Won't someone here help me, please?

[Deranda]

I used to be married. I used to work. That was before my husbands left me when their children were born severely disabled. Now I can't work because I spend all my time in 20 different medical specialists offices who take care of my children's severe medical needs. If I could work, I would, but because I can't and because the new "welfare reform" policies and laws say I have to "earn" my kids' assistance, my family is little by little, piece by piece, having our only means of support taken away. My exs work and pay taxes, I pay taxes on every thing I buy, every service I receive on a daily basis, we DO exist as part of the "taxpayers" constituency...but, now the State of FL wants my children's only non-governmental support (Court ordered child support of $350/mo) turned over to "pay back the taxpayers' monies" for the assistance we've needed to just survive. I'd lay odds that we've paid into the "system" over and above in taxes, the little bit of "taxpayers" money my children have rec'vd in public assistance. Spokeman, Dave Bruns, said what mothers like me already know..."If you can't take care of your children, you shouldn't bring them into the world!" I didn't know they were going to be born disabled. Why are we being punished by the government? That's what Title 42, Ch 7, Subchapter IV, Part D (Federal law) and Chapter 30, s.409 (FL Statutes) are doing to my family now...punishing us because my children were born disabled and I can't work to "earn" the assistance we receive. Won't SOMEONE help me?

 

[shadowldy]

Hi,
Do the kids receive SSI benefits for their disabilities? If they do, they may qualify for services/child care/transportaion to medical appointments, etc., which might make it easier for you to become employed. If they don't receive SSI benefits, you can contact the Social Security Administration and they will assist you in applying for the benefits.
I hope this helps...Good luck!
shadowldy

 

[Deranda]

shadowldy, thanx...Yes, they already rec'v SSI, but due to SSAdm. rule changes for determining eligibility, those benefits are also currently under threat of discontinuation. As for child care, their medical needs require that, if it is provided, it must be through a licensed health care professional (& NO! the State won't pay for that), the most the State is willing to provide in the way of child care is TWO whole hours/wk in RESPITE care for ONLY ONE of my children! What JOB is THAT??? Transportation is out, too, because the transportation available will ONLY transport the child with the appt. and ONE adult (and with no family to care for the other two, and no money to pay a sitter, and OF COURSE all my friends work!...who's to watch the other two so the one child and I can ride?) and, so, here I am on a message board hoping to find an atty somewhere with guts enough to give a hoot and help me try to get the legislators on the State and Federal levels to recognize that the practical implementation of "workfare" legislation on the personal level is totally destroying families like mine, whose adults cannot work! And my family being compelled to withdraw our application for food stamps was WRONG! Dammit, I DO want to work!!! I have tried!!! Again and again...The LAW needs to change! My children's disabilities are NOT going to change! And I shouldn't have to live under the threat of losing them to foster care because the gov't has decided to stop helping us survive! Believe me, if I hadn't already exhausted all the possibilities of other services and supports, I wouldn't be posting HERE! I'm not mad at you, shadowldy...on the contrary, I appreciate your concern...But what I am searching for is an atty to help me fight to get the laws changed. Federal agencies are giving the States certain numbers to measure up to (in 2000 they wanted 40% of the single heads of households rec'ving assistance working). For people like me who can't work, whose assistance brings State numbers down, that translates into either being DENIED assistance or being COMPELLED NOT TO APPLY or to WITHDRAW applications...and it's NOT right!