I'm 20 Years Old and I Need Help.

Do you already receive any aid from the state? Food stamps? or any othe aid? PM me and I will help you find what you need online...

I am 42 and I have scoliosis. I worked from the time I was 16 until I was 32 and became a SAHM, and I've worked part time for the last six years as well. What does your doctor say? Did you receive treatment for it (a brace, surgery) as a teen? I would recommend chiropractic, physio, yoga and massage. If you aren't capable of work, school will not help you.

As others have said, you need to get legal advice and medical advice. You either have medical insurance or you are eligible for Medicaid or a state program. Start with your doctor or state office for low-income medical care. You may be able to get plenty of help for your scoliosis so that you can work - medical care, alternative therapies (chiropractic, acupuncture, physical therapy) etc. You can't go to school if you are so disabled that you cannot sit in a classroom or get a job after you get your degree. Why would they pay to send you to school if you cannot work? Scoliosis is highly treatable for many people, although the treatment varies depending on the severity of the condition. If you are totally disabled, you will qualify for a program like Social Security, although that's very little money.

Remember that you have a state representative, a state senator, and a Congress member and 2 Senators. They work for you. They are well connected with state offices and services. I'd start with your state rep - you can email that office - and find the right person to deal with constituent problems. They aren't going to fix everything, but they will refer you in the right direction and tell you what your rights are, and also where you have no right to expect support. If your issues are legitimate, you will get help. But they are going to have to sort you out from the people who just want money for prescription drugs for pain control. So you have to provide them with your information.

If your scoliosis is severe enough to make it impossible for you to work, you need to talk to your doctor about getting authorization for disability. I will caution you up front that it is getting VERY difficult to prove disability, as it has been abused in recent years. Be prepared for your doctor to be VERY thorough with your exam & social history before making a determination.

If you want to get some financial assistance for school you have to fill out a federal FASFA form and you may qualify for some financial aid. It is based on income and since you are only 20, they usually include your parents' income even if they are not providing you any financial support. (sometimes they make exceptions at the school level) These grants are usually good for colleges and certain training school. The earlier in the year you file the forms, the better! Most people with scoliosis are not disabled and can work. Please don't just think you can sign up and get help from the government because you want it or because you think "you are entitled". It should be just short term help for people who really need it or have severe disabilities. You can go on line and find the FASFA forms-make sure you find the official government website, not a commercial one that will charge you to fill out the forms.

Jeesh! Ignore strangers who assume the worst of you. If you say your back is so excruciating that you can't work then I'm not here to assume otherwise. You should be able to find out how to verify that and apply for what you need-and it may not be an education unless it would lead to work that would be doable in your condition. If you'll never ever be able to work, you don't really need school, you need some other type of aid. If you have a job in mind you could do with the education, then try to get advice for that scenario. Good luck. Maybe start here: www.socialsecurity-disability.org

In any state you better be prepared to have your p's and q's in order. You need documentation that you have this backed up, written from doctors. You need statements that you cannot work. They are going to wonder if you can't work how are you going to go to school for something which will involve work later after you finish school. Are you self supporting now? I am certain you have severe pain but you have to be able to prove that the severe pain is debilitating enough to be supported by outside sources. And then the catch 22 which is back to how will you be alright later to attend school or even sit for hours at a time online and then work beyond that. I feel bad for you but you need to have others who can sign papers feel that this is necessary. So unfortunately you will probably have to do some phone and legwork for a bit to find out what you need from state agencies and then doctors.
Good luck!

There are definitely state programs that help out for people who can't afford health insurance. My friend got insurance through the state's Woman and Children program. Good luck.

I truly don't mean to sound harsh, but since you are asking if/how you can be eligible for cash aid (which hopefully you know translates to the taxes WE/I pay by working our butts off), I, like others, am interested to know what you are planning on going to school for, using our money, given that you "can't work". You currently can't do any kind of work whatsoever? desk job, etc.? If that is the case, after using our taxpayer money to pay for school, what are you going to do then? be able to support yourself fully? If you are truly so disabled as to not be able to work, I do wish you luck getting the support you need.

Don't you have any adults in your life that can help you with this?

It is extremely difficult to prove that scoliosis is so severe that you can't work. One of my girlfriends (age 50) has such severe scoliosis that you can see the curves in her spine through her clothing, and she has an obvious bulge in her chest from the kink in her spine. Her son (mid-20s) has an even more pronounced curve. People occasionally think he is a woman because the bulge in his chest makes them think that he has breasts. They both have had to have metal rods inserted in their backs. She has owned 2 businesses, worked as an office manager and earned a business degree. Her son has a college degree and works as a writer.

My father in law lost a leg when he was 18. He worked as a construction worker even after getting an artificial leg, and for most of his life he owned a construction business. (Yes, he climbed ladders, walked beams, etc.) Most days, he had blisters from his artificial leg rubbing on his skin, and by the time he got home from work he was in a lot of pain. He rarely took a sick day.

I'm 46, and we just discovered that I have scoliosis. For my whole life, I've had to shift positions often - I can't stand for hours, or sit for hours, because both hurt. So even when I had an office job, I stood up and worked on my feet frequently, and in my current job (I'm a photographer), I sit down a lot even when I'm working a wedding. At the end of the day, I will be sore - that's just life.

To get disability payments, you will need a doctor to fill out paperwork saying that you are not capable of working. "It hurts" does not mean the same thing as "unable to work."

I remember from your previous post that you've never had a job. If you've never worked, it's normal to be afraid of getting a job. We insisted that my kids (now ages 25, 24 and 17) get jobs while they were in high school, and they thought we were terrible parents. "You can afford it!" they'd say when we told them to pay for something themselves. They were sure that having a job meant that they would never have fun again, they would never have time to be with friends, and their lives would be just ruined. After having a job for only a few months, they each discovered that they made new friends, still saw their old friends, and now had their OWN money that they didn't have to ask for or account for. Having a full time job might look very scary to you, but you will find that having one is MUCH better than not having one!

I hope that you are planning on going to school to learn a skill that will help you have a career. Think of what you love to do, and get a diploma in that field - hairdresser, manicure tech, cake decorator - whatever you want to be. Look into scholarships that might be available. If there aren't any scholarships available, find a part time job that will get you the cash and leave you time to go to school.

Some days, you'll be exhausted. Sometimes, you'll be in pain. That happens to everybody, no matter what. It's a drag, but it's not the end of the world. It's just life.

Good luck with your schooling!