ok heres what its like living on SSI/SSDI (social security disability grants. I get $574.00 a month. Rent is $540. a month (thank god I stuck out the 5 year waiting list for a housing program called HUD/Section 8 which is that they pay a protion of my rent. I get $64.00 in foodstamps a month. You want to know what this is like go to your local market with a calculator and put in your cart $64.00 worth of food. Then look at what you have and think about how that food is going to divide up into at least 90 meals. (three meals a day) Im NOT roasting a turkey for thanksgiving since the cheepest one here is clost to $15.00 for a five pound turkey (basically the size of a bag of sugar). Then you also get medical coverage - that means you recieve your states medical card and you must see ONLY those doctors that are covered by that medical card. If your luck like I am that medical card will also pay for your therapy as long as your therapist agency is listed as one of those covered by the state medical card. I came close to having to choose a new therapy agency a couple years ago because of government cutbacks on mental health coverage. Most medical cards in the united states no longer cover dental care. Im lucky my state is still voting for dental coverage. I dont have to work now but I also don't have the spare money to just go out with my friend and/or buy myself new clothes (and forget the name brands no money for them) every month. I haven't seen a movie in a theater in about 5 years. My newest movie is from block buster previously viewed buy as is sale rack I get a new pair of sneakers once a year for which I also have to pay a rehabilitation company to alter my shoes to accomidate my braces and make up for my leg shortage. Basically by bank account is overdrawn about every third month just to keep me in the bare necessities. Thank god for my bank offers overdraft coverage otherwise Id be homeless or sitting in jail for bounce checks. In order to get my computer I have been saving pennys nickles dimes quarters 5 years. Don't get me wrong it is possible to live like this but you have to be prepared to settle for second, third, fourth best and live by strict budget planning so that you don't end up homeless and no food. I don't recommend it only as a last resort for anyone to live like this and if you plan on doing you need to do it like yesturday. The government is in the process of revamping the social security program because soon too many people (they are called baby boomers people who were born during a specific war time) will be retiring from the job force compared to the amount of money available in the government social security program. Many people are getting denied and at some point many people who are already on the program will be taken off depending on the final new social security program requirements allotments and so on. Your local social security office has information pamplets on requirements. I suggest you go get it over calling and asking then to send you one. The last time I called my agency I was on hold for a half hour.