Mood:  don't ask

The Saga Continues...

SLASHED!
Part I

The razor sharp thorns from the petrified Bush are cutting social programs and help agencies throughout the U.S. of A. Texas and Florida no longer bear the fruits of such social and help programs that are a harvest for the poor and needy during their hardships and trials during poverty. The worst of Bush to come arrived during election week for those whose livelihood comes from government social programs. And how do I know? I was one of them! The direct deposit of my disability check wasn't made to my checking account by Social Security. I hadn't received anything in the mail from the Social Security Administration informing me otherwise about my benefits so, of course, I called and, of course, after selecting options in the voice menu I was forced to hold with bad music and helpful hints to listen to. One of the hints was to go online and conduct your business on the Internet. What they don't tell you is that you need a log on code and password to access your new account that takes 10 business days to activate. Cute huh? That's the government for you. Mindless blunderers! You're prompted to call the Social Security office in your area since you have no access to online service. After giving to the next available agent my name, Social Security number and the drama of my personal Social Security horror story, a sudden quiet came from my end of the line after being told that my benefits were suspended as of now. I broke the silence by asking, Why? I was told that the answer lay in the letter that was supposedly mailed to me. I told the agent that I hadn't received the letter, then pushed the issue for further explanations of this nonsense. I was then told that I AM NO LONGER DISABLED. Now had I heard this news at my doctors office or in church I'd be ecstatic beyond belief. But since I was hearing it from a clerk employed by the Society Security Administration, I asked what this finding was based on. I was told again that it was in the letter that I didn't have and only existed in the minds of the dimwit that thought up this nonsense. Of course, I asked for another copy of this letter to be mailed to me. The agent complied by asking me for my address which was already up on her screen. Hey, I worked as a Customer Service and Help Desk Rep so I know how it's done, okay? I complied by telling it to the dear person who had shot nerves at this point in the conversation. The letter would take five to 10 business days to arrive at my mailing address. I asked the agent how I was going to pay my rent, pay the co-pay for my meds and survive for the rest of the month. I needed a check right here and right now. There was nothing that could done by the agent to whom I was talking. When I asked to talk to her immediate supervisor, I was told to go to my local office once I received the letter in the mail. The mystery letter had suddenly become a letter of permission needed to address my issues. The agent hung up and I was hung out to die by the government program that I had paid into with the understanding that it would be available upon retirement or other circumstances. It wasnt happening. I was suddenly SLASHED without my knowing it until now. So, did I go into a tizzy complete with conniption fits? No, I prayed and meditated on this situation like I always do with the crises and dilemmas that occur in my life. I relaxed, released and turned it over to God who already had this disruption resolved. Meanwhile, I had to be patient and let God be God while I remained calm, cool, and collective while surrounded with the love and comfort of God. This too shall pass! As far as your creditors are concerned, if you dont have an income there's no way that you can make payments. Your credibility is now slashed with your account going to the collections department. Your landlord is understanding to the situation, but you still need to pay the rent in order to stay on the premises. I have no problem with bill collectors calling me non-stop on the phone. I tell the bozos that I can't give them what I don't have and to keep the scripted B.S. to themselves then hang up on them. If they call back, I say all of the un-Christian things that I'm not supposed to say then slam the phone down on them. This gives me a sin to ask forgiveness for in my morning and evening prayers. Works absolution for me! On days when I don't feel like being bothered by anybody or anything, I blow a whistle into the phone receiver then hang up on the aggravation from hell.

Due to slashes from the  Thorn Bush I wasn't able to get the assistance that I needed during my time in dire straights. Rental assistance has been slashed to a mere $300, so if your rent is more than this you're out of luck! You're referred to other agencies where you either get a busy signal or no answer. Temporary emergency housing is no more with a two-year waiting list for Section Eight. I applied for the EPI (Emergency Intervention Program) to get my co-pays paid for my medications. They dont cover everything, but hey, I'm needy not greedy. The Lord is my Shepherd - I lack for nothing. For some, this would be good gossip. For me, it's a Saga! Both the editors of the Seattle Gay News and Gaypride.com heard my hardships as an upcoming Saga that they've grown accustomed to printing. Divine Intervention happens at the opportune time of God exactly when you're not expecting it to happen. Mine happened while volunteering at the Chicken Soup Brigade (Lifelong AIDS Alliance). When for some unknown reason, I was compelled to make mention of the perils in my life to a gentleman by the name of Robert picking up food for the person to whom he's a caregiver - get this gang - he told me that he is a lawyer and my situation was the kind of case that he takes on. He volunteers his time legal help agencies. He had already taken on numerous cases of people who were being denied benefits after waiting for five years or longer. Yes, God does move in mysteries ways, doesn't he? Praise Him, Praise Him!
The Saga Continues.....next week!

Mood:  don't ask

TheSaga Continues...

Part II: Slashed!
By Nevin Jefferson

The razor sharp thorns from the petrified "Bush" are cutting the Social programs and help agencies throughout the U.S. Texas and Florida no longer bear the fruits of the social and help programs that are a harvest for the poor and needy during their hardships and trials during poverty. The version of the letter that I received 10 days later was different from version I had been told about and had been expecting. In this version I was informed that I had been overpaid $11,213 dollars and 10 cents leaving then to pose the question about how I was to going to pay this amount back. I was also overpaid for August and September since my entitlement ended in August of 2004. This made me overpaid for the amounts from both months. I was advised to refund this overpayment within 30 days. If I'm unable to refund the full $11,213.10 NOW, I should submit: a) a partial payment; b) an explanation of my financial circumstances; and c) a definite plan for repaying the balance. If I think that they're wrong about the overpayment I have certain rights with respect to this overpayment and its recovery by appealing. I only had a dime to my name, so a partial payment was unrealistic unless they were willing to accept a penny payment The past due notices, vacant notices, and my phone ringing off of the hook from bill collectors was a definite explanation of my financial circumstances. I had a definite plan for not repaying the well rounded balance that equaled the wrong calculated against me. Meanwhile, Bootise and Purrfecto started a starvation protest after I tried feeding them tuna. I should have got the point after I tried feeding them canned salmon. Purrfecto turned over the water feeder onto the food bowls then stormed off to one of his hiding places where he began yowling. Bootsie followed behind me yowling in protest about my letting their food supply run out as I tried to find Purrfecto. I know, shame on me! It was my friend Page who came to my rescue after she called and heard the yowling melody for herself. She went to the store and bought the two little darlings their beloved Meow Mix. One crisis down, with a million and ninety-nine to go without having a breakdown of any emotional kind Robert put me in contact with William B., a former worker of DSHS and Social Security. He wasn't surprised by the tactic pulled by Social Security after reading the letter. It was in his personal opinion that the letter was clearly inaccurate and contradicting itself. The first thing that William suggested was that we do go to the DSHS office for EMERGENCY funding since I am destitute at this point in my life. Guess what gang? There is no emergency funding! George the "Slasher" slices again! After standing in a extremely long line at the DSHS office, we discovered that we were at the wrong office. After going to the right office, we were told that appointments could only be made during the hours of 8:45-10:00 a.m. William explained my plight to the person at the desk, only to be told that nothing could be done until the next day or after we made an appointment. They were supposed to issue me emergency food stamps, but they didn't! Thus sending away a Black man who was in need of medications, food, and shelter (since I was pending an eviction notice). After spending a tedious afternoon with screaming babies and unruly children throwing tantrums, William B. and I were finally called by a case manager. During this time it was discovered that my expenses exceeded the amount of $328.00, which I would receive from DSHS. The case manager asked me how I planned on living. I replied that I was hoping for something to kick in from their end. Silly me, what wasn't I thinking? Out of the mind of Feds, AIDS/HIV is no longer a top priority to receive benefits immediately. Since people are living longer from the medications, there is no need for concern about this terminal illness with no cure in sight at the present moment. I tried to educate the person about the fact that the same people are getting sick from the side effects of the drugs. Since this didn't coincide with the brainwashing given to the case manager, this factual point went nowhere. As far as the powers that be are concerned, AIDS/HIV is a temporary disability. On three, 1-2-3... DUH? In order to receive financial assistant, I had to get a form filled out by my Doctor stating the severity of my illness. And get this, since AIDS/HIV is no longer a issue, I needed other ailments to go along with being HIV+. I If I could prove duress caused by the stress and go into a depression, I'd be more than eligible for funds and medical coupons. I found this to be dumb because if I had the money for my medications, why am I applying for assistance? I didn't have the bucks needed to complete a spend down. True, I had all of the elements to have a break down, but I refused to. The organization that helps people meet their spend down had a very long waiting list. Meanwhile, I did get $46 dollars credited to an EBT card. There are those who I talked to who said that they played the nut roll in order to get their benefits from DSHS. Me? I don't have to pretend that I'm nuts because insanity runs in my family. And I'm proud of this fact, okay? The forms were faxed to my doctor from the DSHS office to speed up the process. After calling my doctor's office to see if they had received the fax I was informed that I had to make an appointment with my doctor to get the forms filled out. The DSHS person asked to talk to my doctor in an effort to get my medical condition verified. The doctor was gone for the day with this information, putting me back to square broke. The next available appointment was in three weeks, which I didn't have. I was informed that the eye specialist had called the office with the news that traces of Glaucoma were found during my eye examination. This new news made me eligible, but without these facts being in writing, it was just hearsay according to the folks at DSHS. Such luck, huh? The second thing that William B. and I had to do was to go to the Social Security office to file a letter of reinstatement. We did this the next day, since we had spent an entire day of ridicule at the DSHS office. After spending another morning and afternoon at the Social Security office, I was informed that I had to reapply for Disability since I had been cut off. This process would take 5 months or longer since there was a backlog in applications. When I asked the idiot behind the glass how I would live? I was told to return to the DSHS office and asked for the emergency assistance that I was entitled to, now that I was cutoff from Social Security. I told the person that I had did this, done that and still had the shot nerves to prove it. The person then had the gall to tell me that the DSHS office shouldn't have done any of this. They should have assisted me with benefits and everything else regarding health and social well being. I was being given the run around and I didn't feel like running. I asked to speak to the immediate supervisor only to be told that they had gone for the day. Which meant that I had to come back to next day and wait for the supervisor to find free moment. Meanwhile, The Saga Continues...