My hearing loss dropped a lot after a hospital stay some years ago. I didn't think of ssd. Several people asked if I had considered it and I vehemently said, "NO," each time. Then, after months of nothing (where I had rebounded before) I contacted SSD and said I'm not disabled, I just can't hear. But my reality as a hearing person was I was disabled. If I was brought deaf, I would not be disabled. It's very different.
The earnings, compared to my prior salary, is minimal but better than unemployment. My car is almost nine years old and very beat-up looking. I cannot afford a car on what I bring in.
SSD allows me to live a minimal existence. U.I. didn't provide even a safety net. Since I worked a lifetime, I have other money somewhat accessible and per SSD, that's fine. I'm barely managing my situation. If there were jobs I could do (other than data entry volunteer work and working as a volunteer with a therapy dog), I would be out there. I knew the job boards well and had connections but those people were being laid off. I applied for SSD with their knowledge I was looking for work and would withdraw my appl. if I found it. That did not happen.
