Supplemental Security Income

Diogenes · Post by **Diogenes** » 02-20-2012 01:49 PM

This will take over where Unemployment Insurance ends.

http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/11015.html

Lore · Post by **Lore** » 02-21-2012 09:22 PM

Don't count on it. It is a lot harder to get on SSI than you would think. Almost everybody gets turned down the first time they apply unless they are truly disabled. Most people get referred to job training in a different field.

Diogenes · Post by **Diogenes** » 02-22-2012 08:52 AM

The definition of disabled has been watered down with time and legislation.

It's true about being turned down the first time but mostly due to "technical" difficulties. There is so much information online as to how to get around that - as an example - "be specific about your disability, instead of saying I have trouble sitting say I can't sit for longer than 15 minutes."

http://usgovinfo.about.com/od/federalbe ... outssi.htm

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massac ... ?page=full

Lore · Post by **Lore** » 02-23-2012 12:38 AM

I know people who have tried to get on SSI lately. Every one of them has been turned down more than once. A couple of them have some true disabilities. One of them had a truly devastating diagnosis, Juvenile Onset Arthrosclerosis. Basically he has severe pain in his joints. He is only 24. Can’t sit or stand for any period of time, only feels marginally better when lying down. Most people with this diagnosis are dead by 40 because they can't stand the pain, and nothing really knocks out the pain but Demerol, Dilauden, or plain old heroin. He is only 24 and has been trying to get on SSI for years. No such luck and now needs a lawyer to represent him, something the family can't afford to pay for.

It is not easy to get on SSI regardless of what it says on the internet.

Cherry Kelly · Post by **Cherry Kelly** » 02-23-2012 11:21 AM

that would be SSDI - disability.

I too know several people who have been trying to get on SSDI for years - get turned down - provide DRS information that problem is non-operable and disables the individual to hold jobs due to the disability. (many of these people also cannot stand or sit for any length of time due to severe problems - diseases, injuries, etc.) They get turned down again and again --

YET as noted some 10.5 MILLION people who ran out of unemployment were declared mentally ill and got SSDI in January 2012 - no waiting for years or years or months or months...

voguy · Post by **voguy** » 02-23-2012 05:15 PM

It's a shell game. As long as they can keep people somewhat content by paying them, they have achieved their goals of staving off the wolves.

Of course the newest bill just signed hopefully will pay people, but at the expense of losing their TVs. ((deep sigh))

Diogenes · Post by **Diogenes** » 02-23-2012 08:07 PM

voguy wrote: It's a shell game. As long as they can keep people somewhat content by paying them, they have achieved their goals of staving off the wolves.

Of course the newest bill just signed hopefully will pay people, but at the expense of losing their TVs. ((deep sigh))

The new poverty - large screen TV, cell phone and computer/Ipad, etc.

SquidInk · Post by **SquidInk** » 02-23-2012 08:41 PM

Diogenes wrote: The new poverty - large screen TV, cell phone and computer/Ipad, etc.

Well, in a sense all of those things represent something worse than poverty - debt. Along with new cars, houses, and college degrees.

At least upward mobility was possible if a person was simply living in poverty, but was debt free. Not so with debt. Very few will recover.

That's true for nations too.

Cherry Kelly · Post by **Cherry Kelly** » 02-24-2012 10:56 AM

and oh ya -- that new pay - is not going to be enough to cover the gas price hikes!