You don't spend money on rent, but are still spending $1500/month? On what?
I'm guessing food, car payment, gas, insurance, it adds up. Also, your comment comes across as really inappropriate.
Ask HN: I'm disabled and out of money. Now what?
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Re: Ask HN: I'm disabled and out of money. Now what?
#22Sorry to hear about your pain =/ That really sucks. I have had friends in similar situations and without friends and family to help, they're pretty stuck... the US is terrible at taking care of its people. That's not on you, our social safety net just sucks. Have you looked into local instead of federal (city/state/NGO) support systems? Some areas have better support than others.
I'm glad to hear you at least are able to play video games and lurk on the net... having SOME activities and socialization is better than nothing!
That said, in terms of income... if you can do computer stuff, have you considered doing some freelance work from Upwork or similar? It's not consistent, offers no benefits, doesn't pay that great... but it's better than having no work at all. And maybe that would let you build up more of a portfolio for other companies to see.
Maybe the tech sector proper is at a glut right now, but other sectors (manufacturing, retail, etc.) still need devs & people with tech skills, and presumably the big ones are better about ADA accommodations. Maybe those are worth looking into, whether you want to go into the office or find a job that can accomodate you working from home?
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Also, work aside... it sounds like at least you have time on your hands, and have some mobility. Do you have national parks or monuments near you? Can you get an America the Beautiful National Park Access Pass? https://www.nps.gov/subjects/accessibility/access-pass.htm For a one-time $10 lifetime cost, it lets you access all of our national parks (which often have good ADA accommodations and interpretive systems) and similar recreational sites... a great way to spend a day or two away from the computer. A lot of them offer volunteer or limited part time work opportunities too. You won't get rich out of any of them, but it's a good way to feel better about the world and yourself and meet cool people to boot.
Re: Ask HN: I'm disabled and out of money. Now what?
#23Same, disabled. Luckily I paid into insurance and got disability coverage but even still it isn't enough to make ends meet in Los Angeles. I haven't found a solution. It sounds like you're doing better in some regards. I would say do what you can to improve your situation like the claim and what not as early as possible and say fuck you to the negative self talk that might be holding you back from getting help. Talk…
First: I have become an evangelist for disability insurance. I know it sucks but total award amounts seem to be higher and more sustainable.
LA would be hard, I feel for you.
Any suggestion on advocacy programs? I am in the Midwest if that helps.
I know that this depends on specific impairments, but have you found ways to do things you enjoy? This is the hardest thing for me right now: I don’t want to spend the rest of my life watching TV.
Re: Ask HN: I'm disabled and out of money. Now what?
#24Same, disabled. Luckily I paid into insurance and got disability coverage but even still it isn't enough to make ends meet in Los Angeles. I haven't found a solution. It sounds like you're doing better in some regards. I would say do what you can to improve your situation like the claim and what not as early as possible and say fuck you to the negative self talk that might be holding you back from getting help. Talk…
I've heard that SSDI with a lawyer is much more doable than without one.
Absolutely get an attorney, they will collect when you are approved. My mother waited years for her SSDI denials to be appealed, and died in the interim before the issue was resolved.
Start the process ASAP. With an attorney with good recommendations from others.
EDIT: AARP link because it was the least biased piece of info I could find on the topic that wasn't a lead or referral generator: https://www.aarp.org/retirement/social-security/questions-an...
Re: Ask HN: I'm disabled and out of money. Now what?
#25I'm really sorry you're dealing with this. I'm going to mostly share info about public benefits in case it's helpful, just because that's what I know (and I don't have as much knowledge about some of your other questions.)
What state are you in? I know you mentioned SSDI, but just to relieve some of the stress of getting by, you should try to apply for as many public benefits as you might be eligible for (SNAP/food assistance, Medicaid [medical care], affordable connectivity program [internet], Lifeline [phone.]) With little or no income, you should get some decent support from these programs.
For getting disability support (SSDI, or SSI), you might consider getting a lawyer. You're right it can take a long time to get this, but odds go up if you have a lawyer helping you. You can also contact your local legal aid which you may qualify for based on income.
In terms of jobs I'll do some thinking and see if I can post more. Are there any activities that you can definitely do without getting stuck due to your disability? There are definitely options for flexible computer work, and also things that are more phone-oriented.
Re: Ask HN: I'm disabled and out of money. Now what?
#26You don't spend money on rent, but are still spending $1500/month? On what?
Probably mostly meds if in the US; US citizens don't have access to cheap generic medications nor universal healthcare so something like chronic pain can cost a lot out of pocket.
Re: Ask HN: I'm disabled and out of money. Now what?
#27You could try making money on a youtube channel, document your journey. Could help a lot of people and make a few hundred dollars on the side.
See if there any exercise that you can tolerate. Yoga or kayaking something to keep you moving. Fishing could help with getting enough protein on a tight budget or even something like trying to grow microgreens on your window sill could help you eat healthier.
Instapot pressure cooker for cooking beans and rice would also help to get enough protein on a budget diet.
Re: Ask HN: I'm disabled and out of money. Now what?
#28Debt: Can you sell the car? Now is a great time to sell. If it's a lease, you could post it on leasetrader.com (or similar)... again, it's a great time to get out of a lease. It's nice to have a car, but it seems like getting out of that would be a healthy financial decision. Remote jobs are a plenty, and you live with family, so you can tag along with them when you need to get groceries until you've got a job and can afford a car again.
If you live within a couple miles of a cafe, then you can walk there and back everyday to get out of the cabin fever feeling, get some exercise, and change up your scenery for a boost in energy. I know a couple miles sounds like a lot, but you have to recalibrate your thinking to your current needs. When I didn't have a car, I used to walk 4 miles/day. Then I got a bike, no car payment or insurance. Then I got a car. Find your path back to what makes you happy. Chances are, that doesn't require a car.
Depression: It sounds like you've gone down the clinical route, so there's no need to cover that. From there, I'm not sure what your aspirations were in the startup world, but you might have to be honest with yourself about what is realistic and where your skills are now. Again, recalibrate your thinking and take it one step at a time. Your immediate task, besides your health, is to get a job that you can do.
Again, remote jobs are a plenty. What are your skills? Keep applying, keep working, eventually you'll find a remote job were the expectations are low and you can keep up. If we knew what your skills are, maybe there's even someone here who needs a part time person with those skills. Avoid startups and consulting, those are going to be high demand and that's not right for you right now. You've got this.
Re: Ask HN: I'm disabled and out of money. Now what?
#29This chronic pain - what is the cause of it? Are you diagnosed with fibromyalgia?
Fibromyalgia and CFS have been tossed around but never officially diagnosed. The practical experience that I have is frequent exhaustion from things that should be easy, difficulty focusing, flu-like aches and tons of migraines.
I've lived through this myself. There is hope. I had the great fortune of being able to live with family until I could weather the storm. It turned out I needed to de-stress by life, live with accepting people, and eat delicious and healthy food over the coarse of a few years. I had destroyed by mind and body burning the candle at both ends with little to no nourishment (physically and non-physically), and the tax man came.
Every hope for your success..
Re: Ask HN: I'm disabled and out of money. Now what?
#30First of all, I’m very sorry to hear about your situation. My wife has chronic pain and had to give up a career she loved so I have some second hand experience with this.
Can you code? If so please email me and I may be able to give you some work paid per deliverable. You can work on your own schedule without pressure. Nothing huge, just enough to get you started.
Email in profile