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A periodic commentary from a fellow american on his personal trials with disability, the government, politics, and the general state of affairs in the US, with maybe some artists' news thrown in - who knows what you may find here - we'll see!
Sunday, February 22, 2004
If a nation chooses to put in place programs to help those in need - then should it not make those programs accessible to those who actually need them! And should they not also do so in a timely fashion so as to prevent the needy from perishing due to that need.
-yours truly on the condition of aid to the needy and disabled in America.
The above is a reference to the fact that those under 65 have an average 2 year wait to receive social security disability and medicare benefits - there are many who die or commit suicide before ever receiving benefits. Mine is a case toward that point. I was sent to the doctor for evaluation by SSDI and South Carolina's Vocational Rehab. One visit. The doctors sent the same report to both agencies. SSDI denied me and SCVR accepted me. Medicaid was then put on hold because, being federally funded, it is tied to an acceptance by SSDI. If I had not been disabled I could have received Medicaid under different guidelines. So now I get sicker and more depressed waiting for resolution of my case. Wouldn't it have been better to be able to see a doctor and maybe get well enough for Vocational Rehabilitation to get me back into the workforce. Instead, my health deteriorates and I wonder if I will be able to recover enough to return to work. I have only been waiting a little over a year and my lawyer says I may not get my hearing until this time next year - God help me.
If I am not to receive the benefits for which I have had to pay out of my paycheck all these years - then can I be refunded the money so, for a little while at least, I can take care of myself! Oh, sorry, I forgot that paying to bury someone is a lot cheaper than having to pay to keep them alive, at least with what our government pays for a burial.
Do I sound cynical today? I'm feeling that way. Anyway, here are some quotes from men much wiser than I.
Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former.
-Albert Einstein
If a free society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich.
-John F. Kennedy, inaugural address, January 20, 1961
Contact me by e-mail at FalconBright@bellsouth.net.
-yours truly on the condition of aid to the needy and disabled in America.
The above is a reference to the fact that those under 65 have an average 2 year wait to receive social security disability and medicare benefits - there are many who die or commit suicide before ever receiving benefits. Mine is a case toward that point. I was sent to the doctor for evaluation by SSDI and South Carolina's Vocational Rehab. One visit. The doctors sent the same report to both agencies. SSDI denied me and SCVR accepted me. Medicaid was then put on hold because, being federally funded, it is tied to an acceptance by SSDI. If I had not been disabled I could have received Medicaid under different guidelines. So now I get sicker and more depressed waiting for resolution of my case. Wouldn't it have been better to be able to see a doctor and maybe get well enough for Vocational Rehabilitation to get me back into the workforce. Instead, my health deteriorates and I wonder if I will be able to recover enough to return to work. I have only been waiting a little over a year and my lawyer says I may not get my hearing until this time next year - God help me.
If I am not to receive the benefits for which I have had to pay out of my paycheck all these years - then can I be refunded the money so, for a little while at least, I can take care of myself! Oh, sorry, I forgot that paying to bury someone is a lot cheaper than having to pay to keep them alive, at least with what our government pays for a burial.
Do I sound cynical today? I'm feeling that way. Anyway, here are some quotes from men much wiser than I.
Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former.
-Albert Einstein
If a free society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich.
-John F. Kennedy, inaugural address, January 20, 1961
Contact me by e-mail at FalconBright@bellsouth.net.
Been ill - so I'm just gonna post some quotes.
To err is human, to forgive divine.
Alexander Pope (1688 - 1744), An Essay on Criticism
Forgive your enemies, but never forget their names.
John F. Kennedy
I'm not feeling very forgiving toward insurance companies and government agencies at the moment. It seems as if they can always find a way to keep me waiting in the hopes that I'll go away. Lately I've been so sick and depressed they've been getting their wish. Tomorrow is Monday and hopefully I'll be feeling well enough to forgive them - right before I start making the repeated phone calls that ruin their serenity.
To err is human, to forgive divine.
Alexander Pope (1688 - 1744), An Essay on Criticism
Forgive your enemies, but never forget their names.
John F. Kennedy
I'm not feeling very forgiving toward insurance companies and government agencies at the moment. It seems as if they can always find a way to keep me waiting in the hopes that I'll go away. Lately I've been so sick and depressed they've been getting their wish. Tomorrow is Monday and hopefully I'll be feeling well enough to forgive them - right before I start making the repeated phone calls that ruin their serenity.
Thursday, February 12, 2004
Came back awful quick this time. Miracles do happen. Something about this blog needed attending to.
If you have good information for the blog, information I can use myself, you need some information, would like to know what information I have, or simply need a sympathetic ear once in a while; e-mail me at FalconBright@bellsouth.net. We can work together to help one another survive the trials of the world and our disabilities.
"The first step in solving a problem is to tell someone about it!" - anonymous.
Luck to all - be back later.
If you have good information for the blog, information I can use myself, you need some information, would like to know what information I have, or simply need a sympathetic ear once in a while; e-mail me at FalconBright@bellsouth.net. We can work together to help one another survive the trials of the world and our disabilities.
"The first step in solving a problem is to tell someone about it!" - anonymous.
Luck to all - be back later.
I'm back finally. Been a long month. Had a very bad couple of spells. Twice to the hospital with pneumonia. Medication got doubled. Lawyer said it would probably be another year before Social Security gave me a hearing. Still fighting with Medicaid for coverage. Same old, same old!
I did find out that you could sign up to receive updates from congress and the senate on what's going on in the commitees and their subcommitees. There is a site called "Contacting Congress" that gives phone numbers and e-mail adresses for each commitee / subcommitee as a whole, and for each member individually. The internet address for the site is listed below. If you have problems similar to mine you should give em' a yell. Can't hurt!
Not gonna' put much else today, I'm feeling really rough.
Address for "Contacting Congress": www.visi.com/juan/congress
I did find out that you could sign up to receive updates from congress and the senate on what's going on in the commitees and their subcommitees. There is a site called "Contacting Congress" that gives phone numbers and e-mail adresses for each commitee / subcommitee as a whole, and for each member individually. The internet address for the site is listed below. If you have problems similar to mine you should give em' a yell. Can't hurt!
Not gonna' put much else today, I'm feeling really rough.
Address for "Contacting Congress": www.visi.com/juan/congress
