social security question

[sammyleann]

I'm a girl, just turned 18 and i have been diagnosed with body dysmorphic disorder, social anxiety, depression, and bipolar. I am house bound and will do just about anything to keep myself inside my house, its my comfort zone. all of this stuff have completely torn apart my life. i have tried about ever medication out there and they actually made it worse. i have been house-bound for about 7 months. (i know, it sounds bad) except for when i go to therapy. It gets me even more depressed thinking i'm 18 and can't even make money for myself because of this. My question is can i get social security?

[Anneinside]

One question for you, if you are house bound, how do you get medical treatment? I have a nephew who is also house bound and believes he will die if he leaves his home. We are having a big problem trying to get his meds.

[Anneinside]

Social Security Disability (SSD, sometimes called SSDI for Income at the end) is based on how much money you have earned over 10 units (years) so you would not be eligible for that. However, they have Social Security Income (SSI) available for people with disabilities or retired. It is a very limited income, usually about $700 -$800 a month, but you would be eligible for Medicaid (medicine is 2 - 4 dollars, WOW - I pay $600 a month), food stamps, section 8 housing.

[paranoid_cataclysm]

If you can get a case manager to help you through the process, then by all means do so.  I was diagnosed with different things than what you've been diagnosed with, but I had a case manager help me through the process and I was approved the first try.  Please be advised though, the first decision will take months or years to be decided upon and getting approved the first try is quite rare, although I'm living proof it can happen, so just don't get your hopes up and get impatient is all I'm trying to say.

[Jaz1989]

Yes, you can file and you can get it just on bipolar disorder only. With telling them your house bound just explain how it really is for you and they will accept it.

[ILADVOCATE]

   You might potentially be eligible. You would need your psychiatrist to write a letter of documentation stating how your disability makes you unable to work. The first step to get things started is to call their number 1-800-772-1213. They generally want a person to come into their office for an evaluation so if you are unable to you would need a medical letter to substantiate why not.  Also go to their website ssa.gov. If you go to the questions and answers section you'll find the information that has the listings tor the various disabilites and you could print out and discuss that information with your psychiatrist. If you are denied at the inititial application its worth appealing because the chances of being approved increase with each stage of appeal.