Bipolar sister, age 57, unmedicated, what can I expect with aging

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can you help her apply for social security disability benefits? The hardest part about having a mentally ill family member is stressing about their health and finances.

I have a lot of mentally ill family members and for the most part, I keep my distance. I don’t get involved in their problems. It’s hard, like when my bipolar sister had her baby removed from her care because she was unable to take care of the baby and I refused to take the baby in. It felt cruel but I knew that I would be signing up for more than I could handle. And when I get crazy text messages I just shrug and move on. But we have pretty good relationships via text messages and visits maybe once every two years. Also, their problems That feel like emergencies are shockingly transient. I used to get so worried about them and I thought they couldn’t survive without me, but surprise! They can!

But thought if they never held a job they can’t get benefits?

[Anonymous]

I hope you are asking and will rely on actual medical resources and not DCUM which is pretty judgey towards people with mental health issues.

The number one thing you can do to support your sister is protect your mental health.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can you help her apply for social security disability benefits? The hardest part about having a mentally ill family member is stressing about their health and finances.

I have a lot of mentally ill family members and for the most part, I keep my distance. I don’t get involved in their problems. It’s hard, like when my bipolar sister had her baby removed from her care because she was unable to take care of the baby and I refused to take the baby in. It felt cruel but I knew that I would be signing up for more than I could handle. And when I get crazy text messages I just shrug and move on. But we have pretty good relationships via text messages and visits maybe once every two years. Also, their problems That feel like emergencies are shockingly transient. I used to get so worried about them and I thought they couldn’t survive without me, but surprise! They can!

But thought if they never held a job they can’t get benefits?

Disability, but if the person never held a job, I assume she already collects