[sabby]

I am now officially stressing over my job and if I will have one after July 1st, the new fiscal year.

I am a home provider for an individual with developmental/physical disabilities. Our wonderful republican representatives have seen fit to offer a budget that strips away most of the money that is earmarked for the disabled community and they will be loosing their funding. This in turn means that those of us who work in the field of supporting these individuals will loose our jobs. It also means that these individuals will have no options for support/health management/mental health management/day programs etc. Talk about yanking the rug out from under the most vulnerable members of this society!!! It's absolutely disgusting in my mind.

I normally don't freak out over such things, but this is really getting to me. Should I loose my job, I will be homeless and have absolutely no income. I have a van so I guess I will be living in it, that is until it gets reposessed because I can't make the payments on it. Where I will store all my belongings is beyond me as I won't be able to pay for a storage unit.

I certainly won't be able to apply for welfare/foodstamps because those are being cut drastically as well. About the only thing I might be able to do is to apply for social security disability and we all know how long that takes and the hoops one has to jump through to attain it. I can get on a waiting list for section 8 housing.....it's a 10 year waiting list at this time here. In the mean time, it looks like I'll be screwed, blued and tatooed.

I've been in some difficult situations throughout my life before, but I have to say that this one takes the cake.

ps: please don't make this a political thread, I only mentioned who was making it difficult to make the thread more clear.

[notz]

(((((((((sabby)))))))))))

I relate on many levels. I hope things will take an upswing for you.

[sabby]

((((((((((( notz )))))))))) Thanks hon!

[pegasus]

(((((((( sabby )))))))))

Sabby, you have a real skill and talent that will always be needed somewhere and though things look so dark right now I know you will find something along the same lines. My heart goes out to you as I was in a similiar position not so long ago, hang in there because someone will recognise your talent and you'll be snapped up.

[bebop]

oh hon! let's hope and pray it really doesn't come to that. today economy is horrible without all this stuff.

please try feel my arms softly wrapped around you...
walking around not knowing what's going to happen can do ones head in...
continue to come here and write... vent... we're all here for you in the tiny ways we can.

[Can't Stop Crying]

Hang in there! it's a tough situation to be in, my heart goes out to you!

[sabby]

Originally Posted by pegasus

(((((((( sabby )))))))))

Sabby, you have a real skill and talent that will always be needed somewhere and though things look so dark right now I know you will find something along the same lines. My heart goes out to you as I was in a similiar position not so long ago, hang in there because someone will recognise your talent and you'll be snapped up.

Awwww thanks so much ((((((((((( pegs )))))))))))))

I remember you went through a similar situation hon. And I have to keep remembering that we always get what we need. Sometimes though, it's tough to keep that in mind but I'm trying. There are so many different things that can happen in this situation and the not knowing is really getting to me at times.

Having you in my corner is a huge comfort my friend.

[sabby]

Originally Posted by bebop

oh hon! let's hope and pray it really doesn't come to that. today economy is horrible without all this stuff.

Thanks so much (((((((( beboppers )))))))))))!!

I am doing lots of praying and hoping here. I know that things happen for a reason and that when one door closes it's time to find the other door that opens, but dang it's so hard to plan for something when I don't know what's going to happen. I feel like I'm floating in limbo and it's not a fun place to be.

[sabby]

Originally Posted by HeartWhispers

please try feel my arms softly wrapped around you...
walking around not knowing what's going to happen can do ones head in...
continue to come here and write... vent... we're all here for you in the tiny ways we can.

I feel your gentle hug my friend, thank you (((((((((( HeartWhispers ))))))))))))

Yes, it is kind of doing in my head right now. I'm hoping that I will go through all this worry for just a short time and get back to the business of living, not worrying.

[sabby]

Thank you so much for your supportive thoughts ((((((((((((((( Can't Stop Crying ))))))))))))))) I do appreciate your support!

[eskielover]

Sabby

I am so sorry to hear this looming over you right now.....there isn't anything more stressful than the UNKNOWN. It's easier to just know the facts so that you can know what you HAVE to plan for & what changes you HAVE to make rather than the dealing with all the maybe's this & maybe's that. The mind gets exhausted playing through all the different possible scenarios.

I always look at life in the old way of designing a computer program where we used flow charts & always tried to flow chart all the possibilities.....by the time I would get through 2 or 3, I end up exhausted knowing that I have at least another 12 or more to try to figure out along with any possibilities that I might have missed.....ugh, the stress gets unbearable.

Always felt that God gave me my logical mind so that I could figure out these things rather than just depend on God to guide me through.....always felt that God gave me the mind to figure out the guiding. Not sure I was very right in my thinking, but felt a lot better about myself because I at least tried to work through it....but I would only end up exhausted & over anxious, overwhelmed & ready to give up on everything. On top of that definitely frustrated because there is always the knowledge that if people had done things differently & NOT MESSED UP THE SITUATION IN THE FIRST PLACE I wouldn't be in the situation I find myself in. Ah, working in the aerospace industry, I found myself in this position way too often until I ended up really loosing my career.....but I didn't have a wonderful talented gift as you do....just some old outdated technical skills & college extension classes that didn't give me ON THE JOB experience with the new technology that other companies other than the one I was working for even wanted.

My normal conversation with God always was "Yes, I have faith that You provides for my needs, but what happens if this time You don't see my needs the same way I see them?"Even with God providing for my needs, it can end up being painful if too much change is required."

Praying that your situation doesn't end up being as bad as it seems possible & that if you do end up loosing your position that a wonderful NEW opportunity will come along for you. Praying that your situation doesn't come to the extreme so that you have to figure out how to deal with any major things in your life & that your family & friends will stand with you & give you all the support & encouragement you need to get through this difficult time.

[sabby]

(((((((((((((( Debbie )))))))))))))) You relate so well to how and what I am thinking! I, too have a fairly logical mind that can sometimes turn me upside down in a flash.

My normal conversation with God always was "Yes, I have faith that You provides for my needs, but what happens if this time You don't see my needs the same way I see them?"Even with God providing for my needs, it can end up being painful if too much change is required."

I usually quantify my statement of "We always get what we need" with "it may not be what we want, but it is what we need". Consider this, if we were always given what we "think" we need, then how are we to learn and grow? When we are given what we need and still have things to work through, it then becomes a lesson we have learned and one we can apply to our lives in the future. In other words, the tools are given to us, we just have to figure out how to use them in any given situation.

Thank you for bringing this thought up. It's helped me to think more deeply about my situation and to feel less stressed as I work through the possible options in possible scenarios.

Thanks for your support dear one!

[Perna]

Whoa, from "offer a budget" to homeless in about three sentences! Sabby, you have at least a month to get together with others and petition/besiege the Government, check your skills and other options (private or NGO funding: http://www.wango.org/resources.aspx?section=ngodir) and look at your own, personal options (don't worry right now about all the other people who might not be able to find care for themselves or lose their jobs) with this individual you care for. I'm with Pegasus, hang in there and keep fighting the good fight for yourself!

[ECHOES]

(((sabby))) You have valuable, transferrable skills and you will be able to collect unemployment due to losing your job through no fault of yours.
This is scary for everyone involved and it makes me very angry too.

Article on identifying your transferrable skills:
http://www.careerbuilder.com/Article...arket_my_skil_

[sabby]

Thanks so much for the links and your support (((((((( Perna and ECHOES )))))))))))

I'm not sure about being able to collect unemployment. I am under contract as an Independent Contractor and because my stipend falls under the catagory of "difficulty of care", I don't pay taxes on it. I guess I should call an attorney to find out for sure before it gets too late. At least I would know if I would have any income whatsoever coming in or not. *sigh*

§ 131. Certain foster care payments

(a) General rule
Gross income shall not include amounts received by a foster care provider during the taxable year as qualified foster care payments.

(1) Difficulty of care payments

The term “difficulty of care payments” means payments to individuals which are not described in subsection (b)(1)(B)(i), and which—

(A) are compensation for providing the additional care of a qualified foster individual which is—
(i) required by reason of a physical, mental, or emotional handicap of such individual with respect to which the State has determined that there is a need for additional compensation, and
(ii) provided in the home of the foster care provider, and

(B) are designated by the payor as compensation described in subparagraph (A).

The above is why I'm not too sure about being able to collect unemployment.

[Emotionally Dead]

I think it is too early to start thinking on the lines of that. Just because spending is cut, which spending is being cut all over the country for obvious reasons, doesn't mean you'll lose your job and your home and your car and everything else. First you need to have another job lined out if at all possible in case something happens. Second, you just have to wait things out before going overboard. Things might end up being fine. I went through a scare not too long ago thanks to schools being cut so drastically but I made it through WITHOUT losing my job, even though it was looking very grim. Just try to be prepared and that's really all you can do. We can't do anything about what is going on in our country because it's been being done for years and now is really coming to light. I think things will be okay.

Hope you do get to keep your job and that the things you mentioned don't happen.

[sabby]

Thanks E-D, but I don't think I am going overboard in my line of thinking here, nor is it too early to find out what my options might be.

Having another job lined up would be a wonderful thing in a perfect world, but this is not a perfect world. In about 7-8 weeks we will know what is going to happen. I don't think there is any employer out there that is willing to give me a job, and hold it for 2 months not knowing what is actually going to happen.

The cuts that are proposed and very likely will be implemented affect the WHOLE human services industry, jobs and clients in this state. These are not little cuts here and there, noooooooooo..... these are HUGE sweeping cuts that will put thousands of home providers/day providers/businesses/families out of jobs and clients without homes! They have proposed that those families that can take in their children will be given 30 days to quit their jobs so they can stay home and care for their disabled family member. How freakin crazy is that in the grand scheme of things? How are these folks supposed to survive if they have to quit their jobs to care for their child??? Many families are one parent families.....what then? I cannot stress enough to you how serious this situation is.

I'm very glad for you that you did not loose your job. I'm sure it was hell to go through for you before you found out. I certainly am aware that stressing about this is not to my advantage. I'm not one that does a lot of stressing over things and I have always landed on my feet whenever I had to jump and I suspect I will so again. It's the "not knowing for sure" part that is stressing me out the most. It's the "not knowing for sure" part for my client and what will happen to him in 8 weeks that is stressing me out as well. I don't do this line of work because I have to, I do it because I want to give back and help someone who needs it. I am emotionally involved as well, how can one not be?

As far as loosing my home, well if this all goes through, I WILL loose my home. I'm renting the home where we are living and it belongs to my clients mother and stepfather. If we loose funding, they will have to sell the property. I certainly will not be able to pay rent here (or anywhere for that matter) with no income. We live in the country...no good paying jobs around here. I would have to travel at least about 100 miles a day and at the price of fuel...that ain't happenin!

I need to figure out what my options are. There is no time like the present to do that and hopefully it will give me a bit of peace of mind for the next 2 months.

I thank you for taking time to read and post here. I do understand what you are saying and I appreciate your thoughts. Take good care!

[sabby]

Update -

Last week, the house and senate voted to keep most of the funding that was going to be so drastically cut. There are still cuts to be made in every individuals program, looking to be about 10%.

The program that my individual is in is a family run program. His mom has been working very hard to cut that 10% without cutting day staff, respite staff or my position. So far, it looks like there will not be any monetary cut to my stipend! YAY! The only thing I will be loosing at this point (subject to change) is 1/2 hour of respite per week. I know I can live with that!

His mom and I were talking the other day and kind of brainstorming to come up with ideas of where she might be able to cut. I was willing to help by paying out of my stipend some respite hours each month instead of it coming out of the program. Luckily, it gave her some other ideas and she was able to come up with me loosing 1/2 hour of respite....I'm so pleased with that!

I know I was pretty worried here for a bit about my job. I think I had good reason to worry (but I didn't perseverate or go off the deep end). One never knows what the powers that be will make stupid decisions and follow through on them. In the back of my mind I knew that what they were proposing was ludicrous and setting the state up for a lot crap and more money to be spent in other ways. It just didn't make fiscal sense to me at all. Then again, since when do those powers that be make much sense half the time anyways??

Anywho, I just wanted to update all of you that were so kind to read and post here. I so appreciate all your support and care. I don't know what I would do without you folks!

[googley]

That is so awesome. I'm glad you are not losing your job.

[ECHOES]

Originally Posted by sabby

Update -

Last week, the house and senate voted to keep most of the funding that was going to be so drastically cut. There are still cuts to be made in every individuals program, looking to be about 10%.

The program that my individual is in is a family run program. His mom has been working very hard to cut that 10% without cutting day staff, respite staff or my position. So far, it looks like there will not be any monetary cut to my stipend! YAY! The only thing I will be loosing at this point (subject to change) is 1/2 hour of respite per week. I know I can live with that!

His mom and I were talking the other day and kind of brainstorming to come up with ideas of where she might be able to cut. I was willing to help by paying out of my stipend some respite hours each month instead of it coming out of the program. Luckily, it gave her some other ideas and she was able to come up with me loosing 1/2 hour of respite....I'm so pleased with that!

I know I was pretty worried here for a bit about my job. I think I had good reason to worry (but I didn't perseverate or go off the deep end). One never knows what the powers that be will make stupid decisions and follow through on them. In the back of my mind I knew that what they were proposing was ludicrous and setting the state up for a lot crap and more money to be spent in other ways. It just didn't make fiscal sense to me at all. Then again, since when do those powers that be make much sense half the time anyways??

Anywho, I just wanted to update all of you that were so kind to read and post here. I so appreciate all your support and care. I don't know what I would do without you folks!

(((sabby))) I am very, very happy for you and for the family you work for - they must be as delighted as you are!! Hooray!

Oooh,Sabby I have only just read this.I kept thinking ,if she's in America,she can stay with me,lol.I was so worried.And,I very much relate to the over-all topic,as I have three young men with issues.Two of which utilize S.S.D.One of which does need a caretaker.(ATM,he is not in my grasp,but,nonetheless.)I admire your line of work,and I would love to do the same.Yes,the support within the community of psych central is very strong,and indeed essential as an anchor to a healthier array of insight when we really need it for so many of us.I just kept thinking something has to work out for her,you are intelligent,capable,and have a great disposition,I knew you'd be blessed soon .I didn't think I 'd turn the page and see such a great turn of events ,lol....but,I guess the thinking was right .I hope to hear again that things are going well in your circumstance.Keep us updated?Huggs WO.olf

[sabby]

Thanks everyone! It's so nice not to have that load on my shoulders anymore. And yes, the family is very happy that they will be able to keep most things status quo for my client. We have a pretty good working relationship and we all do what we can to be flexible and help each other out when needed. Who would want to loose a job with that kind of backing? Not me, I'll tell you that!

(((( wolfie )))), it can be a hard job at times but it is so worth it in the long run. I hope one day, if it's really what you want to do, that you get the opportunity to do it. It will warm your heart for sure!

to all of you!

ahhh, I have been off line for a bit,but,yes,I really would love to be able to do something along those lines.((((Sabby))))