Social Security Disability: My Side

I happen to be on Social Secuity Disability. I am 65 now, but I have been on SSD since I was 50. I have paid into the Social Security system since I was 15... I have never been able to hold a full time job for more than a few months. My work experience list is as long as my arm. I always had a job. I never had a problem getting a job. My problem was keeping a job.


After my second divorce and three children, I went to college. I found I could not go to school five days a week. So for almost 13 years I attended classes on either Monday, Wednesday, Friday or Tuesday , Thursday. I got my Associate's in 1979, my (double) Bachelor's in 1981, my Master's in 1984... abandoned my PhD at the end of 1987.

While working on my MA 1982 to 1984, I attended classes alternate days, and on the remaining weekdays, I taught classes. I found I could do something five days a week -- as long as it was not the same thing. While teaching, I paid into SS.

From fall 1988 to spring 1990, I taught college writing courses at two different schools: One a MWF or TR position, the other Wednesday night. Friday and Saturday nights I worked the box office at a comedy club.

Fall 1990, I started law school. I graduated 1993. Within 2 months I had a severe breakdown. Fall 1993 I was diagnosed Bipolar. At first, I could not accept that. I read everything I could about it, and realized I had probably had this disorder for many many years, possibly since childhood. Small wonder my father had, more than once, threatened to have me committed. Small wonder I had relationship problems. Small wonder I had barely graduated high school.

But I loved college. I even loved law school, though the pressure and stress of it turned out to be my undoing.

Why do I tell all this? Not to excuse myself for being how God made me, but for you to understand that you cannot know another person's pain nor problems without walking in their shoes.

Perhaps too many people in this country have mental disorders. I'm not saying that is not true. But the REAL problem with Social Security and with Social Security Disability is the number of people being PAID UNDER THE TABLE. The number of illegals being PAID UNDER THE TABLE. The number of legal citizens being paid UNDER THE TABLE.

All these people are not paying into SS. The employers are not paying into State disability. So when an off-the-books employee is hurt on the job or their mental disorder surfaces, they have no recourse but Social Security Disability.

Take to task all the employers who are cutting corners. Sure, many would not survive without corner-cutting, but they would just have to manage. Legally. Or do something else.

Now... consider the 9% unemployed, many of whom would be employed if not for the millions of people being paid UNDER THE TABLE.

Please do not point fingers at ALL people on Social Security Disability. Count your blessings that you are not among them, that your children are not among them. And DO SOMETHING about the number of illegals and legals who are PAID UNDER THE TABLE.

My children, by the way, all have good jobs, always have had. At least I put them into the system.

God bless us all.