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My daughter is 19 with Asperger's Syndrome, and she has also recently been denied SSI benefits. We lived in MD for many years but recently moved and applied in the new state. Her other Aspie friends who live in MD have all received SSI. It seems to be a different process dependent on the state you live in. We will be appealling this decision shortly with a lawyers help. Our kids are so wonderful aren't they! They just sometimes need help to find their way in this world.
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a Federal income supplement program funded by general tax revenues (not Social Security taxes):
It is designed to help aged, blind, and disabled people, who have little or no income; and
It provides cash to meet basic needs for food, clothing, and shelter.
I am glad they are denying most benefits other than the above and I think they should tighten their regulations even more. I believe in welfare but certainly not for every kid who has developmental issues.
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a Federal income supplement program funded by general tax revenues (not Social Security taxes):
It is designed to help aged, blind, and disabled people, who have little or no income; and
It provides cash to meet basic needs for food, clothing, and shelter.
I am glad they are denying most benefits other than the above and I think they should tighten their regulations even more. I believe in welfare but certainly not for every kid who has developmental issues.
Signed,
A Beleaguered Taxpayer.
People with other kinds of delays often have no income either and cannot work. Autism is a disabling condition in many cases. This is especially true when a child has not been educated properly so that s/he can hold a job.
Sometimes blind and physically disabled persons are *more* able to get jobs than a person with autism or aspergers.
I couldn't help but think while I read your post that your son has many common problems that asperger's face. The anxiety and depression do tend to accompany it. Has your son ever had social skills training? I wasn't' sure if your son was only recently diagnosed? If so, I would think he could really benefit from a group that teaches to young adults.
Here's a great website that may give you information (which could give you direction--and hope) Organization for Autism Research There's a lot to digest so take some time with the site.
What has always struck me deeply when considering our kids is that what good is the ability to do high level mental math if our child (young or old) can't make a friend or hold a job?
Don't give up, keep searching knowing that you've got more stones to turn over, and over and....
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a Federal income supplement program funded by general tax revenues (not Social Security taxes):
It is designed to help aged, blind, and disabled people, who have little or no income; and
It provides cash to meet basic needs for food, clothing, and shelter.
I am glad they are denying most benefits other than the above and I think they should tighten their regulations even more. I believe in welfare but certainly not for every kid who has developmental issues.
Signed,
A Beleaguered Taxpayer.
I'm fully aware of what SSI is and how it's funded. You, on the other hand, need to be enlightened to a crucial fact - Asperger's IS a disability. My son, unfortunately, IS disabled. SSI was designed for people just like him. I wouldn't be surprised if you also believe that a child with developmental issues such as autism doesn't really have such issues at all but is merely a brat that could be controlled with 'proper' parenting. Trying to help a child with special needs is hard enough without being subjected to ignorant comments. SSI isn't some handout parents *want* for their children. It's what they *need* for their children. There's a BIG difference. If you believe Asperger's isn't a disability, you should do some research and educate yourself on the condition. That would be a better alternative than passing judgment on something you don't understand.
I couldn't help but think while I read your post that your son has many common problems that asperger's face. The anxiety and depression do tend to accompany it. Has your son ever had social skills training? I wasn't' sure if your son was only recently diagnosed? If so, I would think he could really benefit from a group that teaches to young adults.
Here's a great website that may give you information (which could give you direction--and hope) Organization for Autism Research There's a lot to digest so take some time with the site.
What has always struck me deeply when considering our kids is that what good is the ability to do high level mental math if our child (young or old) can't make a friend or hold a job?
Don't give up, keep searching knowing that you've got more stones to turn over, and over and....
Thanks for the website link. I'll check it out. My son hasn't had social skills training yet but it's definitely something he needs. He was indeed just recently diagnosed although I've had my suspicions for a long time. He's currently attending one on one therapy and on medication but also needs social/behavioral training. Your last sentence is exactly right; over and over and over and over, this is a loooong process.
Not to belittle parents of children with physical health issues but in a way I think dealing with physical ailments is probably a bit 'easier', for lack of a better word. At least they can 'see' the problem and know exactly how to treat it (the majority of the time anyway) but when someone has mental health/developmental issues...well that's more difficult because it's not possible to 'see' what's going on in someone's mind. That, combined with the fact that most mentally ill people are poor communicators (if they're even able to communicate at all), and it's doubly hard.
It's good to know some people understand what it's truly like to have a child with special needs.
quote: "All the school system knew was that this child (he is now 28) was intelligent in academics, but failed miserably in art, music, pe and any other non-academic class. Why? Because socializing was required more in these other classes. Getting along with his peers was the hardest thing for him to do."
Sooooooo, have him make license plates or weave baskets or something in a back room. He can work without socializing! Why should we support him?
In the past, we would have just called him anti-social and be done with it.
Quit visiting your problems on the rest of us with the latest "diagnoses du jour".
I could write a book about the saga with my 20 year old son. I'll try to be brief. He's been to neuropsychiatrists, psychiatrists, social workers, etc. and the consensus is that he has AS along with dysthymic (chronic) depression. He's also prone to panic/anxiety attacks. He did well in HS but he went to a very rigid and strict HS. College is apparently too overwhelming for him. The 'free' atmosphere causes anxiety to build in him and he just can't function. He had to withdraw this semester (this has happened once before) and this time he can't/doesn't want to go back at all. We applied for SSI on his behalf and just got a denial letter in the mail today. I'm at a loss. I just can't continue to support an adult who can't function; either at a job or at school. He tried a couple of part-time jobs a few years ago and was basically politely told his services were no longer required after a couple of days. My husband and I have 3 other sons; all younger and 2 of them also have special needs. We want to help our oldest but we just can't afford to support him into his 20s without some form of assistance. Qualifying for SSI is the last thing I ever *wanted* for him. I'd be perfectly content going through life without ever knowing what SSI stands for but he and we need it. I know there's an appeal process which we'll start but please, if anyone has any advice, I'd love to hear it. Thanks.
I had always heard that everyone who applies is denied in the beginning. Don't give up hope, jump through the hoops they want. Most people I have heard of applying, get an attorney. It takes time.
Why have the label? For people like you who think this is some new disorder that we just so want our children to have.
I have fought my own family over this for 28 years. I knew there was something medically wrong with my son, but they just saw a bratty child. Now they know better and it has been my delight in teaching them what they never knew. (Some are still in the learning process.)
Again, if you know nothing about Asperger's then don't try to discuss it with those of us that KNOW what we are talking about.
My son is not broken and he doesn't need to be fixed. What he needs is for people to understand what Asperger's is. Until that happens there will be clueless people.
If my child was born with a heart problem that kept him from working there would be no one saying that he needed to get a job anyway. He has a brain problem and he is supposed to just get out there and do it.
I KNOW lots of people with physical and mental handicaps that DO work. GOOD FOR THEM! They are not my child. I know what my son is capable of doing and not doing.
"Why should we support him?" Well, without his meds he is not the same person... he is angry and violent (with things, not people) when he is without them. If I were to die tomorrow there would be no one willing to help him through the rest of his life. YES, he does need help to understand some of the most basic things we "normal" people take for granted. I am hoping he gets on SSI so that he can get not only some financial help, but medical and mental health that he so desperately needs.
If you don't care to read about the "diagnoses du jour" then please feel free to leave and not post on such topics. No one here is forcing you to read or respond.
Thank you, thank you, thank you. I could've written practically every word of your post. As I said before, at least some people understand. I mean really...as if we're just looking for some excuse so our sons can sit around and do nothing with their lives!!! Yeah, that's my dream for my son! It's amazing how much ignorance there is in the world isn't it?!
I had always heard that everyone who applies is denied in the beginning. Don't give up hope, jump through the hoops they want. Most people I have heard of applying, get an attorney. It takes time.
I heard the same things. We're currently appealing. I'm not stressing about it because we'll keep at it. My son will eventually get it and then it'll be retroactive anyway.
So to all you ignorant people who think their tax dollars will go to waste...well go right ahead and keep on thinking that if you want because at some point my son WILL get approved for SSI. It's just a matter of time. I wouldn't wish my son's problems on anyone but perhaps if one of your children is diagnosed with AS or some other disability, maybe then you'd understand that it's not just an excuse to sit around and do nothing with their lives.
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