Finding a Job

Everyone needs money to pay expenses. There are many ways to receive an income, including:

A job that pays you a salary
Money from a trust fund or inheritance
Disability income (it may take up to 4 months to begin to collect disability income)
Social Security Income (SSI)
A family member who helps you financially

Earning money for expenses is only one of many reasons to work. Here are some thoughts from people who enjoy their work:

"I feel good when I finish a project. It makes me feel like I have a purpose in my life"
"I met some nice people at work. I have people to talk to, and I don't feel as lonely as I did before"
"I learned something new. Now people come to me when they need help"
"When I'm at work, I think about my job and other people instead of how my illness changed my life"
"Working keeps me busy, and staying busy helps control my symptoms"

Ready to Get a Job?

You may need to improve your skills or learn new ones. If this is the case, you may want to attend some classes or even go back to school full time. In some regions, an organization such as an Office of Vocational Rehabilitation may be able to assist you in evaluating your skills and finding the right classes. Ask your case manager to help you set up a meeting with the educators at the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation.

If you are receiving disability or SSI, check the guidelines about earning additional income. If you work too many hours (or earn too much money), you might lose your disability or Social Security benefits.

If you are not able to work, your doctor will have to certify that you have a disabling medical condition in order for you to qualify for disability or SSI. You will also have to fill out applications to apply for income. If these applications are confusing, it's a good idea to ask your case manager to help you with the paperwork. There are also public mental health service agencies with specialists who can help you. If you qualify for SSI, you may be able to get food stamps, payment for your healthcare needs, and special assistance with utility bills. Again, your case manager can help you apply for these services.

Before Applying for a Job

Before applying for any job, think about your needs and the needs of the people you want to work for:

Do you have the skills to do the job you want to apply for? If not, you may have to go to school to learn these skills before you can be hired
What are your best skills?
How many hours will you have to work each week on this job? Too many hours may cause too much stress in your life. Part-time work or a volunteer job may be a good place to start
How will you get back and forth to work?

Doing all the things you need to do to find a job you like is challenging for anyone. But with patience and persistence, you can find work you enjoy. Here are some ideas that may help you:

Call the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation. They may have a list of companies that are looking to hire someone with your skills. If you need help, ask your case manager to assist you
Find out about supported employment programs, which are programs that help people improve their employment skills. There are many types of supported employment programs, depending on where you live

Here are some ideas that may help you:

1. Work Programs (Vocational Programs) Some vocational programs offer a variety of work settings. These might include:

Food services: preparing meals and other related services
Clerical assistance: typing, taking phone messages, mailing information, and other types of correspondence
Newsletters and other publications: writing and editing articles
Maintenance services: doing repair work, painting, cleaning, and landscaping

Once you've gained enough experience, you may be better able to work in a permanent job. People who qualify may be assigned a special job in the community for a few months, which could lead to a permanent job.Some work programs may be provided as a service through your treatment team, while others are available through other sources.

2. Client-Operated Businesses
This kind of program offers combined living and job programs for its "clients." Clients live and also work together as a team to operate a business. Some client-operated businesses have included restaurants, lawn-care services, photo developing, and carpet-cleaning businesses.

3. Clients as Counselors
An exciting new trend is for mental health services to hire clients. Positions in which clients have been hired include receptionists, consumer affairs coordinators, and counselors to residential home staff.

An important benefit for you to know about is the "Americans with Disabilities Act." This law protects you from being fired because of your illness. It can also help you get recruited and hired for a job, and may also help with job promotions. If you can perform the job you were hired to do and meet the requirements of the job, you are then eligible to receive the benefits of this act. Ask your case manager for more information.