Leanne:

Thanks for your comment.  You have it so right, things are so hard for so many people, and here in the US things are getting worse, and I am sure they will continue to get worse before they improve.  My only source of income for myself is just Disabled Widowers Benefits and SSI which the two only come to $694 a month.  My girlfriend also lives with me and her income also helps us out and we are on the Section 8 program for rent, so we only pay $400 a month for rent.  Without that we would never make it with the cost of utilities and things.  Within the Section 8 program they do give us a monthly utility allowance so when they tally up what the amount of rent is, it is not just 30% of your income, but 30% minus the monthly utility allowance plus the disabled and senior citizens get an additional $400 a year credit.  The only problem is that with such a limited amount the government has for the Section 8 program each year, there are no where near the amount of housing help then meets the demand.  So we have very long waiting list to get that assistance.

We just have to keep praying and hoping that things will improve very soon for everyone, not only here in the US, but on the entire planet.

Michael B.

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I have signed all of these and thank you all for what we are all working hard to do on behalf of all in need.

Hello my dear friend and brother Michael B. Love you.

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Your system over in the US need a good kick up the ass. but I guess haveing almost 300 million people living there makes it dam hard for everyone unless you are rich. How much out of curioslty to you get each month on the pension each month? and you guys should get utility allowance each 3 months too like us, and the givernment here puts up the pension twic year buy a bit. and do you guys have minsitry of housing? like government housing? It is harder to get one these days with so many pepole on waiting lists. I was blessed when from the moment my application went in I was approved in 2 weeks as I was in emergency accomidation at the time and pregnant so it did not take long to get approved straight away, but these says the housing crisis is getting worse everywhere around the world. God has blessed me I am in an affordable housing 2 bedrooms it is a unti so I live in a nice court in a nice area. I live by myself which is the way I want it and only pay 67 dollors a week phew. and my rent money is taken out of my pension before I even get it which is a good thing the government does. But I unfortunatly cannot see things improve for you guys casue of the ecomomy that is weeking in the US and is getting worse, and this bail out money will not last long. so hold on you guys will be in for a bumpy ride. But hold on. God bless Leanne

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Leanne.

You are so right, all those who are fighting to get on Disablity should remember to always take things one day at a time and never give up hope.  Prayers always help too no matter the issue.

Here in the USA, it is always important to also remember that if you do get denied the first time around, file the next step and really think about getting a lawyer who speicalizes in Social Security Cases, as the lawyer does not collect any money from you until you win your benefits, and at that time, they can not charge you any more money then $4,000.00 or 25 % of your back pay whichever is LESS.  So you still end up with getting 75% of your back pay benefits just for you, and it is worth the expense sometimes.

again. 

Michael B.

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hi all this is Leanne 39 from Melbourne. I have read a lot of blogs about how lots of people who apply for disability end up being rejectd or having to go through courts. I live in Australia and I am on a disablilty suport pension as I have bi-polour and have been on it since end of 2004. Makes me glad to be an aussie. I also live in a government housing and pay 67 bucks a week and have been here since June of 1997. It is two bedrooms and quite nice and live in a nice suburb close to shops, buses doctors etc. I get bulked billed when I go and see a doctor. so I just want to say to all you Americans who are going though bad times, try and keep your head up and stay positive. God will provide for you if you ask in Jesus name.  We also get utilities allowance every 3 months on top of the pension each fortnight (2 weeks) as I get my disability support pension every 2 weeks not monthly like the states. It must be very tough to live there if you are not rich. God bless you all Leanne 

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Demand Quality, Affordable health care For All!

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/958393391

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Susan:

I have signed these petitions and hope everyone else will do so also.

Thanks again

Michael B.

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Asclepios
Your Weekly Medicare Consumer Advocacy Update

Hard Times

September 25, 2008 • Volume 8, Issue 39

People, just like banks and insurance companies, sometimes fall on hard times. Sometimes, when the hardship is severe and not of the person’s own doing, we as a society decide, that the government should help out. (Banks and insurance companies get to play by different rules.)

For example, people who are hit with an illness or injury that is severely and permanently disabling can qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) payments and, eventually, health coverage through Medicare. Working people all pay into these social insurance programs so that we have health coverage and economic security in the event we become disabled and cannot work. But the health coverage through Medicare does not kick in when we need it most.

People with disabilities must wait two years from the day they receive their first SSDI check to receive Medicare benefits. There are currently about 1.5 million people in the two-year waiting period.

The poorest receive comprehensive coverage through Medicaid. However, as tax revenues decline in tough economic times, states are often forced to tighten Medicaid eligibility, potentially denying health coverage to people with disabilities

About one quarter—375,000 people with disabilities—are without insurance for the entire waiting period. For many, that means going without care, going into debt or both.

Many of the rest—about half of older SSDI recipients—receive coverage through their former employer under the COBRA program. For the first 18 months, they pay 102 percent of the total premium, including the portion their employer used to pay. For the next 11 months, the monthly premium goes up to 150 percent of the total cost.

The average annual premium under employer plans is now $12,680 for a family, $4,704 for an individual. 150 percent of $4,704 is $7,056, or $588 per month, tough to pay when the average SSDI check is about $1,000. Besides the premium, many employer plans now carry hefty deductibles—more than one-third of employees in small firms have deductibles greater than $1,000—and many do not cover all the services that people with disabilities need. In short, even people in the waiting period who have coverage still cannot afford health care.

But how can we afford to spend billions on health coverage for people with disabilities when we just spent over $1 trillion bailing out financial institutions that made stupid and risky investments with borrowed money?

That is a very strange, some would say, backwards, question. The fact that we are even asking this question indicates the skewed priorities in Washington.

Most lawmakers from both parties in Washington agree that we “have to” bail out Wall Street to prevent the economy from imploding. They disagree mostly over whether taxpayers can recoup some of their money from the companies we bail out, once they start turning a profit again.

But only 23 senators have signed on to S. 2102, “Ending the Medicare Disability Waiting Period Act of 2007.” Senator Barack Obama, Democrat of Illinois, is among the cosponsors. Senator John McCain, Republican of Arizona, is not.

Only 98 of the 435 members of the House of Representatives have signed on to HR 154, the House version of the bill.

We need to work now so that next year Congress and the new President make it a priority to end the two-year wait for Medicare for people with disabilities. Urge your senators and representatives to cosponsor the “Ending the Medicare Disability Waiting Period Act of 2007.” Tell the story of your experience waiting for Medicare coverage or join the Medicare Rights Center’s effort to end the wait.

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What is the link to the actual petition and the correct name of the petition? Thanks.

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l would like to submit our petition for your consideration and signature it is rather unusual situation so if you have any questions or suggestions feel free to ask.  Thanks

http://www.care2.com/c2c/group/petitionsite

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Thank you CC.  Have signed and hope that everyone else will do the same.

Michael B.

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Laws for Disabled Person's

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/309607265

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Hi Michael, I signed and sent the petition on it's way. We are as a Mayors Council In San Francisco, quite worried about the hearing dog program. It needs every support possible. Glad to see it was put out on the internet to gain support and signatures. I'm going deaf as well. I jokingly call myself, 'heard of seeing'. Can't see w/o specs, pretty soon can't hear, and going down the street in my manual wheelchair, without a license, propelled by just to wooden sticks, will surely gain me a ticket for going to fast. : ) But in City Hall, they don't dare stop me because they know when I advocate, there is not stopping me.

Tatiana

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Here is a petition going on to help get a new hearing dog program started in San Fransico area.  Your signature would really help this petition along. 

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/save-SFSPCA-hearing-dog-program

Michael B.

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Thank you Frank for this latest link to this important petition.  We all must make sure that we sign it and let all our friends and family members know about this and have them sign the petition also, plus take a few moments of their time to write to your Congressman/woman, represenatitive and the President to ask for this cut for Medicare not happen now or anytime in the future.  Lets help protect Medicare/Medicaid to our fullest.

Michael B.

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I totally and completely support this partition.

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http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/171998601?z00m=14802751

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Please sign my petition on the Medicaid Estate Recovery Program. State and Federal governments are stealing homes from the elderly and disabled and it is legal. Help me stop this, please! This affects ALL of us! If you are not making $100,000 or more now or in your retirement THIS AFFECTS YOU!

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/stop-congress-from-stealing-your-home

I also have a site that explains the recovery program further and has a link to the petition and to a petition for Universal Healthcare. If we had Universal Healthcare, millions of Americans would not be struggling as much as they are. The greatest obstacles someone with a disability faces are those imposed by local and federal governments. My site is..

http://healthcare2008.bravehost.com

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