insomnomaniac

I like it! Do one about Palestine being a peaceful 'nation'...

Great! I've got one living right upstairs from me, Deb... she hurt her poor little brains doing drugs and now she "can't work." Her 18-year-old HS-dropout son doesn't work either, so my guess is that she's gotten him in on the scam.

I used to know this guy in Spokane who sat around drinking beer and smoking reefer. He told me he was on Social Security. Why? "I can't work." Why not? "I'm a druggie fuckup" (his exact words). I never really believed he was getting SSI--I thought he was a dealer--but then he showed me his check one day.

Believe me, if more people like him knew about this scam, the number would be 20 million and not six million...

The posts about people collecting SSI and SSDI are accurate. There is little follow up on any "rehab" plans for their future employment.

It's a big gravy train for those who collect full SSI and SSDI benefits and work 'off-the-books' for 10-20 hrs a week to 'supplement' their entitlement checks.

Food Stamps and Medicaid come automatically with SSI.

No questions asked.

yeah, if there is one thing I can't stand, it's a welfare mother.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/tax

Hi Deb,

While it's true that SSDI has become a monetary black hole, part of that is the nature of the system - people can become disabled for lack of health care. Not to say that the system isn't abused - it is, and needs to be tightened up.

I have to take exception, however, to your sarcastic dismissal of depression. Depression is a real, crippling disease, and people die from it. I would guess that no one close to you has suffered from it, but I know someone who went from being an executive position at a nationally known non-profit to being unable to leave her home. She'd give anything to be back the way she was, and yes, she's drawing SSDI.

Hope those townie goons have stopped harassing you guys, and you're enjoying your adorable daughter.

Funny, Pete - I was living in Spokane when I came face to face with the stereotypical welfare druggie. Two kids, both of which had been taken away by the state, and this wench did more drugs than I could count. Threw parties every weekend, and spent most of her time on one chemical or another. All while collecting checks from Uncle Sam due to her inability to work.

Meanwhile, my brother and I were working our asses off in order to pay the rent. It's a learning experience, that's for sure.

Whoa, I'm depressed! GIVE ME MONEY!!!! Waaaaaaaagghh!

To: all who posted
Re: SSDI and inability to work

Just so you know, SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance) and SSI (Supplemental Security Income) are very difficult to actually get. You go through a difficult, long process, the burden of proof is on the disabled person (or people who can help them) to meet Social Security Administration's strict definition of "disability." Often, applicants are denied the first time, and wait months or even years to appeal the case.
Also, mental impairments are extremely hard to prove. Just being depressed wouldn't qualify. Major unipolar depression, however, which occurs in a minority of people, is extremely difficult to live with. You cannot get out of bed and take care of personal hygiene on a regular, consistent basis, and it comes with inability to concentrate, think clearly, and make decisions. Some people cannot even speak for years! Social Security Administration (SSA) takes other factors into account than simply a diagnostic report from the doctor. Some people with depression take medications (either for depression and anxiety, and/or for co-occurring mental conditions) which can relieve symptoms to a point where they could perform some type of full-time work in the nation's economy. For some, though, the medications have limited degrees of effectiveness and other side effects that interfere with a person's pace and persistence of daily activities (e.g. fatigue, dizziness, drowsiness, spaciness, headache).
Long-term effects of illicit drugs can mimic depression. Also, a lot of people do illicit drugs as a means of coping with their depression. The problem is that doing dope only relieves depression temporarily, and can result in further depression and other unpleasant symptoms, or could interfere with what could be otherwise effective treatment.
It's a shame that a few people have to ruin it for others who truly need government benefits and wish they could get better.

It sounds to me like you all are nothing but a bunch of "good for nothing" whiners. Oh poor you. You have to work. Well actually, you don't have to do anything at all. And, indeed you could always kill yourself. Then you wouldn't have to bust your ass to take care of all these "good for nothing" lazy asses. In reality, every minute you "work" you are consciously supporting the most evil and decadent society the world has ever known. So stand tall and be proud and keep working toward the end of human civilization. Your "contribution" to society is much appreciated.