Hi, I stopped by this forum for the first time and saw your post.

FMLA gives you 12 weeks of unpaid leave, assuming your employer is big enough to be covered by it--I imagine a school district is, but I can't remember whether school districts are exempted (some types of government employers are).

Employers can require you to use all your paid leave before giving you FMLA leave, but they can't deny you FMLA leave if you meet the criteria--a documented medical reason is sufficient, and they cannot second-guess your doctor. Make sure that you apply for intermittent FMLA leave, if that fits your cir****tances. Things like depression, migraines--that can come and go--can qualify you for intermittent FMLA leave. Most employers hate dealing with intermittent leave, but tough nouggies, they have to if they fall under FMLA.

You aren't eligible for FMLA coverage unless you've been an employee for some amount of time, IIRC a year. So maybe with your absences you had not completed enough time on the job--but I'm not sure employers are allowed to calculate your time on the job that way. Get that clarified from HR. If you missed more than 12 weeks of work due to medical absences, you would have exhausted your FMLA leave, so possibly that is what this denial is. You need to look at the docs that HR gave you. If they didn't give you any--they must.

Hi there,
Welcome to the Mental Health Forum.  I am most definitely qualified for this forum.  In addition to being a recovering alcoholic, I am bipolar, and used to have borderline personality disorder.  In addition to my alcoholism, I also have the binge eating disorder, and have shopped till I dropped myself into bankruptcy court.  

I appreciate all of the wonderful people who are brave enough to post here, and share their recovery journey with us.

Hugs,
trish

I have a friend that is in serious trouble i think..........


She has lived with her Boyfriend for ever , has not worked outside the home, has worked but not on the books.  She suffers from repeated spells of depression, anxiety and for the most part these have been untreated.


he B/F left her, she has zero money, zero job, depressded, anxious, calls me all the time for advice which I am at a loss as to what to tell her.


She has not enough credits earned for disability even if she was eligible for disability.


So my question is 1st I want to get her to Mental health, BUT can depression and Anxiety perhaps make her eligible for state aide? I mean where is she going to live, to eat etc?


she has 2 family members that tell her to toughen up and "get a job"

Easier said then done, she is not talking suicide but she is talking that maybe she needs inpatient care???               She is 50      


Any advice , has anyone been on state aide for disabilty?

I am at such a loss as to HOW to help her???            Where do i begine/         How does she afford counseling and prescriptions?                  I gave her money to pay march rent and I bought food but I can`t do it again???

Whathappens to the mentally ill, I don`t even know if she quailifies as that but she is and has always has social anxiety, seperation anxiety, depression and for most if not all the years I have known her ( 30 )        these conditions have been untreated.

Help me to help my dear friend????

I can't believe that after being on OH for over a year, and dealing with psych issues that entire time... that I just NOW found this forum...

For a little background... I'm bipolar, diagnosed in 2005.

Just thought I'd introduce myself! =0)

Thanks for the encouragement.  I work for the School District of Philadelphia, in PA.  I applied for FMLA at the beginning of the year, but was turned down because I had so many absences last year.  I just have to trust God for the outcome of this one.

Hopefully, the earpain will subside enough to go back to work on Monday.