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Text art and effects by Ornery Owl (Cara Hartley)
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Word Prompt: Method
Notes if you Need 'Em
Though you don't have to read 'em
Just read the poem if you'd rather
I was inspired by the second and third poems offered for inspiration by Poets and Storytellers for the Weekly Scribblings, though my interpretation might be a bit obscure.
My heart is indeed jaded, and reason would be welcome, but there is neither reason nor compassion when dealing with government agencies. I see them for what they are: sadistic and soulless collectives that delight in keeping people who are struggling downtrodden.
I worked as long as I possibly could to avoid having to deal with these Nazgul. Then the day came when the final body part gave way and I couldn't work anymore. I still don't have full range of motion in my left arm and I have to use an upright walker to go more than very short distances.
The knotted, grinding feeling in my stomach and the grinding of my teeth are courtesy of SSDI, Medicare, Medicaid, and the Inhumane Services department here in Shitkicker County. My jaw hasn't ached this much in months.
I started receiving disability payments back in February. Can't live without 'em, but I'd rather not have to live with 'em.
I was doing fine with SSD plus Medicaid. Then, here comes Medicare. The benefits from Medicare are quite good, but they cost me $140 a month...
Which comes out of my disability check...
The check which just covers bills with a little left over for food and fuel.
The bulk of our household's food comes from the food bank, but it's still necessary to buy some meat and cheese.
Anyway, I was told to contact Medicaid and have them pay my Medicare premiums.
Which they won't.
Why?
Because my disability check grants me a generous sum of $1390 per month.
The cutoff for Medicaid to pay my Medicare premiums is $1308 a month.
You can read the following links to see how disability screws people.
A person on disability is not allowed more than $2000 in savings.
A person on disability is only allowed one vehicle. So, if you think it would be good to have an auxiliary vehicle in case your main vehicle is in the shop? Ha! You fool, you!
What little money I make comes from doing book reviews. In a good month, I may make $150. Most of the time it's less.
My son and I are being allowed to live in the house where we reside rent-free, courtesy of my ex-husband who owns the house. He used to help us monetarily, but his reserves are tapped.
I try to have a semi-positive attitude, but lately I want to scream, cry, and throw bricks at Congress and any smug one percenter who spouts off about the trickle-down theory. Also at the space cadets Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos. I'm trying to keep it PG-13 here, but as my late father would have said, these people can go pound sand.
So, there's my story, it's sad but true.
I surely hope it don't happen to you.
~Ornery Owl Has Spoken~
I wish I could be doing this
Free-use image from Open Clipart Vectors
The Icky, Sticky, Nit-Picky Legalese If You Please (Or Don't Please)
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Sometimes I think we haven't progressed much as a society since the days of serfdom. And calling the healthcare system in this country callously convoluted is an understatement.
ReplyDeleteI've spent enough time on the phone, filling out forms, or discussing disability with the VA that very often I want to scream. It's frustrating... and after a while, it can certainly leave a soul in a furious place.
ReplyDeleteSorry for misinterpreting the instructions. My shitty ADHD brain has always gotten me in trouble that way. Nearly six decades through this dumb life and I still haven't got things figured out.
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