Posted on 11/15/2008 2:10:33 PM PST by mainestategop
Been away awhile. Turns out a lot of leftists from DU, Youtube and elsewhere have come on my website to start accusing me of things I never said or meant. Gotta love public school curriculum.
With Obama and the Dems taking control, I thought I should bring up an important topic, private property rights and how Democrats plan to use the SSI program in Social security to strip Americans of their assets, homes and even their jobs.
The SSI or Supplemental Security Program was started by Richard Nixon in 1974 to federalize welfare. The SSI program was administered by Social security but the money came out of the general treasury. Originally it was for people who were severely disabled, blind, elderly, and in need. Over the years it has become far more easier for anyone to receive SSI. Simply for having any mild impairment or diagnoses of any "disorder," it is possible to get on. Up until welfare reform in the 90s, even people with a history of substance abuse could qualify. Simply dope up and you re on your way!
The Heritage foundation has described the program up till that time as a black hole. Most who received SSI assistance were perfectly capable of working at very good jobs. In other cases, it has been found that psychiatrists and government workers have been aiding able bodied and minded individuals to get on the program by making up different diagnoses. The American Psychiatry association also has its fingers in the honey pot. Why do you think they make up all these different disorders?
But Getting back on track here, just how will SSI be used to defraud and cast millions into poverty? You see the SSI program has a catch. To qualify, you cannot own money or property worth more than $2000. For married couples, its $3000. That does not include cars, appliances and other items someone might own. People must spend down their assets and sell off or give away their property. What is tragic is that on some occasions they are coerced by family members, the government or public guardians at a loss to the beneficiary. What is even MORE TRAGIC, is that many in the end don't even qualify still and are cast into homelessness.
The level of people being thrown into poverty through confiscation of property and assets has slowly risen. Mary Howe, an elderly woman was one of these victims. Her legal guardian incarcerated her in an institution in Cambria California. She was held there for a year till her assets were spent down. Afterwords she was thrown into the streets. Greg used to have a good job, an apartment and money to spend. His abusive father forced him to go on SSI. He had a history of being abusive. He told Greg he was stupid, had no social skills and that he was an idiot. He also blamed his son for his being raped and abused in public school. He was coerced to go to a doctor who diagnosed him with Asperger's syndrome, a form of Autism that includes inability to communicate, failure to socialise and recognize facial expressions. Greg shared none of those characteristics but according to the DSM-IV, the bible of psychiatric disorders, his past history of being ostracized in school was enough of a criteria. The abuse took its toll on Greg. He lost his job, his father succeeded in getting rid of his assets. But in the end he did not qualify for SSI yet and wound up homeless on LA's skid row for 6 months. He currently lives in Lynwood and his life quality has deteriorated since the incident. He has never recovered financially or emotionally.
Emily was another victim. Since her childhood she has fought hard to overcome her shortcomings and adversity growing up in Chicago's south side. Her father died at the age of 11 and she suffered from Attention deficit disorder, depression and borderline personality disorder. When she was 13, her uncle sexually abused her. At a public school in Chicago Illinois she was denied help with her school work and forced to work harder to keep up. She barely graduated. School doctors diagnosed her and recommended to her mother to apply for SSI. Around the age of 21, she learned she would inherit money from her dead father to go to college. Her mother instead kept the money for herself and applied as rep payee. Emily saw hardly a dime of the money, SSI or inheritance. Emily's mother spent the money on illegal drugs and became an addict. Emily had difficulty finding a job since she had no experience working and her learning disabilities got in the way as well.
Emily wanted to press charges but her boyfriend threatened to murder her if she went to the police. Emily ran away to live in Des Moines Iowa. She wound up homeless there for several months. Her Mother was later arrested for prostitution. Social security found out that she had spent nearly all the money from SSI and her father. They were unable to recover it. Emily was given a rep payee based in Des Moines but this payee abused the funds as well. At first Emily got an apartment but the Payee was delinquent and refused to pay her any money for rent or food. Even her Case worker couldn't help her. Social security also gave her a cold shoulder and refused to help. She later became homeless again and moved to Omaha. Still no one wanted to help her and she later commit suicide.
Just in case you think this can't happen to you dear reader, think again! Hillary Clinton has advocated using SSI to confiscate wealth. Barack Obama may even share the same disposition. Clinton said that we need to take things away from you for the greater good. Barack Obama says lets spread the wealth around. What better way to do it than with SSI and legal guardianship. The motto after all is, Isolate, medicate, take away the estate. Its a dream come true for socialist Democrats all around America. Now that Obama and the Dems are taking over they will probably do everything in their power to force ordinary Americans into the black hole of SSI and strip them of everything they own.
America does not help its poor and weak. It only helps the lazy and degenerate who being pampered become a curse for all. Welfare, social security, SSI, Big government, it is a reflection of our loss of morality which has lead to the loss of our freedom.
Sad to say, I know two people who are on social security disability for “mental” issues. These two, who don’t know each other, both retired from the same company and are collecting excellent pensions in addition to the SSI.
And I’m happy to report that their “disabilities” have not precluded them from having extensive remodeling and upgrades done to their homes. Their “disability” certainly didn’t impede them from selecting top-of-the-line cabinetry, high end appliances, bath fixtures and granite, with our tax dollars, of course.
BTW, these two idiots are both Obama supporters!
I am sure there are people in desperate need of SSI. But why the hell do these clowns I mentioned, who retired WITH A PENSION, now additionally qualify for social security disability? I hope SOMEONE reins in the system - this is absurd.
Doesn’t matter, none of our representatives will do anything about it, the Democrats are allowed to get away with whatever they feel like doing. Our ‘representatives’ do nothing, and avoid confronting the enemy at every turn. I could post or list dozens of problems similar to what you just posted, but nothing matters if our side does nothing. And that’s what they do. Nothing.
Don't they also go back three years and check to see if you sold a home or other assets using that to disqualify you?
Hello fellow Mainiac (If you’re from Maine? I’m assuming you are according to your handle)
Excellent post- I had to go on dissability, due to several debilitating physical conditions, and hte state kept trying to talk me into getting SSI as well, but in the end, I would have gotten even less than the measley $600 a month I get now to live on, so I just stayed on Dissability SSD- I once wrote my state Senator explaining that it is impossible for me to get by on just $600 a month, and they were so ‘sympathetic’ thatthey referred me to the ‘food stamp program’ which would have meant all the the financial restrictions associated with SSI, plus I would have received even less than $600 a month because my SSD check would have been reduced to ‘compensate’ for hte ‘increase’ I woudl have received with SSI
It just really gets under my skin to see the 100’s of billions of dollars going to bail out institutions that weren’t savvy enough to keep themselves goign strong while folks just like myself have to scrape by on $600 a month or less- people like me who are not capable of working, and who really need help don’t get it from the government apparently, but by golly those making a few 100 million dollars a year in salaries will get help! They could have given every family in America $1 million dollars for the amopunt htey are goign to spend padding hte pockets of the multimillionairs who ran their businesses into the ground (Even though they themselves didn’t suffer financially as individuals)
I wrote Barack and McCain and asked them if htey could live on just $600 a month, and I complained abotu hte bailout money and asked how they could do somethign liek that when there are so many people who really need finacialhelp liek me all across the states- I expect a reply any day now- holding my breath- when I pass out, wake me and let me know if I got an email back from them- K?
How do you know they are on SSI? If they receive regular Social Security I doubt they can get it.
I'd like to see proof of that. From what I've read, the approval rate for disability is very low.
Her father died at the age of 11
How old was he when she was born?!
Sounds like a lot of my cousins.
My big pet peave is the number of people drawing disability from the military while still working very well paying jobs and still able to do what ever they feel like.
In SSI you only get around 650 a month. In California its 850. Really pathetic. Greg made twice that amount before his dad ruined everything.
no idea but the mother was around 16 when she had her first child before that.
The approval for SSD is low, the approval for SSI is much easier- lots more ‘conditions’ are considered ‘proof’ of ‘dissability’ for SSI
For SSD there aren’t a lot of conditions that qualify- My condition did, but I never went on SSD until I was 32 and another condition affected my muscles to hte point where I can’t now do htings consistently enough to hold a job (Mitochondrial Dysfunction)- but htis condition isn’t listed on SSD although it is much more debilitating than the one condition that I receive SSD for now (Crohn’s disease with ostomy). Until the Mitchondrail Dysfunction started wreaking havoc with me, I’d been working all along with hte Crohn’s and ostomy an didn’t have a problem- but I see drunks and drug ‘addicts’ who get accepted for SSD faster than I did even htouygh my condition wasn’t because of anythign I did to myself while the drug addicts did cause their own ‘condition’. It just aint right
Girl I know. She is on SSI her problem, drug use. Her brother has been on since he was 19(40 now) because he doesn’t like to take orders from anyone. These are just a very few I know of.
SSI is realitivly easy to get on to, it is a bare minimum subsistence allowance. This is for those that have not worked enough to have Social Security credits to qualify for Social Security Disability. You basically have to give up anything you own to receive it. 600/mo
Disability Social Security on the other hand they will fight you tooth and nail over. You receive a reduced benefit. For me if I start drawing at 67 I receive around 2,100/mo If at 62 1,400/mo if I become disabled at any time before I have started drawing 1,800/mo.
From the social security website:
The maximum Federal benefit changes yearly.
Effective January 1, 2008, the Federal benefit rate is $637 for an individual and $956 for a couple.
STATE ADDED SUPPLEMENTS
Some States supplement the Federal SSI benefit with additional payments. This makes the total SSI benefit levels higher in those States. SSI benefit amounts and State supplemental payment amounts vary based upon your income, living arrangements, and other factors.
NO STATE SUPPLEMENT
The following States do not pay a supplement to people who receive SSI benefits:
Arkansas Georgia Kansas
Mississippi Northern Mariana Islands
Tennessee West Virginia
SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTERED SUPPLEMENT
We administer the State supplement for the following States. You may contact us about your total benefit amount.
California Delaware District of Columbia
Hawaii Iowa* Massachusetts Michigan*
Montana Nevada New Jersey New York*
Pennsylvania* Rhode Island Utah Vermont*
* Dual administration State. Both Social Security and these States administer some State supplements.
STATE ADMINISTERED SUPPLEMENT
The following States pay and administer supplemental payments, and you may contact the State for payment information.
Alabama Alaska Arizona Colorado
Connecticut Florida Idaho Illinois
Indiana Kentucky Louisiana Maine
Maryland Minnesota Missouri Nebraska
New Hampshire New Mexico North Carolina North Dakota
Ohio Oklahoma Oregon South Carolina
South Dakota Texas Virginia Washington
Wisconsin Wyoming
Nightmare is more like it. I was diagnosed with a terminal illness early in 2008 caused mainly by Occupational hazards. In order for me to extend my life a bit the doctors have told me not to work and concentrate on caring for myself. I was denied my first attempt at getting SSDI, NOT SSI (don't want it won't take it) Seemed kind of obvious that when I got the denial they had not only changed my occupation to something I have never done they also disregarded very in depth Medical evidence in determinig my case. I have paid into this system for nearly 40 years and have paid one hell of a lot in taxes during that time. Guess it's all part of the big lie the US government brainwashes you into believing from birth. Claiming it's there when it really is not. Nightmare indeed.
That ‘supplimenting’ is a crock- what they do is ‘adjust’ both SSI and SSD- for instance, if I cuyrrently get SSD at $600 a month, and I apply for SSI, in my state, I’ll get around $150 or so SSI, and my SSD will go down a $150 so I’ll only be getting $450 SSd and $150 SSI, so really you’re no further ahead, and you’ll now have to ‘spend down’ until you’ve nothign left in order to qualify for the SSI- Also, if you’re living with someone who is helping you out, they have to jump through hoops to prove they aren’t ‘over-helping’- I had to move back in with folks as I can’t afford rent, food, vehicle insurance etc on what I get, and they would have to as I said jump through hoops in order for me to receive SSI along with the SSD- not that I’d even be that much further ahead with hte both, although I would get food stamps at what? $200 a month? or so? 1 Weeks grocery bill is $200 for crying out loud.
It’s not worth the hassels associated with SSI-
Moonman, they each actually BRAGGED about it!
But I may have misread the initial post. It looks like you have to be 65 to be on “SSI”. One of these people retired with 30 years at age 52; the other, at age 60. They are on some sort of “social security disability”, and are definitely collecting pension AND medical benefits from their employer, but are additionally collecting money and Medicare from the government.
It just infuriates me, because each of these people, who again, don’t know each other, are the least depressed people I know! Yet they are both claiming “mental stress” as their disability, and did so AFTER they retired!
How could they be depressed or stressed; they’re raking in tons of cash at our expense! God only knows how many others in the country are doing the same.
I know I came in a bit late to this thread, but this is something of note. Because of my disorder (Asperger’s Syndrome), it’s been hard for me to find a job that didn’t involve some sort of extensive training (Which I’m getting at the local community college). I’m on survivor’s benefits, not SSI. But it’s almost the same thing. However, I know many people who are on SSI/RSDI that have nothing wrong with them but rebellious, oppositional attitudes. Some even think it’s their *right* to be on this disability payment rather than it being a privilege from the government.
I hope they find some kind of reform for SSI/RSDI because I know there’s going to be a huge crackdown on it soon.
BTW, I’m training to become a computer technician. Perfect for somebody who obsesses over things and who can’t socialize.
I am so sorry to hear of your disability, and hope that you do find an appropriate job.
Someone such as yourself of others with true needs should certainly be able to get assistance. But I am truly ashamed of the people that I mentioned, who have NOTHING WHATSOEVER wrong with them, except they that were deceptive enough to scam the system to collect these benefits that we taxpayers fund. I certainly hope something within the “system” gets changed, because it’s a travesty that these two particular people are each collecting pensions and company paid insurance, PLUS SS disability.
I will pray that things turn around for you. May God bless you abundantly and keep you safe.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.