Why Does It Feel Like This State Is Against Me?

Submitted by ThePurgatorianAgent t3_107lys6 in Maine

I've noticed a lot of things over all my years living here that make me feel as though the state is holding me and my family hostage.

You may suppose I am exaggerating, but you're only half right about that.

I know I have it better than so many others, but I also feel trapped and paranoid to even earn a cent due to disability stigma, horrid Voc Rehab experiences, and the fact that Mainecare is basically the only health insurance that people will fully take, even with medicare coverage.

Not to mention the fact that with a lot of families on Mainecare disability benefits, it also means that if you're the child of someone who is on their own plan, you can't get your own without possibly kicking your parent out of their home, because of the "two person household" rule and all these awful rent prices!

As someone who literally chose a Creative and self made line of work, it wasn't because it was my only interest, but I just have no other option that won't force me on my feet all day. And I still don't earn a cent for it. I love the work I do, but it feels like the conditions of this states health "care" is giving me a sense of Stockholm Syndrome.

Does anyone else have fears like this, or is it just me?

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Tilendor t1_j3nb1oh wrote

Having worked with several folks on disability in Utah, I think I know what you are talking about.

These systems are better than nothing, but are also very restrictive. Many land lords require first and last months rent, plus a security deposit.

Update I was wrong about disability limits, the limits apply to regular Social Security Income
If you are on disability, then having that much money in the bank can disqualify you from receiving disability.

Disability payments don't gradually phase out as you earn more. They just disappear once you pass a threshold, and that threshold is way too low. It means you have to suddenly increase you income by 10k to 20k all at once to not put yourself in a worse situation by working a job.

Healthcare options are limited and often lower quality.

Our social safety nets entrap people in poverty way too often and need serious reform to actually help and incentivize people to improve their situation.

This is not particular to Maine, it's common across all of America

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kauaime t1_j3neee7 wrote

If you are on disability, then having that much money in the bank can disqualify you from receiving disability.

Might want to recheck that. You can have assets,money in the bank, and still qualify and receive SSDI.

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Tilendor t1_j3nfopg wrote

https://linerlegal.com/how-much-money-can-you-have-in-the-bank-on-social-security-disability/

Quote:

UPDATE: This following concerns Regular Social Security, not SSDI:

Resources, including bank deposits, cannot exceed a total value of $2,000 for one person and $3,000 for couples who are married and residing together. Some resources do not count toward the limits. For example, the value of a house that you own would be a countable resource unless you use it as your principal residence. Even though a bank account is a countable resource, the issue that an SSI lawyer can resolve is whether the total resources exceed allowable limits.

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kauaime t1_j3nkiwn wrote

If you read your link it proves my point it says right in the link that there is no limit with SSDI. You are talking SSI. Thank you

This is directly from the link you sent.

The SSDI program does not limit how much money you can have in the bank because there are no resource limits as you find with SSI.

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Tony-Flags t1_j3n8ti5 wrote

I'm confused as to what you are upset about. You are afraid to work, otherwise you might lose your disability benefits? You work, but don't earn any money? I agree rent prices are high, but, what's the rest about? I sincerely hope you figure the situation out, but there's work out there that doesn't require standing up all day for sure.

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YayforFriday t1_j3ne814 wrote

It sounds like you're upset that picking up extra work to supplement your welfare income could get you kicked off the program. This isn't an issue exclusive to Maine. In this country, the very lowest and very highest incomes are subsidized by government welfare. You feel trapped, but by stepping out and earning a bit more, you will enter the "middle class" whereupon you are removed from the government teet and thrown to the wolves.

A welfare check may not seem like much, but when you consider how much cost of living expenses have risen, the housing, healthcare, energy and food subsidies often leave recipients better off than their neighbors in entry level jobs. And all you have to do is sign up. There's no waking up early or dealing with disgruntled bosses, just collecting a check and chasing your creative, self-made moonshot.

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ThePurgatorianAgent OP t1_j3odlac wrote

Yeah. It's not just my welfare alone. My mother has Muscular Dystrophy, along with several other pain inducing problems, and I can't bear to get her kicked out of an apartment that has enough resources and utility for her. She planned out the Mainecare and Medicare coverage for both of us because a lot of things that put her on disability are Genetic. I literally started having Fibromyalgia flairups at age 9.

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mymaineaccount46 t1_j3njnqv wrote

Voc rehab is bad everywhere. I work in voc rehab for an out of state company on the back end. These people work for the insurance companies, not you. Unfortunately you have to go along with them or else you're screwed.

I don't know the full details of your situation but if voc rehab has been unsuccessful, and they didn't settle you may be able to get back into active voc rehab. While they don't work for you they can be helpful in finding you some entry level transitional work for your new physical capabilities.

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ThePurgatorianAgent OP t1_j3ocb28 wrote

The problem is that the experience was horrid on Their behalf. The counselor had specific instructions but refused to work with them. Leaving my disability to worsen my pain for a month before I broke down and walked out. That's also the secondary reason I feel trapped because nearly every job available in my area is one of those Fast Food or storefront hour jobs. I have supported decision-making and am learning to drive, but it feels as if it won't even be enough.

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mymaineaccount46 t1_j3okb0b wrote

Were you in voc rehab or medical case management? Both come with a Case manager.

If you were released to voc rehab then your care is between you and your doctor. Voc rehab doesn't do anything for you medically. It strictly exists to find you a job within your restrictions so you get off the insurance company checks.

Walking out of voc rehab will have no impact on your treatment. In fact the counselors must work within the restrictions provided by the treatment providers. You could have gotten screwed through an IME favorable to the insurer, but that's not the voc system's fault.

I'll also say the voc counselor will be very aware of your medical treatment and what the doctor has released you too. They won't work outside of those restrictions because it opens them up to issues. Disability is a very litigated field so everything is pretty by the book. You may just be having a disagreement with what you believe you can handle, and what a doctor believes and has said you can handle.

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ThePurgatorianAgent OP t1_j3xsgq2 wrote

I had Both. My mom (at the time I was 18, but she's still my repayee) was the one who gave her specific instructions as well as the documentation of medical needs. This "voc rehab" counselor didn't listen, and basically, the work made me have to rehabilitate my body into actually being without pain once more.

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mymaineaccount46 t1_j3y1rph wrote

If your counselor ignored your documented medical requirements and forced you into a job you were not cleared to do (something they can't do mind you) then you have a legal case and should contact a lawyer.

If your work is making you do work beyond the agreed upon limits that you're approved for you need to talk to HR or quit and get back into vocational rehab.

There's a hierarchy to this whole thing and a lot of rules. I don't know your situation fully but something really doesn't add up and I tend to think it lies in what you think you can do, and what a doctor says you can do.

Voc rehab is bad because they push you into low paying jobs if it fits your limits regardless of your financial needs. It doesn't ignore those limits if you have medical documentation stating those limits.

I'd be curious to know more about your case. Maybe I could point you in the right direction? I see hundreds of voc reports a month and know a decent bit about it.

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ThePurgatorianAgent OP t1_j434102 wrote

If you'd be able to help, then that would be amazing. In the general health system, nearly everything that could go wrong went wrong, and I have a lot of things that I should've taken legal action for, if not for the fact I knew how awful doctors were being paid, and I didn't want more people in the same scenario I was in. So, any advice at this point would be helpful. It's harder to explain things to counselors when you can't even process what to do if they basically ignore you.

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[deleted] t1_j3n6pt8 wrote

[deleted]

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eljefino t1_j3tcnoy wrote

Look into something like educational aides at schools or medical billing. Fibromyalgia sucks but being bored sucks too... having a job will distract you from your pain, and a sense of purpose.

Work a side hustle now to make enough cash for first & last months rent when you move out on your own.

The issue with generational welfare is your mom's a role model for being disabled, and getting disability is such a hassle, it's work to get it. Look outside this world, which you're doing.

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bwma t1_j3njoqa wrote

Did you that you’ve never made a cent from your art, or you’re not making a cent right now? What kind of art do you sell?

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Sufficient_Risk1684 t1_j3r0kjb wrote

The stigma is valid because it sounds like you can work but won't. There are plenty of call center jobs etc that don't require standing all day.

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ThePurgatorianAgent OP t1_j3xrjhr wrote

Yet they are most often unadvertised, and if you get horrid rehab counselors, even with instructions like that, they still won't care and say "Well I got a friend who's willing to give you a chance", and it ends up being a fast food place. It can fully vary from town to town, and if there's only one car at the home you live in, while one parent needs it for their work, and there is no public transport on your countryside street... Basically, I'm a person with several pain inducing genetic disorders and haven't been able to take driving courses until now because, originally, my mother kept saying, "You need someone specific." And I'm on a street that's at the top of a hillside.

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pig_penis t1_j3n8s87 wrote

Sounds like you chose the wrong line of work. Sell more?

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Darcola123 t1_j3nwul9 wrote

Yep, though this trends across the entire US. High cost of living with low wage jobs, expensive insurance premiums with high deductibles and co-pays, and a disregard for education in the workplace make for hard conditions on the already hurting middle class workers.

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DidDunMegasploded t1_j3o687l wrote

> I know I have it better than so many others

Hey now, that's the able-bodied people's line. Don't steal their line, it's trademarked!

> disability stigma

That's an everywhere issue. Not Maine-exclusive.

> horrid Voc Rehab experiences

Oh God yes. I got paired up with a woman who, while her advice was helpful, berated me and even made me cry at one point. She was like a strict teacher. Hated her so much.

Also, people are retiring at an extremely fast rate and VR can't keep up, so they're struggling.

> MaineCare is basically the only health care coverage people will take, even with Medicare coverage

For doctors, yes. For dentists, hell to the fucking no. MaineCare doesn't even pay them, so only a small handful of them offer it. If you want a dentist that takes MaineCare then you might have to travel.

It sucks because the government offered a solution to paying for dental costs, it's good and solid...but no one can put it into practice. It's unfortunate.

MaineCare in general just needs an entire overhaul. Way too many more cons than pros.

I'm confused as to how you don't make a cent from your job, though. What do you do? Do you receive SSI or SSDI that can put a damper on how many hours you can work and how much you can earn?

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ThePurgatorianAgent OP t1_j3oenup wrote

My Mother actually receives the checks as it's the only way she can afford the rent. She lends me 100 bucks a month, and with creative endeavors, and most lessons costing a Hell of a lot of money, I don't dare to take myself off our shared plan. I don't sell art by normal means, per example. I literally am a scriptwriter and filmmaker with a Patreon that would basically be the only other source of income I would get. (If I wasn't afraid of seeming desperate and don't advertise it well enough) When I say filmmaker, I mean full deal. Effects, props, and claymation currently, all with the highest quality, but lowest budget possible.

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DidDunMegasploded t1_j3png7w wrote

Ah. So she's probably your rep payee then, I'll assume.

Unfortunately I'd side with the others here and suggest that you find another line of work, maybe keep filmmaking, scriptwriting, and selling art as side jobs/hobbies. I've been looking for WFH jobs on Indeed for a while, so you could start there if you don't want to stand on your feet all day. There's also the Maine CareerCenter that has lots of helpful resources.

If your mother is receiving your checks and is putting every cent of it towards rent, then it wouldn't hurt for you to take on another job or two if you're able to, so you can have income for yourself if you're buying your own necessities or would just like a cushion to fall back on if needed.

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New_Sun6390 t1_j3p5h2b wrote

The health care crisis here is not unique to people on disability and welfare like yourself. People who have worked and paid taxes all their lives, who pay high premiums for health care coverage, cannot get access to health care. They wait months to see a doctor. I know of one guy who had a heart attack who could not get into a hospital for treatment because there were no beds available. He is waiting to get his first visit with a cardiologist AFTER HAVING A HEART ATTACK.

At least you get your benefits free or nearly free. The rest of us are paying through the nose and told to wait weeks or months to see a doctor.

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06_tundra_4x4 t1_j3pfedt wrote

You and I are not making any money selling art for the same reason . Nobody wants to buy your art. (I’m not an artist though) Consider another line of work. The world (or the state of Maine) isn’t against you. We all have our issues (mental and physical). Keep on keeping on, and make some different choices in your life ahead of you.

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TimothyOilypants t1_j3qxbvc wrote

Sometimes we need to break away from the self-limiting patterns and attitudes created by those we love in order to believe in, and achieve, our OWN potential. The realities that others have trapped themselves in don't need to be ours, even though we might share genes.

Diversify your skillset, break out of your comfort zone, try things you don't think you'll enjoy; learn to be motivated by accomplishing things you never imagined you could.

Stop letting your family, the system and yourself tell you what you CAN'T do.

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ThePurgatorianAgent OP t1_j3xqbqy wrote

That sounds positive, but I also have gained that knowledge of my limits myself. I diversify as much as I want to. I mean, how many people do you know who can be the fashion designer, prop/set production team, director, writer, and actor, all in one, but still know that a fastfood work shift (where is basically the near only option in my town) can ruin them. I know what I CAN do, and I know what I have been Unable to do, even when I am active, I still have limits. I'm human, and I respect myself.

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TimothyOilypants t1_j3yfz81 wrote

Not to diminish your insights, but I take it you are relatively young? How much mileage do you have in your journey that you can be so supremely confident in your complete understanding of what you are and are not capable of? Surely you have decades of growth ahead of you, where you will accomplish things you never imagined possible, no?

And while your abilities as you see them now may bring you pride, are they allowing you to earn a comfortable living? It seems you have anxiety over your ability to provide for yourself, and over societie's ability, or willingness to provide FOR you; perhaps your energies would be better invested elsewhere if your current choices have not led to the stability and fulfillment you desire?

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