always wanted more out of life!! 0_0 
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I get $700/month SSDI, and pay with that for my health insurance. I get no other funds or assistance. I do now work part time though. My Dr told me to stay on benefits until I’m more stable. I’m not quite there yet.
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I worked at a Mexican restraunt as a busser for 10 dollars an hour and I loved it. All I had to do was fill chips and clean bathroom. I have a habit of ruinning everything though because I can’t stop talking about the ■■■■■■■ cia and with so many illegal immigrants working there I could have caused a war with writing police.
I loved working there, but I smelled drugs and I would have just called the police or written a stupid tip about it. I’m borderline interfering with police business by my mental disorder. I smashed a bottle and got arrested for it at work once, and I can’t be doing stuff like that to rely on capitalism for my income. I saw a flash of light at work and could feel myself yapping about it to others at work, also it was raining and my scooter got stolen.
I feel the obligation to work, but I am not even awake for 8 hours a day right now. I’d love to work but I can’t risk it for a capitalism paycheck. There’s too much drugs out there and I need a steady income not jumping from job to job because I’m mentally convinced I’m the police
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I’m a pensioner now, but never had a paid job. If it had just been the schizophrenia - the chances of holding down a job would’ve increased significantly.
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you dont need a job to feel a sense of worth, there are other ways which you can be useful if you are able, i think volunteering is great if you want to try something & test the waters, its good because you can build on the skills you already have and try to develop, even on meds it can be possible, you might not get paid but you are still giving your precious time to help in your own way, i think people admire volunteers bc we are so selfless and giving of our time, its a win, win in my book. 
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