Disabled, then lost in federal quagmire

Typical goverment--the sad thing is there is millions of people collecting disability benefits that shouldn't !!! The system is full of fraud!! They should follow a few of these frauds around a couple of days and see just how disabled they really are--and you know who you are. The system is flawed for the truly needy!! God bless the people who really need these benefits and can't get them because of the frauds!!

If you're a illegal immigrant, a alcoholic or drug user who's never paid a dime into the fund they roll out the red carpet for you.

Heck, an easy solution to this! Just commit a violent crime. The worse, the better. They'll have you in jail PDQ and all of your expenses will be taken care of by the taxpayer.

God bless America.

And these poor people have to fight so hard for these benifits, while it is the new welfare in Upper Michigan! I know of a lot of people who sign up and fake mental illness and say they have to stay home with their kids because of ADHD. There was a class being offered in Marquette, MI. The ad for this class read, Are you out of work? Wellfare benifits ready to run out? Well attend this class and for 30 dollars, we will show you how to abtain SS disablility benifits. I went to this class, just to see what it was all about. Well there was a man and woman running the class, and they explained word for word what to say to SS office to get the benifits you deserve. I was in shock, I turned them in to the local SS office, but not much was done, the ad run in the paper for a couple months after. If all these damn people who don't have anything coming to them would get off their laxy asses and get a job, then the poeple who truly need the benifits would be able to get them when they need it! I think we as a nation need to start asking questions and when we see people abusing the system, don't be affraid to turn them in, it is you the tax payer these people are stealing from! Not some unknown person!

And then there are attorneys that specialize in working the loop-holes in the systen to put even more on the rolls while persons with real disabilities lose everything in the battle to get help. Too bad these parasites cant be monitored better to prevent it from happening.

It's tough with disorders/diseases like Fibromyalgia because there is no definitive test for it. They basically rule out everything else (rheumatoid arthritis, lyme disease, vitamin deficiencies, lupus, etc.) then go by symptoms, which apparently are quite specific to Fibromyalgia, but they also can overlap with other conditions.

In any case, I have chronic pain and have lived with it for a long time. I've been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, and while I don't honestly know if I have Fibromyalgia or if there is a Fibromyalgia, I do know that I'm in pain and I've tried everything from physical therapy to alternative therapies to standard medications to massage, etc., etc. I personally work through my pain, continue to work full-time and raise 2 kids. I admit I'm sometimes a little skeptical of those who claim they can't work due to Fibromyalgia. While I certainly have days at work where I am in a lot of pain, I can't imagine a day when I throw in the towel and give up and say I can't take care of myself or my family. Or maybe I'm just lucky... I don't know.

What SSA is really hoping is people will die before they get the benefits. Happened to my Mom - she had a brain tumor and treatment and surgery left her pretty disabled. It was obvious she couldn't work anymore. After paying into the system for 30 some years, SSA drug it's feet for so long (a couple of years) she died before they approved it. I work with people with disabilities and if you call about a problem, they'll say things like "Oh we are a couple of years behind on that." Really?

However, when the electorate chose to put people in charge of running government who have a great disdain for government, its employees and its services, we really shouldn't expect much better.

I was one of the "lucky" ones. It only took me two years to win my case and receive Social Security Disability. The process is demeaning and depressing. At a time in your life when you most need support you are shot down at every turn. At a time when you need medical care the most, you are denied access. Once I did receive benefits, they took fully one third of my $876.00 monthly check to pay for Medical Assistance until Medicare kicks in. That doesn't include co-pays. When Medicare took over I only had to pay a little over $100 a month, but then had huge co-pays and no prescription coverage unless I paid for the prescription drug plan - which also has co-pays. Because I received more than the amount allowed each month, there was no further benefit form Medical Assistance.

Lest you think we enjoy being degraded and demeaned and not able to work and support ourselves, let me assure that we want to work, we can't work, and we will die much sooner than you will because we are poor and disabled. I try to look on the bright side - some countries wouldn't give us anything at all. Viva America.

Jimmy the Greek is Back wrote:

And these poor people have to fight so hard for these benifits, while it is the new welfare in Upper Michigan! I know of a lot of people who sign up and fake mental illness and say they have to stay home with their kids because of ADHD. There was a class being offered in Marquette, MI. The ad for this class read, Are you out of work? Wellfare benifits ready to run out? Well attend this class and for 30 dollars, we will show you how to abtain SS disablility benifits. I went to this class, just to see what it was all about. Well there was a man and woman running the class, and they explained word for word what to say to SS office to get the benifits you deserve. I was in shock, I turned them in to the local SS office, but not much was done, the ad run in the paper for a couple months after. If all these damn people who don't have anything coming to them would get off their laxy asses and get a job, then the poeple who truly need the benifits would be able to get them when they need it! I think we as a nation need to start asking questions and when we see people abusing the system, don't be affraid to turn them in, it is you the tax payer these people are stealing from! Not some unknown person!

there is no digusting-frightening-impotent rage emoticon....what a joke our country is becoming...no one is accountable for anything any more...

Kacy wrote:

It's tough with disorders/diseases like Fibromyalgia because there is no definitive test for it. They basically rule out everything else (rheumatoid arthritis, lyme disease, vitamin deficiencies, lupus, etc.) then go by symptoms, which apparently are quite specific to Fibromyalgia, but they also can overlap with other conditions.
In any case, I have chronic pain and have lived with it for a long time. I've been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, and while I don't honestly know if I have Fibromyalgia or if there is a Fibromyalgia, I do know that I'm in pain and I've tried everything from physical therapy to alternative therapies to standard medications to massage, etc., etc. I personally work through my pain, continue to work full-time and raise 2 kids. I admit I'm sometimes a little skeptical of those who claim they can't work due to Fibromyalgia. While I certainly have days at work where I am in a lot of pain, I can't imagine a day when I throw in the towel and give up and say I can't take care of myself or my family. Or maybe I'm just lucky... I don't know.

i don't know if it's luck, or just plain being ethical...some days i feel crippled by my depression/anxiety disorder...but not work??? THAT would be dishonorable, at least to me....i feel for you kacy...but the two of us rock!! we carry on because that's what a person does....not sit back and ride the system...

Republicans are supposedly big on "small government" (i.e., small with regard to everything other than defense spending). This GOP frugality, along with a bureaucratic lack of efficiency, are bound to produce results like this. It will only get worse as more and more baby boomers become disabled or ready for retirement.

If McCain wins, perhaps he can figure out a way for people in India to process American Social Security claims.

Workaday Oakdale Brother wrote:

Republicans are supposedly big on "small government" (i.e., small with regard to everything other than defense spending). This GOP frugality, along with a bureaucratic lack of efficiency, are bound to produce results like this. It will only get worse as more and more baby boomers become disabled or ready for retirement.
If McCain wins, perhaps he can figure out a way for people in India to process American Social Security claims.

Agree, but what will Obama do w/ our ssi? All my immigrant friends want him in..especially my hispanic friends...

Humble Opinion wrote:

Just say you are depressed like all the single mama's who's kids are aging off welfare and you have no skills after sitting on your rump for 20+ yrs watching tv all day and you'll have rsdi in a hot little minute! especially if you are black...

Are you suggesting that the SSA discriminates in favor of Blacks, that Blacks are more likely to file disability claims, or both?

Assuming that the SSA is being run by a Republican appointee, it seems unlikely that they would discriminate in favor of Blacks.

Humble Opinion wrote:

<quoted text>
Agree, but what will Obama do w/ our ssi? All my immigrant friends want him in..especially my hispanic friends...

I'm not sure how Obama would handle it, but that's a good question. Let's hope that he picks a sharp career SSA person to run the SSA (as opposed to a purely political appointee). Also, let's hope that Obama's appointee has the power to hire enough people (but with an eye toward efficiency, not just getting more warm bodies on the payroll).

I'm not sure what to make of the Hispanic situation. I thought that Hispanics had a problem with Obama (as shown by his performance in NV during the Dem Primary). While Puerto Ricans and Dominicans often vote for Blacks, Mexican-Americans and (non-Black) Cubans are usually not very fond of Black political candidates. Also, I thought that Mexicans liked McCain for not taking a hard line on immigration reform. It will be interesting to see how Hispanics actually line up on Election Day.

I'm 15 % DISABLED in my left shoulder ,arm & fingers from a Construction accident ( only took me 4 months to receive my $$$$$) & ENJOYING my SSD rest of MY life ( 1,300 ) Tax free ...SWEET :)

I to well understand what this is all about. You see I worked for the government and was kicked out on disablity. For all their talks on disabled persons rights, the government is the worse organiztion to go against disablity rights. Fifteen years ago, it took me well over a year to get aproved for disablity. I lost everything, ruined my credit, and ruined my mental health. So yes the system is well broken and no one in government wishes to try to fix it. So to all who have read the above story, I pray that you never need it because because of the time that you will spend and the mental abuse that you will go through should not be wished on anyone.

Use Social Security for athentically disbled people? Nah. It's needed for drug abusers and alcoholics that can't (read: won't) work because they're too strung out. They get first priority. Oh, and people that are "depressed". C'mon. We're ALL depressed. Life stinks. Get over it.

Meanwhile, people that are truly disabled can't get a dime. That's the problem with the Federal Welfare program (which is what SSI is). Instead of going to the disabled, it goes to the lazy. And the case managers and social workers that work with these losers enable that. We should start investigating these case workers whenever they recommend a person to SSI for something that isn't a true disability.

"Social Security must examine each claim to ensure only the deserving get benefits."

Yeah, right. Druggies and drunks are deserving, but people that are mentally handicapped (retarded) or physically handicapped apparently aren't.

someone's ex that i know of is trying to get disability...tho how,i don'tknow...she's never worked anyway...been turned down twice but has lawyer working on it now....it's all these pathetic lazy parasites ruining it for the truly needy...oh, and humble o...she's white...

oh, and tivo...depression is a real illness...it's not just "i'm down today" it is not a choice anyone would willingly make...it is/can be a crippling sickness and one can't "just get over it"...would you say that to a diabetic? or cancer patient?

Humble Opinion wrote:

you'll have rsdi in a hot little minute! especially if you are black...

Not true. Not such an 'above average' remark.