Prayers answered - cool. Now to work on the appeal.
Merry Christmas,
Shodan
A lot of people have been doing that in the last year or two. (I’m sure it always took place, but money is tight for so many people…) I can understand doing that with some medications, but it’s dangerous, particularly for depression and dementia! I’m glad things have improved and I hope you won’t do this again.
We oughta join a club and beat you over the head with it. 
I know how concerned you’ve always been about becoming a burden to others and I can understand that, but there’s nothing wrong with accepting help when you need it. The people who are helping you out care about you. I’m sure it’s difficult to deal with all of this sometimes, but they don’t resent you for it and, and they want to help. It’ll help them feel better. You don’t have to withdraw and deal with this stuff by yourself, alright?
Joining the long line of people wishing you well – and definitely one does not stay married because of “usefulness”! Mein Herr would have kicked me out long ago. But love is infinite, and infinitely overcoming. Take your meds, and keep on fighting the Man.
What you did takes great, great strength Quasi. You are very inspirational.
Goodluck and keep strong 
My ‘wife’ was given SSI on her first application but I think someone pulled strings because her employer was damn glad to see the last of her.
I meant to include my best wishes to Quasi; do take your meds and do follow your doctor’s advice as well as the advice extended here by others. I don’t often say this, but God bless you and yours. Have a Merry Christmas, forget your problems as much as possible and have a Happy New Year when it arrives.
Sending good thoughts your way, man. Just remember, even if aspersions have been cast on the health of the contents of your head, you have friends out here. Lunatic friends, even.
So glad to hear you’re doing better!
Thanks, E-Sabbath! That IS great news! It was supposed to end on the 31st, but with three more months, I can continue the doctor’s visits and afford my meds!
With me in the hospital, D hasn’t had a chance to get to our PO Box in three days, but I bet there’s a COBRA letter in there.
Marley23, point taken! 
Quasi, while you’re wading through SS appeals and COBRA extensions and VA eligibility, you might want to visit NeedyMeds and put in the applications for free supplies of your medications…
tumblewown, I had already begun writing down the sites of all my drug manufaturers (now they’s added two more), but with the COBRA extension, I am not sure, since I still have insurance, if they’s cover me. Worth a try, though!
Once again, thanks for all the good wishes and I’ll hang arounda while longer.
Gotta go see about Wolkie and Silka over on WoW! They must be wondering what happened to me, as well, aruvqan!
Quasi
– Expand the amount of time people can get the subsidy from nine months to 15 months.
Six!
Those processes always take time, better start them beforehand so everything is in place when it’s needed than wait till the last minute.
Quasi, just so you’re clear on this, eligibility for Cobra itself has not been extended. It was and it still is 18 months.
What HAS been extended is the time period during wihich you may be eligible for a Federal program which picks up 65% of the costs of your Cobra payments. It is now 15 months.
I know this because I’m being laid off next week and just got a briefing on it from the head of my HR department.
I did a thread on this a few days ago which died a quiet death with no replies. 
Jim, yes, I knew that and I checked my account online and they expect a payment on 1 January of pnly the 65%. It SHOULD have ended on 31 December. But now (as I read it) I have it till the end of March.
I am sorry about your lay-off! 
Q
Perhaps now I can make progress on my slacker book. But making progress is not really the Way of the Slacker. I am so conflicted. 
hand Quasi some Advil and an icepack and then kicks him in the butt
Do NOT talk like that. You hear? Or you’ll answer TO ME.
Seriously, Quasi, hang in there. You’ve got a lot of friends here, and you’re not “useless.” Stop that. hugs
Happy New Year!
Quasi, while you might feel shitty because of what you put your family through, you shouldn’t. Contemplating suicide isn’t something you do for fun, and it’s not something you should feel guilty about. They love you, and they’re just happy you’re safe (as are we, I might add).
I had a long post written about about how you needed to get yourself an attorney, and then I noticed the bit about Binder & Binder, so scratch that. Seems you’ve got it covered - good man!
Georgia is one of the more conservative states vis-a-vis SSDI claims, but your odds of approval on appeal are still 1 in 3 or so generally. Since your disability is a mental health issue, your odds actually improve slightly, since it’s a less cut-and-dried field than, say, back injuries.
The disability claim is another reason to get thee to the local VA facility as soon as possible. Administrative law judges generally consider VA physicians’ records more objective, because they don’t have to worry about causation (ie., they’re not wording their reports to ensure that your insurer covers your care, since the VA claims handling procedures are totally different).
Quasi, you’re a good egg and this world would be a much quieter, dimmer place without you about. I won’t smack you upside the head but I will bite you in the kneecaps.
Hang in there, my friend. Don’t let the bastards get you down!
It’s hard enough to deal with any disabling illness, let alone dealing with all the paperwork, bureaucracy and those that have the power to decide what we are capable of doing now or in the future.
We should not have to fight for health care or financial assistance when we can no longer pay for these things ourselves. We’ve all paid into the system most of our lives, with no choice to do so or not, only to find out when we need what we’ve paid into, we have to suffer tremendous losses, emotional, physical and financial, while our fate lies in their hands to determine our future. We should not have to fight to sustain life with the basic requirements to survive as a dignified human being in this country.
I’ve experienced, read and heard way too many stories just like yours.
It’s not fair or even decent, but fight we must.
Although money can’t cure the disease, it could sure take care of the side effects.
Just take one issue at a time and try not to get too overwhelmed.
You’re on my list if I should ever win the lotto, but for now I can only give you what I know best and that is my love and friendship.
In my thoughts always, Becks
Are you Becks from the blog?
Had a feeling someone typed my name, but thought it must be from B~'s blog, but nope wasn’t there, so I thought and thought, who else would call me Becks. And ah ha, here it is.
Yes, I’m the notorious, laugh a minute Becks from the blog.