One clarification...

Someone on Salon accused me of SSDI fraud because I am physically able to clean houses.

It's a strange thing, given how my weight limited me, how physically painful some aspects of weighing over 500 pounds were, but I was awarded disability primarily because of depression. I take medication for it and see a therapist (which I pay for out-of-pocket because that practice doesn't accept Medicaid). My first depression diagnosis came when I was nine years old. I like to think that if I could find a job that offered a living wage and insurance, I could do it. I worry that the more severe depression would come back, despite the medical interventions I accept, and leave me without a job, insurance or any form of on-going income.

Cleaning houses is, at least, something I can schedule myself. SSI also allows additional income, though they will deduct from your cash assistance if you make more than a certain amount. I never have.

More about my private, glamourous writing life. If we had national health care, if I didn't need to rely on my status for insurance, I'd try to have a job, even a bad one. Maybe because I'm not strong enough to ignore the judgement some people throw my way for living on the guv'mint tit.