My autistic son: A Day in my Life " JJ gets government money Chapter Two

                         My autistic son: A Day in my Life "  

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                 Autism and Social Security Income (disability)

                                I signed my autistic son up for SSI (Disability)

                                                           

 Episode Three  

First Contact: The Social Butterfly in a Sea of Red Tape

The day I signed my son JJ up for Social Security Income (SSI) was only slightly less confusing than the day my kitchen sink decided to turn into an impromptu fountain. There was paperwork—oodles of it—and so many regulations it felt like we'd barged into a brick wall at high speed. The ink on my pen might as well have been tears of confusion and frustration. But the human heart is made of sterner stuff and as a parent, strength comes with the territory.

So, I squared my shoulders, whispered a silent prayer to the gods of paperwork, and dove in. Navigating government bureaucracy isn’t for the faint-hearted. It’s a rock-paper-scissors game, where it feels like you’re permanently the scissors, and the government is one rock-hard machine.

Eligibility: The Jigsaw Puzzle from the Twilight Zone

So long, Farewell, my previous notions about eligibility! Here I learned, that eligibility for SSI wasn’t all about medical reports of disability. Layered like a cosmic lasagna, the government looks for financial and residency qualifications as well. Consider this: the Social Security Administration (SSA) is like the stern uncle checking your report card. Rights to SSI are awarded much like an old-school gold star, for something as simple as a US citizen or non-citizen legal resident. Financially, the technical term is "limited resources". I held a yard sale and I still don’t think I'd qualify.

Funnily enough, things don’t stop there. Your child’s condition must severely limit his ability to function in daily life and it should last at least a year. It's a good thing the doctor confirmed it for us- not that we didn’t already know. You see, living with an autistic child is a unique experience. You see the world through a kaleidoscope. You never really know which slice of life is going to pop up.

The Application Process: The Labyrinth of Paper Beasts

Applying for SSI felt like trying to reason with Medusa- it had many heads and it was easy to get lost. "Begin at the beginning," the King said gravely in Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, “and go on till you come to the end: then stop.” So we started at the beginning, with the Child Disability Report. This paperwork behemoth asked for information on everything but my son’s favorite flavor of cookies (Chewy Chocolate Chip Chips Ahoy, if you’re curious).

Along came the Function Report, with seemingly innocent questions that felt like a sucker punch. "How does the child’s illness, injury, or condition limit his/her abilities to function?" they asked. How do you pack a universe of small victories and hard moments into a few lines? You just buckle up and do it.

The phone interview, though, was a whole circus in its own right. A rainstorm of questions rained down with the intensity of a summer thunderstorm. The government’s crystal ball gazing came off as a bit obtuse, grappling with five ‘what ifs’ for every given scenario. But hey, no one said it would be a walk in the park, right?

A Silver Lining: SSI and What it Promises

For all the mind-boggling bureaucracy and red tape, getting SSI was like finding pot at the end of the rainbow. The benefits include monthly payments to manage the costs associated with childcare, but there’s more to it. Like an access pass, SSI gives rights to Medicaid in most states. If you’re fortunate, it might offer other assistance like food stamps. It uplifts families and lightens the weight of daily challenges.

The road to SSI is a Stressful trek to Hades and back, but the reward at the end makes it worth it. Autism is a roller coaster ride that gives you an extraordinary pair of lenses to see the world in unique ways. The disability tag can feel like a heavy burden, but SSI ensures that you don't carry it alone.

SSI is not just a financial support system. It’s a giant 'I’ve got your back, mate' pat from the government. So when the going gets tough, remember, you’re not alone in this journey. Call in your troops, slay those paper beasts, and keep going. At the end of the day, it's all worth it because it's for our special ones.

Matt. 22:21 They say unto him, Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's