Disability, Food Stamps, Government Assistance

[Bigun]

Ive had this thought for a Topic for a long time but from a lot of the reactions that ive seen on the subject in DCT forums, who would want to put their neck out for abuse? Im not talking about how the Illegal aliens get all kinds of Government assistance - which I have a damn hard time with too - like how they nearly get their door knocked down from some social worker trying to give it all away to them - im talking about how much of a pure bastard it is for a born and bred American who has worked their whole life suddenly having to beg (yes thats exactly what it is, BEGGING) for some way to exist, let alone....im sure that im not alone in this and I could go on and on and on (a couple of you know! ) but ive kept it pretty much quiet because ive no desire to be looked down on any more than I do myself and trust me, pride is pretty strong at times but you wouldnt believe what you can put up with! If not as a forum Topic, im willing to discuss with anyone here about the problems of Social Security, Disability, etc because im still learning and its not a very fun game. It does get kinda embarrasing tho when you have a "good parking space" permit and have to be soo careful getting your old beater parked in with all the rest of the "handicapped" vehicles like the Escalades, Navigators, Coup de Villes....Sorry Amigo, I just got another rant going this morning!

[Army_of_One]

Originally Posted by Bigun

a "good parking space" permit and have to be soo careful getting your old beater parked in with all the rest of the "handicapped" vehicles like the Escalades, Navigators, Coup de Villes....Sorry Amigo, I just got another rant going this morning!

I am sure the system is jacked up like most things the government has their hands in and I'm sure it sucks big time but the only ? I have is what is wrong with someone handicapped driving an Escalade, Navigator or Coup de Ville? These are large vehicles and easy to get in and out of.

[Bigun]

Originally Posted by Army_of_One

the only ? I have is what is wrong with someone handicapped driving an Escalade, Navigator or Coup de Ville? These are large vehicles and easy to get in and out of.

Maybe I should have been a little more clear about that part and explained a little bit more or better. Im sure they are easier to get in and out of but ive yet to see one driven up that the driver required the use of either their own or a store supplied handicapped electric chair. The majority of the Escalade and Coup de Ville drivers parking in the handicapped I see appear to have some sort of mysterious "condition" to get the parking permit along with however much of a monthly check from the Govt. to subsidise their income which they are obviously not trying to live on Disability alone when you see someone in dire need of assistance who really needs it playing hell trying to get any. No, im not talking about the elderly who are drawing Social Security but the ones somehow getting Disability income (yes, there is a difference) that are pretty questionable to me that is taking away from the people who legitimately need it.

[Highwayman]

Originally Posted by Bigun

...The majority of the Escalade and Coup de Ville drivers parking in the handicapped I see appear to have some sort of mysterious "condition" to get the parking permit....

Are you referring to the mentally disabled or the ones that borrow grandpa’s car for the parking privileges?

[Army_of_One]

Originally Posted by Bigun

The majority of the Escalade and Coup de Ville drivers parking in the handicapped I see appear to have some sort of mysterious "condition" to get the parking permit along with however much of a monthly check from the Govt. to subsidise their income which they are obviously not trying to live on Disability alone when you see someone in dire need of assistance who really needs it playing hell trying to get any. No, im not talking about the elderly who are drawing Social Security but the ones somehow getting Disability income (yes, there is a difference) that are pretty questionable to me that is taking away from the people who legitimately need it.

I'm not trying to be the bad guy here because I am sure the system has many flaws but if someone is disabled they are disabled. Say I have a disability for hearing but am allowed to park in a disabled parking space, I may APPEAR healthy but in reality I have a disabilitiy. Maybe that person has severe asthma? There are many disabilities that are not easy to recognize immediately or just by looking. Just because someone isn't in a wheelchair or attached to an oxygen tank doesn't mean they are not "disabled". People that are disabled all deserve the same treatment. There isn't a parking space for "more disabled" and there shouldn't be. Is disability income related to your income? If someone lives comfortable can they collect disability? If so one shouldn't hold that against them for being successful enough to drive an escalade.

[Detector]

I always assumed the disabled mirror tag, with the little wheelchair, was only given to disabled persons who needed the special parking. I didn't realize they give them out to everyone no matter their disabilities.

[lurker]

I want the kind of sticker that CUTTER has!

[Army_of_One]

This site outlines the criteria of having a disabled sticker/placard/plate for you automobile.

http://www.handiplate.com/Kansas%20summary.htm

What we need to do is ensure we report people who park in disabled parking that do not possess the proper credentials. This is just socially rude and lazy.

[NoLongerInRadioGuy]

As a cop, what irks me, is driving through a parking lot, seeing a car in a handicapped spot with no placard or license plate saying it belongs to a disabled person. Then, after running the tag, getting the registered owners information, taking a picture of the vehicle in the spot with the sign clearly visible, the owner walks out and says "oops, I forgot to put up my sign - it is in the glove box". I have never done it, but I know officers that have gone ahead and written the $150 ticket to that person for not having the placard displayed when they parked.

[Bigun]

Sorry ive been gone most of the afternoon - had a couple more Dr appointments today. woo. It does take a Dr that is qualified to declair a person to be disabled and write up the needed paperwork and prescription (yeah, thats what you get to take to the DMV!ha!) to get either the placard or tag for either short or long term/permanent disability. If I am out and around, depending how im feeling that day, I may or may not park in a handicapped space since there could always be someone else who needs it more than I do but having had and being diagnosed with inoperative Degenerative Disk Disease, its not very often that I have what would be considered a "good day" because when you are in constant pain no matter what position you are in or what you try to do, about the only thing I can look forward to is a little relief by "better living thru chemestry" which isnt what its cracked up to be. With what im taking and the amounts, on any given day if I was to have to give a blood sample im pretty sure that it would come up not being in my favor if there was an accident involved. When it comes to being disabled, Social Security doesnt rate the degree of disability a person has, being that disabled is disabled but it sure is annoying when it seems like a haingnail is accepted to recieve disability and here I am nearly wheelchair bound, the only reason im not is because im too stubborn and vain to use one tho I do have and use a cane, and here im having to jump thru hoops hiring an attorney, having different Dr/Specialists opinions all declairing me as being disabled - one even on the report sent to the Govt that its in his opinion that I apply for Disability and here I am waiting and waiting and waiting to get a hearing. To top that off, when a person doesnt have any kind of "safety net" like family to be able to depend on to help you live while you wait for a hearing and there is no other help available besides what the state allows you (I am getting the max for up here, $115 per month cash assistance) but its not anything to even think about living on then the food stamps (like a debit card) is maxed also which figures up to being $5 per day to eat on so a person better not eat more than the price of one happy meal per day, otherwise you might get kinda hungry until the food card is usable again! Here is some interesting reading for anyone interested.

http://www.ssa.gov

It sure doesnt get into the details of what a person is supposed to do in the mean time besides plan on living in their vehicle.