Quote:
Originally Posted by Stellatum
I'm a bit frustrated with the American disability system. I have been raising (and homeschooling) children for the past 23 years. In two more years, they will all be in school, and I had always planned at this point to start a full-time career to help put them through college. Unless something really dramatic happens--and my neuro used the word "refractory" last time I saw him--that's now out of the question. But since I don't have much of a work history, I'm not eligible for much disability. Disability payments are based on what you've earned in the past, not on what you could earn if you were healthy.
I work part-time from home as a free-lance...well, anything. I do editing, proofreading, some writing, a bit of bookkeeping, secretarial work--whatever I can find. As my kids need me less, I'll be looking for more of this sort of work, but it's not what I had in mind.
Alice said to me a while ago that I don't have to give up my dreams; I just have to find a different way to live them out. I think that may be right. My dream was to teach, and I will teach. I'm teaching now. Besides my own kids, I have a weekly high-school English class of 12 home-schooled students (this is my volunteer work). I will look for (or create) opportunities like this one, and I'll do what I can. I constantly try to remember to be grateful that I can earn money at all, and especially that the money I earn is only needed for college tuition, and not for my own support. I know that the matter is much more pressing for many people here. Still, I'm disappointed. I had hoped to do something both meaningful and lucrative. I know, I know--very few people are that fortunate even if they're healthy! But still.
Abby
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I can sympathize with you. I went the traditional route of high school, college, then work. Only looking back, college was years I didn't pay into the system, in order to get a degree that I can't use (not because I'm unable to think, but because I can't physically get to the office). As a result I don't have the quarters I need for disability.
And Just because I can't walk shouldn't mean I'm not allowed to work...other divisions in my office have their people working two office days a week and the rest from home. For some reason my division never received permission, but I've provided every piece of documentation about my disease that I've been asked for and then some. I've even been told that I've given them too much and they don't have the right to it, but I wanted them to understand how unpredictable it, but that I can still work from home, if needed. Apparently, they didn't get it. I try to roll with the punches, but its getting harder.