Trying to take some time off

[Zoe Girl]

I am getting to a point where I am trying to take today off. It would be fine except one person didn't get an updated schedule.

Update that they were able to cover me, so I have the day to recover from a headache. I have been clenching my teeth all the time lately.

I am making too many mistakes honestly. I have lost 2 receipts, which is not like me at all. At my last position I never lost any points in our p-card system. It is VERY important to get all the purchasing correct. Apparently a staff did not get her updated schedule, and a child who was a drop in was also part of what I do. I am not okay with this, I feel like my brain is not working well at all. The only time I have been this off was my last job, and other than some micromanaging I think this place is much better. So it may be time to talk to someone at work and let them know that I am concerned and seeking some help with it.

In any case I am going to sit outside for awhile, take something for my head,

[Teacher Terry]

Maybe a good idea to see your psychiatrist and see if your medications need tweaking.

[Zoe Girl]

yes, we are upping the mood stabilizer but I am more concerned about attention. Losing things really upsets me. yesterday I left my phone at home and couldn't find my debit card. I actually have a second checking account with a debit card because this happens often enough.

[Ultralight]

Can you get on disability for your illnesses? This way you would not have to work. Maybe then you could enjoy life some.

[sweetana3]

Sounds like some helpful routines are needed. One place in the house to put purse and lay out everything in it each evening. Hubby had to do this for his wallet, phone and keys. They kept getting laid all over the house so now there is one box to put them in which is inside a cupboard.

A list for what is needed each morning. Routines with paper to check off actually can help take some of the stress off. I am having trouble remembering to take my morning asthma medication so we added a check to our weight list on the mirror with a pencil. We do this with kids and it is a good thing. I dont know where/when you get the receipts but a special zippered pouch labeled receipts could go in your purse or desk or wherever you first get them. Then they are only removed when you are ready to place them in the proper folder, etc.

ps It is hard for anyone to concentrate with a headache.

[Zoe Girl]

Ultralight, that is a huge step and not one I really want to take. It seems like a point of no return overall to go on disability. Summer is very stressful in this line of work, I just think I can work, not sure what to do next however. I thought this job had more kid contact, and it does, but still lots of detailed paperwork. Just so much detailed paperwork. I thought last night about other things I could do, do my own business of after school programming, a variety of teaching gigs in meditation and crochet and working with youth. The creative part is so necessary, right now I am designing a display of trees and cloud formations out of yarn for a maker event. I get visions of projects in meditation. It is a talent, but not sure anyone wants this in a job.

sweetana, that is very nice but I think I am beyond helpful systems. I have a lot of systems and organization but at some point at least one thing falls apart. I have checklists for EVERYTHING, routines, meds reminder on the phone, etc. The receipt is driving me nuts because I have a system, I have had paper moved and files cleaned out for me. This is my illness, it doesn't react well to high stress.

[herbgeek]

do my own business

You realize this would also come with lots of detailed paperwork, only with no one to remind you that it needs to be done?

[Zoe Girl]

You realize this would also come with lots of detailed paperwork, only with no one to remind you that it needs to be done?

yes, sigh. that is the problem everywhere I go.

[JaneV2.0]

Could forgetfulness be a side effect of medication?

[Teacher Terry]

SSDI is extremely difficult to get and can take up to 2 years. If you keep getting denied it goes before a judge that hires a vocational expert to determine if you can do any work at all and what’s available at your local area. You have to be prepared to support yourself during these 2 years because you cannot be working. They do back pay you if you win. 2 years after you win you are eligible for Medicare. My experience working in this area is by the time people win they are broke, in debt and usually have friends/ family that they can live with during this time. It’s grueling and no guarantees you will win plus then you are living on a smaller amount of money depending on how high a earner you were.

[Zoe Girl]

So today was MUCH better, I just sucked it up and admitted I had been making mistakes. Then I had a plan for how to improve that we talked about and my sup agreed with. Then I got a nice long time to do admin work without being interrupted too much. I am actually caught up, and feel like I have the plan in place to keep it up. I have noticed over this years this come in cycles and I feel like I am going into a better cycle of being able to manage. I did bring work home, I think that is just going to be part of it.

I think it is menopausal brain fog, added to my natural tendency to get into la-la land of artistic mode. I am not thinking about SSDI, I know what Teacher Terry is talking about. I am going to focus on my savings plan and my side hobby/business that I am being more financially focused on (I had a new hat idea that I have not seen anywhere before).

[Teacher Terry]

Zoe, I am glad things went better and you have a difficult illness that many don’t understand. I am glad you are proactive in managing it.

[Zoe Girl]

OMG insight, with this significant mistake. I wonder if I am remembering my medical leave and I just want to go back to that. There is a dreamy quality of not having to do anything but survive (yes it was super hard too!). Meanwhile I got an appointment with a counselor through the EAP program.

[Ultralight]

OMG insight, with this significant mistake. I wonder if I am remembering my medical leave and I just want to go back to that. There is a dreamy quality of not having to do anything but survive (yes it was super hard too!). Meanwhile I got an appointment with a counselor through the EAP program.

Well, I again suggest you try to get on permanent disability for your mental illnesses.

[Teacher Terry]

UL, I suggest you read what I wrote. Do you have the money to quit working and gamble that you may get SSDI and support yourself for 2 years??? You don’t qualify if working.

[Yppej]

ZG can you save enough during the school year to not have to work summers?

[Ultralight]

Do you have the money to quit working and gamble that you may get SSDI and support yourself for 2 years??? You don’t qualify if working.

I don't believe you.

[Ultralight]

UL, I suggest you read what I wrote. Do you have the money to quit working and gamble that you may get SSDI and support yourself for 2 years??? You don’t qualify if working.

If I prove you wrong, will I then nullify your credentials as a social worker?

[Ultralight]

UL, I suggest you read what I wrote. Do you have the money to quit working and gamble that you may get SSDI and support yourself for 2 years??? You don’t qualify if working.

https://www.ssa.gov/planners/disability/qualify.html

https://www.ssa.gov/disability/Documents/Factsheet-AD.pdf


Dang! Proved you wrong.

[Teacher Terry]

UL, I am telling you as part of my job utilizing my second master’s degree I would write reports if I thought someone couldn’t work at all and they were used in court. In addition 2 of my friends are Vocational experts that testify by phone at hearings all over the country and I have been asked if I would like to do this work. I am telling you how this really works. But what do I know after quitting SW I only worked in this field for the past 26 years.

[iris lilies]

The
I don't believe you.
It is notoriously difficult to get on to ssdi. But there sure are a lot of people who are on it and I always wonder what did you do to get on this program because I keep hearing how hard it is.

[Ultralight]

The
It is notoriously difficult to get on to ssdi. But there sure are a lot of people who are on it and I always wonder what did you do to get on this program because I keep hearing how hard it is.

Well, there are approximately 300 Americans on SSDI according to the government's own reports. So maybe it is nearly impossible to get on SSDI! Wow... 300... that is 0.1% of the US population.

[Alan]

Well, there are approximately 300 Americans on SSDI according to the government's own reports. So maybe it is nearly impossible to get on SSDI! Wow... 300... that is 0.1% of the US population.
I don't believe you.

https://www.ssa.gov/cgi-bin/currentpay.cgi

8.475 million! Dang! Proved you wrong.

[Ultralight]

I don't believe you.

https://www.ssa.gov/cgi-bin/currentpay.cgi

8.475 million! Dang! Proved you wrong.

That is exactly what I was waiting for. If this was volley ball I set you up for a spike.

[ApatheticNoMore]

It also pays very little, the average payment is about $1230 a month it seems, maybe less, although it is on one's Social Security information. So yea I can see not wanting to quit a job for that.

[Teacher Terry]

APN, yes it’s based on your earnings and is often not enough to live on. If you are terminal or blind you will qualify the first time you apply.

[Ultralight]

I think SSDI ought to pay a lot more. And there should be fewer barriers to getting it!

[JaneV2.0]

The person I knew who qualified (after three years and hiring an attorney) had crippling osteoarthritis. bipolar disorder, and a constellation of other problems. Since they couldn't work, they got much less "back pay" than they would have had they been able to.

[Teacher Terry]

Jane, if you obtain SSDI after being denied they have to back pay you the amount you would have gotten had you initially been approved. They don’t back pay your actual wages.

[JaneV2.0]

Jane, if you obtain SSDI after being denied they have to back pay you the amount you would have gotten had you initially been approved. They don’t back pay your actual wages.

That's why I put back pay in quotes. I don't remember the particulars, only that they didn't get the money they were expecting because they hadn't been able to work. If they had gotten SSDI when they first applied, they would have, but because of the lengthy delay, they spent down much of their savings. Thankfully, they had some.

[Teacher Terry]

Jane, most people are broke by the time they get it and if not married or have a spouse with a decent job they usually have lost everything by the time they qualify. I have seen a lot of sad things happen to people that always worked until they became too disabled.