Lifelong illness and full time employment

 I have Sjögren's syndrome. It took 15 years to get this diagnosis. My symptoms started about 20 years ago. I'm 42 years old. There is no cure, treatment is limited.


 

This is one of several disabilities that I have. 

You know when you apply for a job and they show a list of disabilities and ask you to disclose which ones you have? 

I have five of them. But will I ever disclose that to a potential employer? Fuck no.

I got mouths to feed. 

I have been on government assistance. It's not a good life. Better than nothing? Yes. But I would rather have a paycheck so that my family can have enough. 

It is not easy for me to go to work everyday, however; being poor is harder. Unfortunately as I age and my condition progresses, it is becoming increasingly difficult to work full time. 

SSD is crazy. You have to fight the government to payout of a system that you paid into just for it to not be enough to live on. I really don't know what I am going to do. My family relies on my paycheck and benefits package. Meanwhile I feel like my mental and physical health are circling the drain. 


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