Bcon wrote:
So I guess your answer to the problem is to just throw money to them with no requirements. I believe anyone who is able bodied to work for a living should have that option forced on them before they qualify for welfare. The welfare pot is not bottomless. Our taxes pay into it. Requirement or proof of inability to work should be a priority. The same qualifications should be imposed of Social Security disability. Doctors should be held responsible to prove disabilities before approving payment.
Sorry, but I cannot let that verbal misinformation concerning the disability pass without comment.
You are in error about Social Security disability at least in the state of NC. Usually takes a minimum of two years, countless doctor's forms and information and the use of a lawyer to navigate the system. Know about half a dozen people who have applied for Social Security Disability.
My dad was totally disabled, took more than 7 years to get disability. Doctors gave him 2 years to live and said he had the bones of a 98 year old male (he was only 33), heart disease, high blood pressure, full spinal fusion, blind in one eye, diabetic, gout, was bowed down to under 5 feet tall from 6 feet by one of the forms of arthritis that he had--before he got disability.
During Ronald Reagan years, his disability was cut off with no warning. At the state require doctor's exam, the doctor wanted to know who drove him to the appointment, wanted to help dad out of the chair since he was using 2 forearm crutches. This same (idiot) doctor said dad could work with a 10 pound weight limit. (See preceding paragraph.)
[Couldn't knock Dad out during some of his spinal surgeries and some other surgeries since his pain level was so high...from the time he was 33. He consented to numerous experimental surgeries before he died. No opiates given. He declined to be a cadaver for medical purposes. Said he had paid for the experimental surgeries, that they weren't going to cut on him for free.]
Finally took a helpful state representative tracking down dad's medical records at Raleigh. Report had 2 full pages of numerical health codes as to what was wrong with dad--Dad was reinstated on disability.
In addition, dad never got welfare during any of this time. Yes, years later, he finally choked down his pride and asked for help during one bad time. He was eligible for $10 worth of food stamps.He declined because of the government worker's snarky attitude toward him. Said it wasn't worth the humiliation of dealing with said government employee.
One of the many arthritis forms he had killed him, fuzed his ribs.
Dad was a proud, white, Christian, conservative who helped others as he was able. He taught his children to help those who need help, nothing in life is free, you work for what you want. Church was our social outlet, we attended Sunday-morning & evening, Wednesday evening, Friday night. He made sure we were taught Christian values--by example.
We didn't have a lot; however, we had each other and although sometimes things were sketchy, we had enough. One of the best things dad taught us was to be happy with what you can afford, to be thankful and give thanks.
I remember the day that dad gave up, he was sweating bullets just trying to breathe, he told me, "It hurts too much to stay." (They had given him less than 3 months to live, said he'd be bedfast, in diapers.) He got his legal affairs in order and he died the morning after he came home from the hospital.
He is my hero.