I don't think anyone meant to sound like they were lecturing you. Tone, which can mean so much in the interpretation of words, just doesn't come through online. It's difficult to say, "I think you are incorrect on that point" or "Are you sure you thought that all the way through?" and not sound like you are 'correcting' someone when you are technically trying to correct them.

I hope that you won't take offense to my comments either.

I know California is an expensive place to live. I absolutely understand wanting to stay in that area, especially if that is where your support systems are. I live 30 miles from Boston, on the south shore. My extended family is only 10 miles out. I'd like to move closer to them, but I can't affpord to. I can't afford to stay where I am either. I'm hoping that I can swing it if I move an hour south of here. In addition to keeping to a budget and eliminating frivolous spending, moving to a more affordable area is part of paring down. Hopefully you won't have to pare down that much.

If you buy a modest house soon and it appreciates in value or at least you build some equity, that would help your long term plans. Unfortunately, many people who were buying ten years ago had the same plan, but due to the economy and real estate values crashing, they find themselves upside down on their mortgages. Posters here are just trying to warn you to remember that and not to assume that investing in real estate is going to get you ahead. Sure, historically that has worked out well for many, but it is still a gamble.

Please don't insult section 8 housing. That would be offensive to anyone reading this thread that might live there.

You don't have to tell everyone about your symptoms. Others are just trying to make the point that SSDI approval is about how your symptoms of a condition affect your ability to work, NOT what your diagnosis is.

You have to complete a thorough health history to apply for disability insurance. Your neuropathy would be considered a pre-existing condition and would not be covered. If someone fails to disclose a condition when applying, they would be commiting fraud.

I don't think any of us think that our SSDI checks are enough to live well off of. I don't think SSDI intended they would be. The system was developed so that people wouldn't be penniless and starving. They now send out a SS/SSDI form every few years to let us know what our monthly payments would be if we were to become disabled or retire so that we can plan for what other disability insurance or retirement savings we should get to afford a certain lifestyle. I was 39 when I became disabled. I thought I had plenty of time before retirement.....and didn't want to 'waste' money on an expensive disability insurance plan. Oops ! Even knowing what happened to me, I've been grumbling because I have to cough up $1400 for my husband's life insurance premium this week. It's tempting to not 'throw away' the money on his insurance, but if he dies without it, I can't bury him or get the kids through college. I know that the SS death benefit is only $260 (ish) I shouldn't be surprised by that and complain about it if I knew that upfront.

I hope that you are able to keep the neuropathy at bay and are able to work for many, many more years. Good luck !