I agree that the safety net is a major fail especially in the area of mental health. Most decision-makers, including those with the (D) after their names, have no conception of what it's like.

I haven't been quite in your situation economically, though have been close a few times, and at times in my life suffered through an awful combination of anxiety and depression worrying about my economic situation. And suicidal thoughts. (And 8 suicide attempts though none since I was 22, 40 years ago)

Please be good to yourself and good luck with the SSDI

It is just so frustrating. Once upon a time homelessness was just something I rallied against, tried to vote against, give money and food too, etc. I never thought I would find myself looking at it so up close and personal.

They don't ask for any money up front and are only paid if you receive benefits. I hear most of them are reasonable.

I looked into what qualifies and I definitely meet and surpass the standards so the only reason they would deny me, in my mind, is to try and make me give up. They charge 25 percent of the back owed benefits which to me is cheap if it means i can have at least a little income.

If I get denied I will hire one. Hopefully one who can make house calls.

My only real glimmer of hope is that the psychiatrist who did my evaluation for them at the end looked at me very sincerely and said "please, make sure you have all your paperwork in"

I jjjust started a similar process and have had very similar thoughts.

The safety net only seems to 'work' if you've already slipped through the cracks.

Anyway, best of luck to you,

If I figure out anything that helps I will let you know

I have been on your same path and am on a slightly different one now. I have a low income, I have a credit rating; I have some savings. I got suddenly bumped out of my housing by a sale of the building and found I do not qualify for anything but subsidized housing or a roo mate situation and boy is that a gamble when you are already stressed out.

Using my savings as a hotel hobo while waiting for subsidized and looking for somethink cheaper. A couple of disastrous hotel stays in the last few months. Trying to learn how to van camp when that runs out because affordable housing is 18 month lists here and I have only been on one list 2 months. A long way to go. I was told I could speed that up by going to a shelter but I have held onto my Dad's now 12 year old cat. She gets me up and going. So sorry about your dog.

Kids have their own struggles and because I have always managed they think I will now too. I am not so sure this time but I will stay strong if you will. Things change. Hopefully soon. Most people really don't know how bad it is but things eventually work out most times.

Our society has to find a better way.

They don't charge you up front and they only get paid a percentage of your back pay. If you don't get any back pay, they don't get anything. It can make all the difference. I got approved on my first try because of my attorney's guidance.

You said you can't do what you were doing before. Is there any kind of work you can do, even if it required some training? I only ask because SSDI is really low. I had been making around $38K before I became disabled and I only got $1288 per month. At least in Texas, that's too much to qualify for food stamps for a single person. If your state has a disability office, they may provide training for a new career at no cost. You generally don't have to be already getting SSDI to qualify.