Some thoughts on SSI/Disability. People act like people get on them to get a free ride. First of all if you get on it you have to go through a very extensive and exhausting process. It isn't like you just walk in and say I can't work and they say Okay and give you a check. Or like you can pick a dr that will say you are disabled *wink wink* and issue them a statement. They will send you to their own drs of their choice and sometimes several ones. They will obtain proof. You WILL jump through hoops for them. Most people are also denied the first or even second time to weed out those who aren't as serious as well. Now I will disagree about some things being allowed as disabilities (these are just my own personal opinion) like alcoholism/drug addiction. Yes those will disable you but there should be something else done in those situations.
Another thing is here people seem to picture people living off that as a source of income and living it up or something. You actually do not get that much. You barely get anything to live on in that circumstance and you wind up stuck in a situation where you are not allowed to get ahead. Meaning getting off of it is not easy there is no real middle ground. When I got on it I had been trying to work to support myself and my 3 kids and when I could no longer work due to issues with my autoimmune disease as well as severe PTSD from what I'd been through combined (I was sick constantly and had collapsed at work later it was determined I'd stroked *ministroke*) I did not find out til later it was just the tip of the iceberg and I have multiple autoimmune diseases. I wasn't getting child support at the time and had to have some type of income to help take care of my kids. I will say it helped. I was able to keep a roof over our heads and such. Anyway....
The thing is when you are on it there are several things keeping you from getting ahead. You are not allowed to save any money. You can't put anything aside or it counts against you. (I think you may be allowed up to $500 at most) If you get any income (I.E. if sell something or do a little work and get over a certain amount) it counts against you. One thing they could do is maybe come up with a program for people who are disabled to do at home work. Depending on their disability. They do have the ticket to work program which isn't quite the same. But I would imagine there are plenty of people like myself who would love to have a job at home like that. There are plenty of us who want to feel more useful.
I've actually had people ask how hard can it be to start up an at home business? Why don't you just do that? I wish it were that easy. I can't do daycare because my home is not equipped for that. (maybe if I were in a newer home and we have so many dr appts and such it just wouldn't be feasible) Avon...tried it. I actually lost money on that one. Same for any of those type of jobs. You also have to be able to get out and sell and with mine I am spotty on when I can get out and do stuff. Plus you have to have a good customer base (Now that they have the online sale thing it might be different....but you come back to that you may make over your allowance one sale period and not enough the next but still never enough to make it off disability) That is another thing. It would be nice if you were allowed to make a supplemental income. You might be able to turn that into a business and get off of it. Most of the at home businesses you see are scams or would require you to have more than you can afford to start them. Keeping in mind most all would require something to start up. You would need supplies etc and that costs. Another thing is a lot of the things that people could do not so long ago now require a license etc to do when they didn't before.
When I was out and about I tried doing my murals. The people who had me do them loved them but I really didn't make any money at it (mainly bartered) and there is more competition than you might think around this area for it. That and window painting.
I decided I wanted to take and refurbish/paint furniture. Again I have a friend who loves to find things like that for me to do and I did hers and got rave reviews on it. It seems to go over well. However living where I am now if you get furniture and put it under your carport to sand/paint the city comes after you so that is a no go. Thinking moving out of the city may make it possible to progress and do what it is we love and want to do and I may be able to work my way off disability. I would love that.
I've been told having a computer is a luxury that I shouldn't have. Maybe not but in this day and age it is a big connection to the world and I've found it has helped tremendously in every day life. My kids use it to do their schooling. I use it for research and an outlet as well as being able to do things that offer me a chance at progressing in life. So to me it is a bit more than a luxury. It is an important piece of equipment. It has reached a point where most of those places (DHS and such) expect you to have one.
There are so many reasons right now I can't list them all.
They blame SS for the reason the economy is so bad. What about credit cards? SSI is money that is constantly circulating. Credit is not. People get credit cards and then get into debt and sometimes may never be able to pay it back. It is basically issuing a bunch of IOU's. Why is it you never hear of that being referred to as a possible cause of debt?
Another thing to note is in the past there were things people could do to make income for themselves when they couldn't actually work. Things that would still make them feel at some level a productive member of the community. Such as raising a garden, or chickens, or rabbits and selling or trading for items with those goods.....these things are no longer allowed within towns anymore for most part...which means you have to live outside of town to even get that option...in turn that means you have to have money for land. As a whole society is no longer really set up for self suffiency in that manner. Also most homemade goods are now regulated. You can't even bring homemade goods to your childs school for birthdays and such anymore much less sell things like that for supplemental income without having to spend the start up costs to have it regulated. I remember as a kid doing odd jobs to make money that if I were a child of today I wouldn't have been able to do because they aren't allowed anymore. I know people who cut hair or pierced ears in their home.....nope have to be licensed. Sold baked goods etc...nope have to be licensed and regulated.
So in short Yes I do think there should be more job opportunities and progression involved in Social security disability....I hope to eventually not have to have mine anymore....No I do not think it is really the majority of the cause of the economic problems in the US.
On another note I think some countries have found ways to deal with their economic problems.
Greece < they have returned to the bartering system in some areas.
Something else to think about. People are bitching about people being on social security but they never seem to say a word about what is being spent on people in prisons. Their schooling and such. They say we aren't productive enough members of society...what about those that are in long term? So I guess they deserve a better life than those who are disabled?
Just to add: Wikipedia on prison care/costs
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