Today’s our anniversary. (l) The lump sum was deposited a month early — like a great anniversary present! I can’t believe it came in on our anniversary. I swear, that Maneki Neko in the sidebar works!
So guess what we got??? Take a look below. They look kind of goldish in the picture, but they’re actually platinum and…from Tiffany’s. But I figure they still cost less than a wedding would have.
I’ll write more about our “wedding” and post pictures tomorrow, if I can find them!
Because of my recent ECT, I can’t remember what, if anything, has happened since my last “apply for disability” post seven weeks ago. I do remember having to fill out another SSDI Evaluation, which I never did. Then I was supposed to see one of their doctors again, though that could have been for SSI. It just so happened that I was having inpatient ECT at the time, so they decided that I didn’t need to see their doctor after all. Go figure.
I found out yesterday that I’ve been approved for SSDI! I applied in frickin’ December! I mean, can you believe this whole process barely took three months? Nor did I have to see their doctors. Guess I’m pretty disabled, eh?
My monthly payment will be about $1k, which will cover the rent with some change left over. I’ll get a year of backpay, which amounts to five figures. (If you want to know the approximate amount, Contact Me, but I’ll only answer if I know who you are and not just a lurker, either — personal friends are exempt from this; so be sure to include your blog title.) They’re going to direct deposit it when they deposit my first check; they pay out on the third Wednesday of each month and are a month behind. So my March check will be deposited in April.
As for that SSDI evaluation I never completed? I talked to my adjudicator in Springfield, and she said I can toss it out! Sweet.
The local SSA office wanted me to come in so they could process my SSI claim, which it turns out I don’t qualify for because Brian makes way too much at his new job. Still, they wanted to make sure they didn’t owe me any money so I stopped by yesterday to drop off the requested paperwork, as instructed. The…counselor (?) I spoke to on the phone told me not to take a number; rather, give the guard my name and tell him I’m just bringing in documents. So he took my paperwork to the counselor, but when I had questions he couldn’t answer, she was nice enough to see me at her window and explain everything, even though I didn’t have an appointment.
This is such a relief! And of course I’m going on a shopping spree! We’ll finally be able to get wedding rings. The ones I want are super expensive, but we never had a wedding, so we deserve it! I only wish we could get them in time for our anniversary, but better late than never!
The number of parties we attended was overwhelming, mainly because they were all on consecutive nights. They were fun, though, and I was especially glad to see our families, particularly Brian’s because they all live out-of-state so we don’t get to see them often. My only regret is that we couldn’t stay longer than 15 hours, eight of which were spent sleeping–the trazodone has been working; I just need to force myself to take it at a decent hour.
Unfortunately, all of these gatherings have left me bitter and even more depressed than I have been. I’d rather not go to something rather than show up empty-handed. And all the Christmas money we received? Pretty much all going towards bills. Even our birthday money and gift cards this past year have been spent on necessities. The only reason I was able to get Brian a belated (by two months) birthday present was because of the Holiday Savings Rewards or whatever that I accrued on my Borders Rewards account. How depressing and demoralizing is that?
We did spend money on proper protective goalie equipment for me, namely neck and pelvic protectors. The neck protector I’ve been using is really for skaters, and I began to suspect that my pelvic protector wasn’t made for goalies when I took a shot there playing with the guys. It didn’t hurt, but I noticed that it didn’t absorb the impact as much as the rest of my goalie-type padding does. I consider those as needs, rather than wants. The only reason we haven’t bought them yet is because we haven’t had the money.
As for the depression, it’s worse. I never want to leave the house, so I haven’t worked out since Brian lost his job. He almost literally has to drag me outside in order for me to get anywhere. If he didn’t drive me to practices and games, which he’s done all season, I probably wouldn’t even be playing hockey. Yesterday, it was like pulling teeth to get me to see our couples counselor, and we really needed to see her since we’ve missed our past few appointments. Earlier in the year she suggested that I get out for at least an hour a day. I started getting good at it, even driving myself to places I needed/wanted to go, like my metalsmithing class and rat hockey, but I’ve regressed so much. It’s frustrating and sad.
I will get around to reading everyone’s blogs, but things seem to be happening in slow motion for me lately. Anyone else know what I mean?
Been busy with holiday gatherings the past three nights, and tomorrow–well, later this morning–we’ll be driving to Iowa to visit Brian’s family. We’ll be back on Friday, though. Hmm. Maybe I shouldn’t even bother sleeping tonight.
In the meantime, I want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas! So my present to you is a rendition of “Jingle Bells” you may never have heard before!
Saw the pdoc today. He took me off Trileptal because it’s too expensive without insurance, so now I’m back on Tegretol (carbamazepine), which is available in a generic form and thus, a lot cheaper. He told me to forget about the Lunesta and wrote a script for 50 mg. tablets of generic Benadryl, which are cheaper than bottles of 25 mg. tablets. At least I know the stuff works. Shit. Maybe I just jinxed myself.
Still physically sick, and though I have the sniffles I’m not so achy. I don’t really feel like going to practice tonight, mainly because I feel too down, but I know I’ll end up having fun. I am worried about getting sicker, though, because I want to be 100% for Saturday’s game. But I think the worst of it’s over.
I’m sorry that I still haven’t been reading blogs. I’ll get there, though. Soon, I hope because I hate it when my Bloglines is like, jam-packed!
To be perfectly honest, I’m not quite sure I understood everything that transpired between us and the interviewer, who reminded us several times that she isn’t our case worker. Apparently, until we’re approved, we won’t have one. (I even made sure not to bring my $350 Coach purse–ahem, purchased with the profits from the sale of our Ohio State vs. Penn State tickets, though at the time we didn’t realize that it should have been put to better use.) I was hoping that my coughing, sneezing, and constant nose-blowing would be signs that I could get a temporary medical card, but nope.
Our appointment letter said that our interview was at 8:00 a.m. Except for security and reception, I don’t think the “interviewers” actually begin work until 8:30. We weren’t seen until after 9:30 and were out of there by 11:00.
Brian is only eligible for food stamps because he isn’t disabled. I’m eligible for food stamps, temporary cash assistance, and Medicaid, but we won’t know for at least 30 days if either of us will be approved. However, if Brian’s Unemployment Benefits go through, then neither of us will be approved for food stamps. Yeah, like two of us can live on all of $1,600/mo. when our rent alone is $900. :s Hopefully, all this will be moot and that Brian will have a job soon. We’re looking at this process as a safety net.
OK, going to lie down now. Still feeling pretty crappy. Will get back to reading blogs soon.
We picked up our film from Walgreens yesterday and the roll that I took of my jewelry projects did not turn out at all. Not one frickin’ picture! Brian said he’d buy another roll of film and try taking them himself. Probably a better idea.
I was supposed to start the four-week, winter interim metalsmithing class last Friday. Actually, it’s the intro course, but you can take it as many times as you want. In fact, I believe you have to take the longer (eight- to ten-week) beginning course twice before you can move on to intermediate. For obvious reasons, I couldn’t sign up for the class, so I’m bummed about that.
In other news, we found out today that if Brian qualifies for unemployment, he’ll get $400 a week, which isn’t bad. Certainly better than nothing. A recruiter also contacted him today about a possible job opportunity, so he may have an interview coming up later this week or next. Still waiting to hear about public aid.
