It seems to me I hear so called "conservatives" getting all riled up about wanting to rip apart America's social safety net. I really pray that they never manage to. As a multiply-disabled person I very sadly came to a point where my health did not permit me to continue in my library job. Fortunately, I was experienced with the process of applying for Social Security benefits and understood going in that even if they approved me their version of "right away" it could still easily be a year before I received my first check, so as soon as I was off the payroll I went to my local DSHS office and applied for "medically needy" benefits. Since my income was zero and I have no real assetts, they immediately approved me for food stamps. After my "psych evaluation" interview with the DSHS in house psychologist they stamped my file "bi-polar" and quickly issued me a medicaid health insurance card which allowed me to get routine health care at a local clinic. Even though I was on welfare, I had a primary care provider who saw me every visit and made referrals for my other serious health needs like a hearing evaluation and replacement hearing aid and a diabetic visual exam and new glasses.
In my gut, when my local welfare office approved me right away on my first application for the small ($329 per month) cash stipend and the medicaid card, I knew immediately that social security would approve my claim rather quickly for them. Yesterday I went into my local social security office to bring in some documentation which was required and meet with my case worker. Who handed me a letter stating that Social Security will begin paying me $1228 per month on the second Wednesday of each month. First direct deposit will be September 8th. During the nine months it took Social Security to approve me, they determined I was entitled to benefits of over $5,000 dollars of which $2,000 some odd will go back to the welfare department and a direct deposit for the balance will post to my bank account within 7--10 days.
I got my first job when I was sixteen years old. And while there were times that I did not work for one reason or another, I clocked more than 20 years of full-time employment and a handful of years of part time work. And in every single job I've had over the last thirty years I have paid OASDI (Old Age, Survivors and Diability) and Medicare taxes on every dollar that I ever earned. Those taxes which I paid in theory defray the cost of providing for me now that I am unable to work. Social Security is, imho, a contract that says if you work hard you have the right to be taken care of when you get old or become unable to work. Social Security means that we don't leave people to die out in the streets when they are unable to work. Disabilities can take many different forms. But it really comforts me to know that Social Security will allow me to retire with a little dignity and enough money to get by.
Have you or a family member ever had to go on disability?
