[ScooterBug]

For almost two years now I have been trying to state my case with the state regarding my disability. I have tried working and maintaining myself for years as a bipolar and it's been almost impossible.

Within two years I got fired from 9 jobs all because I needed time off once a month (leave early or a long lunch) to be able to go to my pdoc and get my meds.

Also, with episodes happening at the job or my meds affecting me (they make me really lethargic) made my employers question what was wrong with me.

After the "secret" of being Bipolar came out, shortly after I would be let go. Needless to say, finding a job and then keeping it has been a struggle so my T and my pdoc agreed that I should try to get disability.

Well, now that Congress is arguing back and forth on what to do with Social Security/ Disability and have frozen payments for the time being, my case has been put on hold.

Is anyone else in a bit of a jam due to this? Out of all the things to cut off the government strikes the elderly and the ill - nice! ... I've always been an independent person that would work VERY hard. I was working at the age of 14 and paying my own things and on my own by 19. So having to even think about getting on disability is a huge step backwards for me and it's not easy on my head. BUT, I understand that in order to be able to afford the pdoc, the T and the meds I need to either work or lean on the system.

I am now looking for a way to work and make some sort of money to help out with my growing family. Although my hubby makes enough to handle all the bills in the house, it would be nice for me to bring in something so I can at least take care of my medical issues.

Society wants people with mental illnesses medicated and in therapy ... but wont give them jobs to pay for the medical bills and now takes away the little bit of assistance out there.

Am I the only one who is angry at this?

:discuss:

Nope you are not the only one, and tho I don't live in the Sates I can see the problems. We have problems here in Canada regarding these issues as well. Constant cuts, can't find a job or keep a job due to mental illness, have to rely on the system as I am not well enough to work, then I have to live in poverty because the provincial disability allowance is so far below the poverty line. This a very big problem world wide I am guessing.

Now I don't want to complain too much because when I look at my life on a global scale I am very lucky. But having enough money to rent more than a scuzy bachelor suite for a family of four would be nice. I'm lucky I got into low income housing, It was a nice upgrade from where I was, but it also took 6 years. There are a lot of people here and over there that are not that fortunate and they are just falling through the cracks.

[ScooterBug]

Anika, I didn't mean to complain ... you're right ... I'm very lucky to at least have my hubby and be able to survive in a decent home.

Although, it is frustrating not only because I'm going through it but so are so many other people that don't have the benefit of family like I do.

I guess I fear the fact that I am depending on those around me and if they are gone I will be homeless.

[eskielover]

I have grumbles about this situation right now of manipulating our disability/social security, & military pay checks when the money is proven to be there to make our payments. That's nothing but blatant manipulation in my book.

Being on disability, I have no idea how if they refuse to send out our checks that I will be able to pay the bills I have.....at that, I'm already over what I take in because of the exorbitant cost of vets & the fact that they won't take payments & had to put it on a care credit. Trying to save up for my property taxes even though my farm is paid for, the taxes are huge & my bills don't stop just because the government chooses NOT TO give us the money that we have put in all those years we were working.

Not being able to have any money to pay my bills has a definite effect on me.....& it doesn't leave me feeling very good about those who are running this government & manipulating things the way it's being manipulated.

No no no Scooterbug, I wasn't saying you were complaining at all. I just find it so sad, I have been following your news a bit down there and it's just terrible. I don't understand either how they can just hold the cheques. That's going to lead to a huge crisis. If that happened here I would homeless. I don't know what else to say except my heart goes out to everyone who is facing this.

[catrules]

I am having a lot of anxiety about what will happen to my family if I am not receiving my check anymore. I wish they would just get things figured out.

[dragonfly2]

I know they've been talking about making cuts in SS and Medicare, but to say they may not send out checks in August??! About half of our income relies on my SS disability check. I know I am fortunate to have my husband provide the other half, but it would still put us in very dire straits. To be honest with you, I think it's a scare tactic, and somehow they'll come up with a solution in the wee hours of the night of the deadline. There are just way too many people who rely on that money for basic necessities and critical medications and such. Congress also knows that retirees make up a huge percentage of the voting bloc and you can bet that a lot of the "baby boomers" who are looking at retiring in the next few years are watching very closely. Hopefully they'll get their heads out of their arses and fix this, but I'm hanging on to any extra money we may have just in case.

It is a huge wake-up call, though, for a lot of people. If we handled our personal finances the way the government does, we'd all be bankrupt. All out of money? Just raise our credit limits! What happens when China decides to foreclose on us, metaphorically speaking? The whole thing just makes me sick.

Trust me, it pisses me off too! My mother had to go on disability at 30 or 31, due to a back injury but she also has bipolar disorder, fibromyalgia, & lupus. She had my sister & I to raise & they only gave us $575 a month to survive off of. How is that even possible?! We had to also get foodstamps & government aid money, but that was only an extra $200 to help pay the bills & rent & it's impossible to find anyone reliable to room with anymore... The big guys seriously need to reconsider what is important for America, as well as any other place in the world, because no one is doing & has ever done justice for the people.

[Fresia]

I'd like Congress' checks to be frozen and then see if perhaps it brings about compromise sooner than later.

This affects so many people including myself, our economy, and our place in the world. I'm so angry about this that, that is all I will say.