In desperate straits, need to find a way to make money, but how?

I was in the same boat. I went crazy and got put on disability. Can you apply for disability? I will pm you some advice.

I’m sorry to hear that you are in this situation.
What skills or strengths do you feel like you have? We could help you brainstorm jobs based on this…
(for example, your English seems okay. Could you help people proof-read stuff? You also say that you don’t have people skills but to have accumulated all that lurve you must be doing something that resonates… do you mean that you find it hard communicating with people face to face?)

Is there a career’s service at your college? They will hear about jobs and may be able to put you in touch with someone who is looking for some work done. I like @lifeflame‘s idea of proofreading and editing. You could only do that if you have strong writing skills. Are there any supermarkets nearby? I know it’s not what you want, but what about shelf stacking. Night fill jobs can pay a lot of money. Check out organisations like Amazon or similar too.

I hope you find something soon. Whatever you do, don’t give up and feel like this is the end of the world, things will get better. They always do.

> proofreading and editing. You could only do that if you have strong writing skills.

No. You can do that only if you have strong proofreading and editing skills. Most of the writers I know don’t have them. You can no more walk into a job like that just because you write moderately well than you can walk into a job as a manicurist just because you polish your own nails. It certainly undervalues the profession to think so. (Sorry, but that’s kind of a touchy point with me.)

The quickest way to realize a little cash is probably to sell something. If you don’t have any disposable belongings that you can turn into dollars, what about a seasonal retail job? All kinds of people qualify for those. I’m also wondering if there’d be a place for you in a hospital environment.

Things do seem incredibly horrible for you right now. You are feeling your worst and it’s the time of year that makes things seem bigger than they are and nothing feels right.
You’re not alone.
This is when it may be the best time to ask people-where you are, for help. Because people have a rough time during all of the celebrations, more help is available to you.
You have different needs that all are vying for your immediate attention. But you are not feeling up to being able to give each one your attention. Because you need to take care of yourself first! You can’t get away from it all when you keep trying to handle it all by yourself.
It takes some guts to get up and go out and find a place. However, after reading all that you have worked on and fought to achieve thus far, most would have given up long ago. Trust me. You are working hard, you’re facing hardships, and it’s overwhelming. It would be for most people!
Put that excellent drive and determination towards getting yourself moving on the first challenge; taking care of YOU. You’re worth it. It’s always best to bounce ideas and questions, etc., off of another person. Find a professional one who has great ideas and experience in
solutions for the school/work/personal situations. It would help how you see how to change the seemingly impossible to doable.
Give it a try.
Added on to those listed above, think of trying:
University and/or Local Health Services.
Local and State Health Program Services.
The local Asperger’s Group or -
http://www.aspergerssociety.org/articles/support.htm

You have the desire and strength to go after what you want to achieve. As I said, it takes guts. You’ve got them.
Now have the smarts to go find a source that can and will help you right now. You get someone to talk and help- the rest, with their help, will fall into place.
It’s going to get better.
;)

Trust me, Aspergers by itself won’t cut it. While I know a few Aspies who are on disability, the vast majority I know are able to work some form of job and therefore not considered disabled. I did a hitch in the US Navy and held down jobs that didn’t involve dealing with people. Those that manage to get on disability get it for other reasons; ASDs in general have high comorbidity with other afflictions that are disabling. Well, at least officially; there is practically no connection between being legally disabled and one’s actual limitations.

I won’t go into my own situation beyond saying that your finances are not that bad, and your main concern should be handling how the situation affects your health; among the afflictions that commonly accompany ASDs are anxiety and depression. While anxiety is generally not a qualifying condition for disability, it’s still crippling.

Between that and trying to keep your self esteem afloat, you already have your hands full in these trying times. My advice is to take care of yourself before worrying too much about finances. If nothing else, it’s easier to navigate the maze of assistance/support resources when you are clearheaded instead of on the verge of panic.

A lot of government jobs only require a degree. It doesn’t matter what field it’s in. You have to be able to wait through the process but they make it really hard for supervisors to discriminate based on your disability. I don’t know where you live but check out this government website and see if you find anything that interests you.

Actually @Jeruba, @hug_of_war of war might be able to earn some money providing guidance to other students on their academic writing. I see many signs around campus from students advertising their skills to other students. I also know some students have such poor writing skills, they are prepared to pay for help to polish their work. This is especially true for students for whom English is not their first language. She doesn’t need to be a professional editor to do that. She does need strong academic writing skills. I don’t think anyone suggested she could walk into a professional editing/proofreading job.

I am lost where you said you don’t qualify for Medicaid because you have too many resources.

What resources do you have or are they referring to? Maybe it’s because you have health insurance right now, and they can only go on what you have right now. When and if you reapply in January, when you have no health insurance, your circumstances will be different.

I almost cried when I read your post. Boy have I been there. I don’t know how much time you have left in deferments, but at least you have some money. I don’t see why you can’t get a room unless you present as raving batshit crazy which I’m sure you don’t. So go on Craig’slist and get a cheap ass room in somebody’s house. I’m sure you can get food stamps, lie about your savings, girl. Medicare too, lie. Are you sort of handy? Yes you are. If not fake it. Whip up a free website (Wordpress ) and get ready. You can: wrap people’s presents for Christmas. Pet sit. Assemble ikea furniture!! Babysit. Be a companion for shut ins. Clean houses. You can probably think of more stuff. You can suck dick for money even if you think you’re not pretty, it’s such a hard won thing you’ll get paid. And a lot, too. Good luck to you, it’s such a frightening place to be.

So I see that @hug_of_war has lots of lurve. This didn’t come out of nowhere. So what sort of real life skills does a lot of lurve (and specifically, the OP’s lurve) translate to? Does it translate it any useable skills needed for jobs?

@jca Like a lot of Conservatives, many social programs at least start with, “Get your family to help!” and otherwise act like we all have wealthy, supportive, loving, living families, and it’s a bit hard to prove that you either lack or have already exhausted those resources.

Also, some may take having a job with a decent income months ago to mean that you still earn, say, $500–700/wk even if you haven’t earned a dime recently.

@jerv: I am hoping the OP will respond with specifics.