<prompt> Human: I graduated college in 2011. A month later I was bit by a tick and got Lyme. The last four years have been filled with hospital stays, heart problems, and numerous other health setbacks that have left me unable to work. Before I graduated, I worked 3.5 years through college at unpaid internships, FULL-TIME while gong to school. I even worked 35 hours a week during my last two years of high school. I was student council president, a hard worker, and a 3.5 GPA student. Since my internships were unpaid, I didnt add up enough work history to qualify for SSDI disability. I only qualify for SSI. Ive been waiting 2.5 years now for SSI, and am still waiting. The maximum amount I can get for SSI is around 700month, that is if I get approved. I currently get 196 on EBT for food. I have aged out of my mothers health insurance through her employer and now must get my own plan. I have no vehicle. I have 20,000 student loan debt and almost that much in hospitalmedical bills. Im currently living with my 82 year old grandmother. Im officially out of money. I have two family members willing to help, but simply cannot afford it. Im told, through my disability lawyer, that it may be another six months for I get a hearing. Before I got sick, I was set to move to the city, had a job lined up, and a savings account. Now I cant afford my medication. I cant afford insurance, and since I dont have a job, getting insurance aid has proved impossible so far. Ive done every possible easy babysitting job that my body allows me to do and it doesnt add up. I am someone who desperately wants to work. I make an attempt everyday to get back to where I once was. How am I suppose to get my feet back on the ground and rebuild my life? How does one live on SSI only? Im not being dramatic, I simply dont know how I can afford to live. I dont know where to go when the hope runs out. EDIT: I want to sincerely thank those who you have offered advice and well wishes. It has genuinely helped. This is NOT a debate on Lyme Disease and whether it exists or not. Im smart enough to know when a second opinion is needed and when that second opinion may be out of the realm of logic. I have been to hell and back, and dont need someone telling me my illness is not real. I cannot think of a more insulting thing to say to someone who wants nothing more than to feel well and to WORK. Judge me on anything you want, but do not judge me on my willingness to work. Until I got sick, I worked every day since turning 17, never had anything handed to me, and graduated college in four years while working UNPAID full time. I even worked for a year after being diagnosed until I collapsed and nearly died on more than one occasion. Open your mind and dont make assumptions. Again, thank you to each person who took time to say something nice and share your knowledge. I appreciate it so very much. Lastly, demand two weeks of Doxycycline the moment you find a tick has bitten you.  <response>: Are there any sort of patient supportadvocacy groups where you are for Lyme disease? Like the Cancer Society, or the Heart and Stroke Foundation, but for Lyme?. I have a chronic medical condition, and our national advocacy group can often point patients in the right direction for getting help. 