DandyGal, if you see this...
what did you decide to do? I'm JW.
I don't know anything about
SSDI, but if I were to guess, I would say that volunteering would not help your case... sad, but most likely true.
Although it doesn't necessarily make complete sense to me because... when you have an actual job, you have set hours, you have to be there all of the time, you have to perform many duties, no matter how you feel- you must often force yourself to do it. Whereas, with a volunteer job, you just go whenever you feel up to it.. no obligation, no commitment. But, I know the government wouldn't see it that way.
I have been an avid volunteer for many causes for years. Even i had to step back from volunteering because I have no medical insurance, no help, no treatment, and my health problems, pain and fatigue only get worse. I have more than Fibro too because I need a wheelchair just to get around grocery stores, etc. Sadly, it took everything in me to stop volunteering and just try to focus on myself. I used to volunteer with Big Brothers Big Sisters; Cure Search Children's Cancer; Toys for Tots; March of Dimes; Relay for life, and many more. Since my health has worsened and I am unable to hold down a job, I chose to take a step back from volunteering... which is hard for me because I feel i have no purpose now. I'm one of those people who always has to be making a difference.
But everyone suggests for me to get SSDI, too, but I have often wondered what you're wondering right now... I go to college. If I can go to college, aren't they going to think that I can work, too? I'm not sure how it works. But even still, many days I don't feel I can go on with college either. It's too hard to concentrate anymore with the constant headache that never goes away, the full body pain, fatigue, neurological symptoms, trouble walking, cramping hands, migraines, vertigo, etc. I have done both the on-campus and online classes, and either way, it has become too much. But I keep forcing myself somehow! For now anyway.
Eden
