[Califanna]

Trying to surmise from those who live in California, how are they making ends meet. Budget wise, I feel like over 60 percent of my earnings are going towards keeping the house up. Another 20 percent towards my upkeep; catheters, gloves, wipes, pills, etc... Then the rest goes towards the vehicle. I wonder if other California residents are feeling the same pinch. I really feel for those who have to pay an attendant salary. I would love to hear from all about how we can change things here for our population. Maybe some more tax breaks etc...

[htwhlz97]

Yeah I totally agree with you. Its expensive out here, from the gas to the groceries. I was originally from Phoenix Arizona and there is a huge difference. If I were alone I probably would'nt be a home owner. I'm trying to get my bacherlors right now so hopefully when I'm done it will all pay off with a higher paying job. I have insurance that covers my caths but not gloves, and dont need an attendant so I'm lucky there, but everything is high here. Me and my husband are always joking that without each other we'd be in the poor house, but we really know that much of it is true.

[wheeliebear75]

I live in the San Diego area...and wow is it expensive. I get SSI and my entire check is gone before the month is. If you don't work there are a few govt. programs but they've all got list a mile long. I can't really live anywhere else geographically, bad weather makes me hurt. I have postraumatic arthritis in most of L and some mild in C. Right to congress and get family and coworkers to do likewise.

Califanna, on Nov 25 2006, 04:01 PM, said:

Trying to surmise from those who live in California, how are they making ends meet. Budget wise, I feel like over 60 percent of my earnings are going towards keeping the house up. Another 20 percent towards my upkeep; catheters, gloves, wipes, pills, etc... Then the rest goes towards the vehicle. I wonder if other California residents are feeling the same pinch. I really feel for those who have to pay an attendant salary. I would love to hear from all about how we can change things here for our population. Maybe some more tax breaks etc...

[Deej]

I really feel for you guys. Living in the UK my med supplies are funded by the NHS (National Health Service) which is paid for through taxation. I sometimes think we Brits don't know how lucky we are in that respect.
Ofcourse we don't get the great weather you do - there always has to be a trade off right?

PS Hope I didn't step on anyones toes if this was meant to be a US only thread.

[htwhlz97]

No not at all. I hear what your saying about being lucky in the UK dont you have alot of your mobility stuff paid for also?

Yeah the weather is the bomb it is so great out here I really want to move sometimes because of expenses but the weather holds me back every time.

[Deej]

Yeah we are entitled to a wheelchair on the NHS though I would add that it is only the old rigid steel type that you get - not one with quick release wheels etc, but I think this is changing slowly 'cos my Gran now needs a wheelchair and she has just got one from the local council which is lightweight (still no quick release wheels though).
Most people in our situation want to get their own chair made to measure for their own purposes and in this situation we can get a 'wheelchair voucher' from the local authority which allows you some money off the cost of your own wheelchair. The amount you get depends on your circumstances, and you are entitled to a voucher every 5 years. It is very helpful with the costs.

Other assistance with disability aids e.g. toilet seat raisers, commodes, grab handles etc. is also available, so yes I think you could say we are pretty lucky over here. All that stuff must cost a fortune to fund yourself.

We also have state disability benefits which help towards the cost of personal care and 'getting around' - that can be put towards getting a suitable vehicle or even a powered chair/scooter.

Do you have to purchase medical insurance and does it cover your costs ?

You do have to like rain and wearing plenty of thermal layers in the winter to live in the UK though !!!!

[milosh]

cali is terrible pricey! i work for an LA-based company as a consultant and visit cali once in a while. it's more pricey than new york or for instance london!

weather is truly great!

[htwhlz97]

No you dont have to pay for medicare. Well I guess you do, as your employers take out taxes they take out a percentage for Medicare/ Social Security, so you really dont think your paying for it until you need to use it, your like, oh thank god I paid into this for so many years. For the people who never use it or file for disability its a drag because they see it coming out of their check as the years pass. The percetage they take out is small but I guess it all adds up in the end.

Once you file for permenant disability 2 years later your medicare will come into effect. They do cover many things, but they have alot of requirements that you have to meet physically. Like having to have certain diagnosis to cover certain items. Doesnt cover aides an such. That is from a different agency and you have to be really financially in need and limits are so low many dont get it.
If your young and disabled its worth getting voc rehabbed or an education and into a good paying job for a company that has private medical insurance, they tend to pay for more things.

Is there something like this in the UK?

[bubbleandsqueak]

Here in the US we are the only country that has not gone to a national health care service and it's all about the money. That’s why we have not switched yet. Yes we have Medicare but there are so many people that don't need it that still have it because once again they don't want to pay for it them self’s. Our Medicare service is running out of money because people don't want to work but they want money so they have kids because then the US government will pay for you to live yes it's not allot but they still have a house and food every thing they need. They live in poverty and the worst part about it is they chouse to live like that. It is because of these people that never work so they never pay into SS, but yet there getting money from SS. that is why when I’m old (I’m 17) and want to retire there is going to be no money left for me to draw on because all those years that I was working and paying into SS I was really paying for low lifes to live for free. I’m sorry but that’s plan bullshit, it's lazy and should not be allowed. I don't care if your white, black, Mexican, Hispanic, Jewish, disabled or not disabled...ect YOU SHOULD HAVE A JOB NO ONE SHOULD LIVE FOR FREE!and it's just that it's lazy people and greedy people that are making the USA fall apart

[Deej]

Here,here !

It's much the same in the UK - so many people living off the state who could go out to work.
Bless you bubbleandsqueak for being so honest about your views !

[htwhlz97]

Thats exactly why I said get and education or learn a skill and get out there. There's too many sponges hooked on the system. Use it for as long as it takes you to get up on your feet again and be self sufficient. EMPOWER YOUR SELF

[Batman47]

bubbleandsqueak

I'm with you on that, but some of us got 24-hour care and can't work outside the home, thats why I help in other ways like:

http://www.uscarrierhistory.com

I lived in BA JA Mexico for 3 years and nine monhts. Got home in August. No way I could afford living in San Diego.

San Diego and TJ have alot of

That photo was really not the right one. There are an increasing amount of individuals receiving free medical care that are not citizens, breaking some hospitals in other states. An American must pay though. It just blows me away. 25,000 babies born in one hospital alone in Texas at our expense from non citizens. If your mid income you don't qualify for state medical insurance here in Oregon.

In the case of eldery with no family assistance when you go in the nursing home with no insurance your house is sold. Our country needs medical service reform very badly.

I'm blessed to live on a farm.

This post has been edited by Batman47: 14 December 2006 - 07:36 AM

[brackman22]

bubbleandsqueak, on Dec 6 2006, 05:43 PM, said:

Here in the US we are the only country that has not gone to a national health care service and it's all about the money. That’s why we have not switched yet. Yes we have Medicare but there are so many people that don't need it that still have it because once again they don't want to pay for it them self’s. Our Medicare service is running out of money because people don't want to work but they want money so they have kids because then the US government will pay for you to live yes it's not allot but they still have a house and food every thing they need. They live in poverty and the worst part about it is they chouse to live like that. It is because of these people that never work so they never pay into SS, but yet there getting money from SS. that is why when I’m old (I’m 17) and want to retire there is going to be no money left for me to draw on because all those years that I was working and paying into SS I was really paying for low lifes to live for free. I’m sorry but that’s plan bullshit, it's lazy and should not be allowed. I don't care if your white, black, Mexican, Hispanic, Jewish, disabled or not disabled...ect YOU SHOULD HAVE A JOB NO ONE SHOULD LIVE FOR FREE!and it's just that it's lazy people and greedy people that are making the USA fall apart

It would be a waste of my time to reference study after study to try to get a 17 year old to change her or his mind. I am not being condescending it's just I've been 17. I just want to ensure that others that are not familiar with the U.S. know that this is not true. Bubbleandsqueak is talking about completely different programs. Comparing retirement social security to "welfare" or "medicaid" or "AFDC" or "TANF" or "section 8" is like comparing apples to oranges. Seperate funds for seperate problems.

There are VERY few women or men (proportionately) who try milking the system. As a matter of fact, it is no longer really possible to have kid after kid to keep getting increased funding. I believe we have waaaay too many kids and families out there who need legitimate help. We cannot focus on a few lazy individuals at the expense of truly needy families.

All I want to say to you bubbleandsqeak is to keep an open mind and maybe seek out some more info. You are almost at college age and you may want to check out what types of majors deal with such topics. Politics, law or even psychology or sociology depending how you look at it.

Oh, deej, You pay much higher taxes in th UK to help fund various services.

This post has been edited by brackman22: 08 December 2006 - 07:52 PM

[MZack]

Living in San Diego ain't cheap, that's for sure. Housing is a rip whether you rent or buy. I bought a condo a year ago and my mortgage is pretty huge. I also have to pay about 15K per year in out of pocket attendant care expenses, plus other assorted medical costs not covered by insurance. Still, it's a great place to live

[htwhlz97]

Brackman, yes yes these are two totally different issues I agree. The topic got pointed in a different direction. My point was emphasizing Califannas pt of having regular housing expenses which are higher in some areas, and then to have the expenses of health care related items (supplies for disabled care) on top of that.

I think while I was trying to explain the medicare/social sec system to someone from the UK, the focus went to Welfare and aid. Your definetly right about not being able to use the system like you were able to in the past. I believe it was Clinton who signed the welfare reform, any more children born after 92 I think will not get addtl $'s. My memory is pretty vague right now, please correct me if I'm off. No it isnt that easy today to totally take advantage of the welfare system. There sending parents to school now, educating them and get them employed and off aid. I said there are too many that take advantage and proportionally your right truely needy are in higher numbers.

Bubble, as time goes by and you get older and further your education you'll see that its not all cut and dry like that. Every disabled person is different and when they go back to work (if they can) will be different for everyone. The point for me was if your capable and have the opportunity to go back to work and get off of disability/medicare you will get more things paid (supplies) off private insurance.

[brackman22]

I understood what you were saying htwhlz97 and could not agree more. I'm not as worried about the information bubblesandsqeak got as from whom he/she got it from. You get my drift?

Brett

[juless]

Bubbleandsqueak

there's probably no need to fire up this topic again but i can't help myself, bubbleandsqueak you are 17 and have such a bitter view on life and people that need govt assistance, at 17 you have alot ot time to learn and educate yourself that poverty is a cycle it goes on for generations in certain families because as much as you want to believe that here in the US we all get the same opportunities this is not so, it's hard to go to school when you have no running water or electricity, as a child you have no say in some of the choices your parents make, not everyone has the same intellectual abilities...always take a minute to think outside of the rhetoric because if the solution was that simple it would have already been resolved

yes some people take advantage but you can not punish everyone for some, not everyone is able to work even when they want to and some work for less then $6.00/hr you can't pay bills on that kind of money

be intelligent and think before you throw a general statement out there because it's not always that simple

good luck in your education
juless

[dom]

bubbleandsqueak, on Dec 6 2006, 10:43 PM, said:

Here in the US we are the only country that has not gone to a national health care service and it's all about the money. That’s why we have not switched yet. Yes we have Medicare but there are so many people that don't need it that still have it because once again they don't want to pay for it them self’s. Our Medicare service is running out of money because people don't want to work but they want money so they have kids because then the US government will pay for you to live yes it's not allot but they still have a house and food every thing they need. They live in poverty and the worst part about it is they chouse to live like that. It is because of these people that never work so they never pay into SS, but yet there getting money from SS. that is why when I’m old (I’m 17) and want to retire there is going to be no money left for me to draw on because all those years that I was working and paying into SS I was really paying for low lifes to live for free. I’m sorry but that’s plan bullshit, it's lazy and should not be allowed. I don't care if your white, black, Mexican, Hispanic, Jewish, disabled or not disabled...ect YOU SHOULD HAVE A JOB NO ONE SHOULD LIVE FOR FREE!and it's just that it's lazy people and greedy people that are making the USA fall apart

maybe,maybe not,i have a brother who moved out there some years ago,he was successful in his business and has now moved to a place called manhattan beach and bought a house with six beds six bathrooms there,i had a quick glance on a website for the area there and noticed that it has a very high ratio of germanic,irish and english descent as compared to blacks hispanics and other cultures,now is this coincidence that the white groups are well represented or is there an underlying current of racism that precludes these people from living in an affluent area? i know racism is everywhere on the planet but it does seem to me that unfairness is ingrained in a lot of societies in that one has to be of a certain background,colour to be accepted and thus rise in the status ranks

[Survivor35]

Each post here has made good points, really they have. And yes, BubbleandSqueaks statement was oversimplified and very generalized, which can't ever be completely accurate. However, here is a situation I am currently going through:

I was injured last January, and until I am two years post injury, I cant recieve medicare. So I have been on the state of MD's medical assistance, for the first time in my life I have had to have state help. I recieved a letter this month telling me that I need to prove to them that I need this help. Unless I can come up with 2400 dollars of medical expenses within 6 months (no problem, I said), they will not cover me any longer. Like I said, thats not a problem. I pay out about 600 a month for medical supplies and medication. Its breaking me to have to pay all of that out of pocket living on a SSD income. (I will be going back to work, but right now it is not an option, due to health issues, and learning to be completely independent in this chair) I tried to explain that to the representative that is handling my med case, and gave her my income info, my med expenses a month, living expenses, and told her to do the math. I dont bring enough in. I asked if they could simply look over the amounts that the assistance program had paid out in bills for me over the past 7 months, and make thier judgements from that amount. She in turn told me that, yes, obviously this was going to be financially impossible for me, and she understood that, but could not look over past bills, thats not how the system worked. However, as a single mom of two, she could offer me food stamps, rental assistance, daycare assistance, energy assistance.... I DONT WANT OR NEED ANY OF THAT!!!! This was a prime example of what is going on in our system. The sad part? The reason I have to prove that I need the medical assistance program is because there are SO MANY ohters that have taken advantage of the program. So, the point to this story. Our government, federal and state, are trying to weed out the ones ripping the programs off, and thats good. However, if I was one of the ones doing this, what is the point of taking my medical until I can prove I need it, and offering me a dozen other programs that need no proof other than I have to have children and be a single mom?

We are trying, I believe that. But I also understand BubbleandSqueaks point.

[glamisgirl]

I also live in Southern California. Rented a 2 story house from my in-laws before my injury. Thank god for family. Myself, my husband and our daughter moved in with my parents, and thats where weve been for the last year and a half. I was a selfemployed hairdresser for the last 18 years, so now I'm unemployed. Recieve social security, it's not much. Now I need to decide what I want to do when I grow up, cause if we want to stay in Ca. I'll have to go back to work. Husband has a pretty good job. For the last few months we've started looking at houses to buy, it's insane, with 10% down we're still looking at a $2,500 house payment, and that's just an average home. If you want to live in paradise you have to pay the price, born and raised here, wouldn't leave for anything.

[girl in love]

My boyfriend lives also in Southern Cali..Ive been in a lot of cities in the USA, but seriously is nothing like CALIFORNIA!! Its simply GREAT!! Like all of you said the weather is also awesome! And its a very accessible place thats what I think I saw so many people in wheelchairs..I used to see a few wheelchair users once in a while but never that many in the same city.. everywhere we went it was always one or a few people in chairs, which say a lot about the quality of living in there.. But like everybody is saying: Is way too expensive, I want to buy my house someday and even the most tiny house is about half a million dollars!!!! I told my boyfriend that I have to think about it to move there with him because of that, but he really love it in there, so will see....