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<blockquote data-quote="rlsnights" data-source="post: 321858" data-attributes="member: 7948"><p>My SO and I are pretty close to experts on MediCaid, SSI and SSDI due to current and past government employment and through direct experience as beneficiaries, payees and trustees. For example, I used to manage the SSI database for one of the most populous states in the country, I have an adult disabled as a child on SSI, I am on SSDI and have been on SSI in the past and we are trustees of a court-supervised special needs trust. So here is what we tell friends, family and people who we encounter on boards or in doctor's offices about being on SSI or SSDI.</p><p></p><p>SSI is a welfare program. The rules that apply to recipients are intended to make it difficult to get benefits and to continue to get benefits once you qualify. This reflects our country's attitude toward and assumptions about those who are unable to get a job or hold a job - in other words to care for themselves. The underlying assumptions are that anyone who takes a "hand out" must by definition be </p><p></p><p>1) lazy</p><p>2) gaming the system or</p><p>3) mentally deficient (as in retarded) and</p><p>4) such people require what amounts to parental supervision in order to make good choices about how they spend the money they receive.</p><p></p><p>Unfortunately there are enough people actually gaming the system and committing fraud that it keeps stereotypes about people on welfare programs alive and well. </p><p></p><p>Our taxes provide the funds dispensed by SSA and you would probably be unhappy if there were no rules about proving need before receiving money and showing a continuing need while on SSI. At least most people would.</p><p></p><p>There are some people (my son being one of the them) that require a payee to make sure that their bills are paid and that they receive funds spread through the whole month evenly. So the patronizing position that SSA takes is justified in many cases and it isn't reasonable for SSA to have two sets of rules - one for those who need a payee and one for those who don't. Especially since those categories are often fluid and depend on and individual's circumstances at any given time.</p><p></p><p>If you or someone close to you, especially someone dependent on you to some extent, applies for SSI it is important that you educate yourself about the rules that apply to you and to the person who will be receiving benefits. The rules are available on the SSA website both written in plain English and the actual regulations. </p><p></p><p>If you have trouble understanding those rules or have a situation that doesn't seem to be covered you can e-mail your questions to SSA through their website, you can call their 800 line or you can contact your local office for help. It is generally better to ask first and hide nothing.</p><p></p><p>If the main thing you or your dependent needs is medical care, then you can apply for just MediCaid. The disclosure requirements are not nearly as invasive and their rules are not as stringent in terms of deeming support to applicants.</p><p></p><p>Finally, your adult child, if disabled before the age of 22, can apply for SSDI (social security disability insurance) if a parent is retired, disabled or deceased provided that parent worked sufficient quarters and paid into Social Security. In that case, the adult child receives a stipend based on the parent's earning record. SSDI is NOT a welfare program and has no limits pertaining to property, cash, etc. If you qualify for MediCaid on SSDI then some rules do apply but they are rules imposed by MediCaid not SSA. SSDI has a 6 month waiting period during which you receive no benefits. Many people apply for and receive SSI during the waiting period.</p><p></p><p>While it is aggravating and often frustrating to deal with the SSA bureaucracy (I myself have sent in the same form 7 times and finally hand delivered it to the local office and insisted that they give me a receipt) this is the system Congress has set up to aid those who are unable to care for themselves. </p><p></p><p>If you want to get the benefits you have to learn the rules, if only in self-defense, and be prepared to play by them and manipulate them to your advantage when possible.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="rlsnights, post: 321858, member: 7948"] My SO and I are pretty close to experts on MediCaid, SSI and SSDI due to current and past government employment and through direct experience as beneficiaries, payees and trustees. For example, I used to manage the SSI database for one of the most populous states in the country, I have an adult disabled as a child on SSI, I am on SSDI and have been on SSI in the past and we are trustees of a court-supervised special needs trust. So here is what we tell friends, family and people who we encounter on boards or in doctor's offices about being on SSI or SSDI. SSI is a welfare program. The rules that apply to recipients are intended to make it difficult to get benefits and to continue to get benefits once you qualify. This reflects our country's attitude toward and assumptions about those who are unable to get a job or hold a job - in other words to care for themselves. The underlying assumptions are that anyone who takes a "hand out" must by definition be 1) lazy 2) gaming the system or 3) mentally deficient (as in retarded) and 4) such people require what amounts to parental supervision in order to make good choices about how they spend the money they receive. Unfortunately there are enough people actually gaming the system and committing fraud that it keeps stereotypes about people on welfare programs alive and well. Our taxes provide the funds dispensed by SSA and you would probably be unhappy if there were no rules about proving need before receiving money and showing a continuing need while on SSI. At least most people would. There are some people (my son being one of the them) that require a payee to make sure that their bills are paid and that they receive funds spread through the whole month evenly. So the patronizing position that SSA takes is justified in many cases and it isn't reasonable for SSA to have two sets of rules - one for those who need a payee and one for those who don't. Especially since those categories are often fluid and depend on and individual's circumstances at any given time. If you or someone close to you, especially someone dependent on you to some extent, applies for SSI it is important that you educate yourself about the rules that apply to you and to the person who will be receiving benefits. The rules are available on the SSA website both written in plain English and the actual regulations. If you have trouble understanding those rules or have a situation that doesn't seem to be covered you can e-mail your questions to SSA through their website, you can call their 800 line or you can contact your local office for help. It is generally better to ask first and hide nothing. If the main thing you or your dependent needs is medical care, then you can apply for just MediCaid. The disclosure requirements are not nearly as invasive and their rules are not as stringent in terms of deeming support to applicants. Finally, your adult child, if disabled before the age of 22, can apply for SSDI (social security disability insurance) if a parent is retired, disabled or deceased provided that parent worked sufficient quarters and paid into Social Security. In that case, the adult child receives a stipend based on the parent's earning record. SSDI is NOT a welfare program and has no limits pertaining to property, cash, etc. If you qualify for MediCaid on SSDI then some rules do apply but they are rules imposed by MediCaid not SSA. SSDI has a 6 month waiting period during which you receive no benefits. Many people apply for and receive SSI during the waiting period. While it is aggravating and often frustrating to deal with the SSA bureaucracy (I myself have sent in the same form 7 times and finally hand delivered it to the local office and insisted that they give me a receipt) this is the system Congress has set up to aid those who are unable to care for themselves. If you want to get the benefits you have to learn the rules, if only in self-defense, and be prepared to play by them and manipulate them to your advantage when possible. [/QUOTE]
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