• Hello!

    Either you have not registered on this site yet, or you are registered but have not logged in. In either case, you will not be able to use the full functionality of this site until you have registered, and then logged in after your registration has been approved.

    Registration is FREE, so please register so you can participate instead of remaining a lurker....

    Please be certain that the location field is correctly filled out when you register. All registrations that appear to be bogus will be rejected. Which means that if your location field does NOT match the actual location of your registration IP address, then your registration will be rejected.

    Sorry about the strictness of this requirement, but it is necessary to block spammers and scammers at the door as much as possible.

Stop the political B.S.

Dave, you have many valid points that show what is wrong with our disability system though I would rather the state pick up the medical bills and an able bodied person work. You are right it doesn't always work that way though is someone with a disability that can work that much different in that we all have extentuating financial obligations? If the government would hire capable educated people to evluate by state each individual receiving disability they would find only 40-50 percent probably really are. By ridding the bottom feeders it would be possible then to take the maybe 20% of the disabled population that remained and could work and pay their prexisting benefits only, cutting their disability, and their general care could then be covered by their wonderful work HMO. There are many other feasible options like mandating preexisting conditions be covered, but justifying staying on disbility benefits because one can not make enough is exactly what is wrong with our country- disability is for those WHO CAN NOT WORK and not choose not to work. Imagine all the money states would save and be able to actually help those that really are helpless!
 
Disability is not there strictly for those who cannot work. What about those who can only do limited tasks, and have disabilities that do not allow them to work a certain amount each week. And what if that amount doesn't cover the most basic of expenses, then where would they be.
I get around $670 a month for disability, and it will go down if I make something like $800 or more working. So the theory of choosing not to work doesn't always apply, because even if I had a manageable job, I would still receive disability. There is no way I could survive without my disability, I have a serious condition that wouldn't allow me to work often enough to provide for myself without disability.
I do the occasional job when I can, but that is always with my mother who understands my limitations, and can provide help for the tasks that my disability prevents. I wouldn't consider that choosing to work for money, but just enough to still receive disability. I work no where near enough to detract from my disability check, and that isn't because I'm purposely working it out like that, it's because I can only do so much.
KJUN would state that I choose to drive my mother around, and that why I don't work. When the reality is that my mother is a contributing role in the system we have going, and I really do need to drive her around to keep our boat afloat. It works out for both of us, because she needs the money to help with the bills, and I can provide the transportation. There are only a few jobs that I could handle doing, and it would still have to be such a limited part time due to my condition that it wouldn't detract from the money I receive anyways. He'll also claim that's why I like Obama so much, because he assumes I like him in a way that the nephew of a rich man does, and that I consider Obama as the provider of my "free ride". Which is totally irrelevant seeing I still got disability under the Bush administration, and I didn't like him all that much.
Then there are those who will go, "well how do you afford your pets, computer, etc..." but these are either helped out by family, or paid for by the work I do with my mother. It is not like I work just enough to still receive SSI, and to get enough on top for luxuries. It is because helping my mother out provides me an opportunity to have a coworker who understands my limitations, and the ability to afford certain things that I like. People will still think that's milking the system, because I am technically still receiving SSI, and able to have certain luxuries like the internet and my pets.
To me that is way to black and white, because the fact still remains that I have a preexisting condition that won't allow me to fully provide for myself through work. And I don't feel that it's wrong to work when I can to have some of the things I do, seeing there would be no other way to acquire them other that to make a little money of my own.
It's not like I'm working under the table to cheat the system. I do very occasional lawn work for a friend of my mothers, and in order to not get paid under the table it would require all sorts of extra fees, etc... Just to be able to do very infrequent odd jobs, which would make it more costly than the money it pays.
The system certainly is screwed in many ways, and there are people who falsely use government assistance programs. But those who do need it couldn't survive without it, and shouldn't be looked at any less because of it. Most people couldn't budget a $670 a month check, so at least I am using it constructively, and am at least trying to do all that I can to provide for myself. It doesn't benefit me whether I have a small paying odd job, or I stay at home. I choose to do these things as a means of a little extra money, and a controlled way to get physical activity.
Every situation is different, and I explain mine only to try to show that not everybody is as cut and dry as they appear. To judge whether someone needs assistance or not is a very difficult thing, and I don't have any other reason for sharing other than to open up peoples perspective on government assistance. People who live a live without a disability can only look through distorted glass, and need to go the extra distance to appreciate what they do have. I know if I didn't have a disability I would make a lot more money, live much longer, and wouldn't face any criticism for being a handout. It isn't all peaches and cream like some would assume, and I hope more people can come to realize and appreciate that.
 
Micheal I wasn't talking about you:) If you notice in my post I indicate their is a population who can not work and those are the people who should be receiving disability. I also stated instead of making insurance companies pay for preexiting conditions the government should so that the cost of health care does not rise and insurance benefits in general do not decline or force insurance companies out of business. You have to understand for many of us who struggle month to month without assistance it is hard to see someone say I work for the extra things i want and my SSI no matter how small pays the bills. Step into others shoes on that one just once. I am not saying you can work easily or without limitations, but if you could work as much as you wanted without your disability amount per month being affected would you work more honestly?
 
mike17l said:
Is $12.00/hour the average pay for a computer/website developer/programmer? :shrugs:
Click to expand...

Nova_C said:
If we proceed on those assumptions, medical costs = $24,000/yr.

The amount received by SSDI = $14,400 + Medicaid.

The point at which, according to those values, SSDI stops being paid = $28,800.

So in order for a person who is living on SSDI to have an equal standard of living would need a take home pay of $38,400. According to the above values, deductions total %25 (Man, that's a lot.) So they would need an annual salary of $51,200 just to break even. Hourly wage? $24.60/hr assuming 52 weeks, 40 hours a week. That's good money, just to break even.

Based off the above money, of course.
Click to expand...

Mike171, I'm basing that on the current rate as established by Florida Community College's brochure, of this time stamp. I have not personally researched yours. or others, states. Doing your own research beforehand is an optimal experience. I highly wreckamend it. Someone I highly regard encouraged me that much on another thread.

NovaC, did I forget to include rent, public transportation, shopping, living independantly, how many hours and dollars running water, a roof, and electric take away from the income.

And, not to any particuliar replier to this discussion/written conversation, let's say, for assumption's sake, the medical runs into overtime when the persons medical conditions worsen as a matter of working their body more, working...
so it takes more visits to keep them afoot...

So let's make the assumption they're going to work for whatever minimum wage is, and be considered a part time employee, so they keep SoMe medicaid coverage...

You can do your own research and math. You're all adults (i am assuming, though I dislike assuming anything, ever) and capable of making your own choices) here; I'll respect you in the morning regardless...because that's who I am.

And if you have a cornsnake, and I want it, I'd buy it from you, too, regardless of any of this , um, what's the title thread? Don't want to get a pinkslap. from the lady in the candycanestriper outfit. (it's a classic cultivar, and I sometimes be like I need one, to feel compleat.
dave
 
Of course being a ward of the state and not independant will cost 3.5 times as much to the taxpayer. And here, seems to be someone, who's spending some money with cornsnake breeders; fellow american citizens, and ya'll R cracking on them. I wish there was an adult forum, so I could really say what I'm really thinking. For the moment. I'll cool down in awhile and say something different though.
dave
 
The difference between Michael and I, is that I'm married and have children.

I have been temporarily disabled myself, for going on to 10 months. Guaranteed, not by choice! I was hurt at work and have been in a doctors care, ever since. I have begged and pleaded with my employer, to allow me to come to work. My comp liaison, doctor and therapist, have made the same pleas, on my behalf. Problem is, that my employer feels that allowing me to come to work, even to do the most medial of tasks, would be a liability. That leaves me in a position to collect only my weekly comp check.

They say that the comp check is "60%" of my weekly wage. Actually, that is not true. It's 60% of a 40 hour pay week. Let's not overlook the fact that I haven't worked a 40 hour week, since I was 18. I would work, on average, 55 hours a week. They also, do not cover my medical insurance or any of my other benefits for that matter. I would have to buy into those, using my comp check. This puts me in a very scary predicament, considering what my weekly contribution is.

Now, a scary, but very real situation that occurred during the winter. My wife, following a severe ice storm that our area had, had developed a pretty intense flu/cold. This was in January. Usually not a big deal. Some fluids, a little cold medication and some rest, will usually do the trick, right? Not this time! She developed a severe pneumonia that sent her to the hospital emergency room, four times.

Well, being scared for my wifes health and safety, I decided to go against everything I stand for and ask my state for assistance, with our medical expenses. They would, but in order for us to qualify, I would have to meet a monthly medical spend down amount, that was equal to over 3/4 of my income. :eek: Basically, that means if my income was $1000 a month, I would have to rack up, $750 in un-reimbursed medical bills. Then the insurance would kick in. Sound like fun to you?

Now, regarding my "disability". I have been working, very hard to move forward and deal with this injury. Something that has not gone anything close to plan. I have had one surgery, several cortisone injections, three separate and different opinions, countless hours of physical therapy and finally, I was casted from my armpit to my wrist, in an attempt to allow my wrist to heal. I just got this cast off on this past Friday. From what I know now, it did not work.

That means that I am going to have to have another surgery. This next one is going to be big. A total joint replacement and I am scared!

davesfiles said:
No system is perfect. How can I help?
Click to expand...

I don't know what you can do to help, but maybe you can do a little less assuming. I was not judging Michael. Actually, I was defending him. I was also pointing out the fact that he had posted about something he was denying. I don't judge Michael and can actually understand what he is going through. I don't begrudge him at all.

Thanks for your time!

Wayne
 
medusacoils said:
The difference between Michael and I, is that I'm married and have children.

I have been temporarily disabled myself, for going on to 10 months. Guaranteed, not by choice! I was hurt at work and have been in a doctors care, ever since. I have begged and pleaded with my employer, to allow me to come to work. My comp liaison, doctor and therapist, have made the same pleas, on my behalf. Problem is, that my employer feels that allowing me to come to work, even to do the most medial of tasks, would be a liability. That leaves me in a position to collect only my weekly comp check.

They say that the comp check is "60%" of my weekly wage. Actually, that is not true. It's 60% of a 40 hour pay week. Let's not overlook the fact that I haven't worked a 40 hour week, since I was 18. I would work, on average, 55 hours a week. They also, do not cover my medical insurance or any of my other benefits for that matter. I would have to buy into those, using my comp check. This puts me in a very scary predicament, considering what my weekly contribution is.

Now, a scary, but very real situation that occurred during the winter. My wife, following a severe ice storm that our area had, had developed a pretty intense flu/cold. This was in January. Usually not a big deal. Some fluids, a little cold medication and some rest, will usually do the trick, right? Not this time! She developed a severe pneumonia that sent her to the hospital emergency room, four times.

Well, being scared for my wifes health and safety, I decided to go against everything I stand for and ask my state for assistance, with our medical expenses. They would, but in order for us to qualify, I would have to meet a monthly medical spend down amount, that was equal to over 3/4 of my income. :eek: Basically, that means if my income was $1000 a month, I would have to rack up, $750 in un-reimbursed medical bills. Then the insurance would kick in. Sound like fun to you?

Now, regarding my "disability". I have been working, very hard to move forward and deal with this injury. Something that has not gone anything close to plan. I have had one surgery, several cortisone injections, three separate and different opinions, countless hours of physical therapy and finally, I was casted from my armpit to my wrist, in an attempt to allow my wrist to heal. I just got this cast off on this past Friday. From what I know now, it did not work.

That means that I am going to have to have another surgery. This next one is going to be big. A total joint replacement and I am scared!



I don't know what you can do to help, but maybe you can do a little less assuming. I was not judging Michael. Actually, I was defending him. I was also pointing out the fact that he had posted about something he was denying. I don't judge Michael and can actually understand what he is going through. I don't begrudge him at all.

Thanks for your time!

Wayne
Click to expand...

Wayne, I have not spoken of Michael by name, I have only referenced a person, regardless of wehat their name is, and will continue to do so.

I am sorry if you have absorbed this thread personally, or attacks against Michael personally. I cannot and will not endeavour to change that. Change comes from within one's own self and one's own perspectives on one's own life. I know I cannot make you feel happy for his personal successes, accomplishments, or other attributes. Further, I also know how thoroughly frustrating it can be to find one's self caught in a predicament as you have implied yours is.

I also know how screwed up a system it is. I would not advise you to divorce because as a single person without a spouse, it would mean the spouse would receive much better support from federal agencies, and you likely would too. I realize suggesting such a thing goes against many preconceived concepts of the "way life ought to be in the great U_S of A".

I also feel it important to point out to other viewers/readers that your situation could happen to anybody, at any time in their life; disabling conditions can happen to anyone at any time. I am sure you are aware of this, but others, whom have never had a chronically disabling condition, seem to be playing GOD; judging you. And Michael, to whomwhich you compare yourself with, for, understandably, 'reasons of familiarity'. I try to encompass several views in my writings, and to never exclude any persons, though there are thoughts and ideas I have not considered yet, so please forgive me for being a mortal in this regard.

Perhaps there is an attourney who takes cases involving WComp in your area; sometimes it is necessary to bring in a source that we are trained since childhood to not like or trust, but just because we're taught by persons we respect, how to think about certain things, chances are they were not GODs, but mere mortals that may have made judgemental mistakes along life's paths.

Use ALL of the resources available to you, not just the ones you use over and over again.

If you'd like to drop me a PM, I would do some of the searches and check into state agencies in your region and try to find someone with proficiency in dealing with clients whom are in situations mutually synonymous with yours, and do whatever I can to help. I will need to know more specifics at some point but not right off the bat. And it's the weekend; I doubt I'd be able to get back to you until Tuesday.

Some of what I might say or have said may interfere with your feelings about yourself, self esteem, personal insecurities reiterated with obstreperous posts directed at persons whom have figured out how to "work the system" advantageously. Sometimes getting ahead means downgrading your own personal assumptions about "how life is supposed to be". Regrettably, it is not a perfect life; "nothing at all like the Brochure".

I'm sorry you find yourself in a place , as the media likes to call it, "between the cracks". However, being in such a place is a hot topic in the media currently, and presents, perhaps, an opportunity to share yourself and life experiences with the local media, tv/newspaper/mags/whatever, to raise awareness of persons whom unexpectedly find themselves where you find yourself now.

Warm Regards,
dave
 
I know that some people despise folks on SSI, and a few even go so far as to call them "theives", "mooches", etc. Most of you however are understanding once given proper information, though in some since it seems like "Guilty until proven innocent". Here is a link that you guy's may find interesting, or you may not care at all. Either way, it's up to you to decide if you would inherit this condition, or any serious condition for that matter, for 670$ a month?. I personally would not as a good quality of life is most precious. I'm not saying anyone has insinuated anything so far that would suggest they would choose a disabled life for the money, I'm just saying that disabilities are very real, and should be discussed accordingly; http://www.muscle.ca/fileadmin/National/Muscular_Dystrophy/Disorders/Multicore_E.pdf

Thank you all, and GO RAVENS!!!.
 
So... this has turned into the "Health Care and Government Spending Follies" debate, Part II??

I don't think anyone begrudges folks who are truly disabled from being helped... however, the government system for this is very clearly flawed. The fact that we are hearing several stories on here regarding people who need help, but either can't get it, or will have it taken away and have less to go on IF they try and help themselves indicates this.

Incidentally, I have checked into a few programs that would help to reduce our mortgage payments since we had such a rough summer financially... we are not eligible for ANY of them because I took the 2nd night school job and am "making more money now than when they gave me the mortgage."

I.e. if I had just sat on my butt and NOT tried to make it on my own by getting the 2nd job, I would have been able to refinance OR use one of the bank programs to reduce my payment amount... but because I actually did the right thing, I am ineligible, and we still struggly every summer.

Interesting the way that works.
 
Medusa, I am sorry, I implied/ well, actually, I said I would help. But most of your post seemed to be a venting of frustration, and you did not ask for my help at all. Please forgive me for not "listening". If you would like some help trying to find a way out of your circumstance, I would happily avail myself to you.
dave
 
On a totally random note...I hid all the political dog and cat toys in my store because I got sick of people seeing them and going off about whatever. It makes me grind my teeth, and then my jaw hurts...
 
danielle said:
Micheal I wasn't talking about you:) If you notice in my post I indicate their is a population who can not work and those are the people who should be receiving disability. I also stated instead of making insurance companies pay for preexiting conditions the government should so that the cost of health care does not rise and insurance benefits in general do not decline or force insurance companies out of business.
Click to expand...

danielle said:
You have to understand for many of us who struggle month to month without assistance it is hard to see someone say I work for the extra things i want and my SSI no matter how small pays the bills. Step into others shoes on that one just once.
Click to expand...
This is where your confusion may lye. You would take my assistance as me not having to struggle month to month, when that is exactly what I go through as well, more like week to week if you want to know. I can't even get things that I think I need like clothes, shoes, etc... without making a little money of my own. I think I use the allotted money exactly as it was intended, for groceries, electricity, and a roof over my head. Should I not be afforded having some outlet in which I can occasionally get things that I want. It's easy to say that if someones on SSI that they should not make or spend any money to go towards non-necessities, but could you really do it? There are times when the check is a week away, and I just don't have money for the food I need, so me buying things I want is very rare. I'm talking spending any birthday and Christmas money on a CD rare. My only luxuries are my pets, and although some are considered luxury morphs, I consider it an investment into my future. Five to ten years from now my condition could worsen, so I have to prepare myself for a future with some sort of at home business. I consider my snakes to fit this mold.
I also am not saying I only work for the extra things I want. It's that I need to make money on my own if I am to have the luxuries 99% of Americans have, like pets, internet, etc... And it also shouldn't be confused as the type of work you might think, it is always jobs with my mother, as this is the only way my disability won't hold me back. Not to mention, most of the time I am paying for pet food, vet bills, etc... with that extra money, or I am forgoing it to my mother to help out with our bills. This is life for me, and it has been a few years of perfecting the situation I'm in now.



danielle said:
I am not saying you can work easily or without limitations, but if you could work as much as you wanted without your disability amount per month being affected would you work more honestly?
Click to expand...
Yes, and without understanding my disability fully, I find this is a very unfair question. You have no idea how much I wish I was able bodied enough to work, and could further a long term career in the workplace.
If I stayed at home would that make people feel better about me receiving disability? I just can't do that, I have a habit of being as active as my disability allows, most likely to a fault. I couldn't poor my own milk until I was a teenager, due to the weight of a gallon. Now I am trying to be not only independent, but helpful to those around me.
 
Michael823 said:
I couldn't poor my own milk until I was a teenager, due to the weight of a gallon. Now I am trying to be not only independent, but helpful to those around me.
Click to expand...

Don't feel bad about this. I have seen teenagers that still can't manage to pour or drink from a pint of milk without spilling it. ;) (Humor... I just can't help myself!)
 
Hypancistrus said:
Don't feel bad about this. I have seen teenagers that still can't manage to pour or drink from a pint of milk without spilling it. ;) (Humor... I just can't help myself!)
Click to expand...
Well I still use a Bert and Ernie sippie cup, but the doctors can't fix that I suppose? I'm just a habitual spiller with a Sesame Street fascination... so what :D!
 
Well, evidently "Vodka" is not my password to sign in with.
But it sure seems fittin four a Ernie and Obama sippy cup reply.
Prolly ern me a pink lady slap from the med-cart pushin moderators, but from what I've red, it seams two bild charackatcher, nd a few of the highly over-rated rep points~
whuts the titel of this trhed anywheys?
;D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top