No this is not an experiment; I hope no one would ever consider of doing one like this. No, this is an experience in futility and unfortunately so because of the way this system is run. Being in the work environment for 36 years I've only had to use government assistance before now, only a few times - getting unemployment until I found another job. But this has been a whole different experience and a very frustrating one at that. I know there are laws and stipulations to qualify for government assistance and unfortunately, I found out I didn't qualify for a lot - and that surprised me.
I've never experienced frustration as much as this, and this journey is still ongoing. I was in a car accident on my way to work on September 28th, 2018. As I was waiting for the light to change, I was violently hit from behind starting a nightmare of denials and of pain, frustration, and futility. Being I've put in my time and given a whole lot of my money to the government you think these programs would be available for someone like me, but you would be wrong.
Initially, I applied for unemployment since I qualified, or so I thought. Being I couldn't work because of a brain injury, I found out I didn't qualify for unemployment. Strike one.
Since I didn't have any money coming in, I tried to get help from the Uncle and tried to get cash assistance, food stamps, and rent assistance. Can you guess what happened? Yeah, I was denied. Strike two. I would think my wife being on disability would be a good thing, but it wasn't. They applied her income and because of it, I was denied. I didn't give up though.
If I remember correctly, our income was over 12-14 dollars which is what didn't qualify me. So, I didn't qualify for Medicaid, so I tried for the Marketplace, you guessed it, I didn't qualify. I fell in between the infernal regions of financial assistance. So, back to the drawing board; by the way, has anyone out there gone through this?
I reapplied again, they called me and asked if there were any other bills we are paying and we did so I qualified for...wait for it...food stamps. Whomp wah. Can you guess how much? I read that the government feels that 3 dollars a day are enough to live on, but apparently, that's too much for my wife and me.
By their standards or whatever their qualification is for us, they feel we can live on a dollar a day, so times that by 2 for a month and you get our total.
Not qualifying for medical insurance, I didn't know what I was going to do. I learned that my car insurance would cover a portion of my medical bills, but that evaporated about as quickly as a drop of water in the desert. I applied for a free clinic, but again I didn't qualify for assistance, I came back and reapplied and taking in to account that additional bill we pay - I qualified but I would have to pay 20 percent, but I couldn't since I don't have money coming in - so that was a moot point.
I haven't worked for almost ten months and dealing with post-concussion syndrome, occipital neuralgia, dizziness, spasms in my face, behind my eyes, in my jaw and throat, head pain, nerve pain in my neck, lower back, arms, hands, and drainage in my right ear, and sometimes left. Some days are worse than others with no rhyme and reason., this is a very, very frustrating experience.
Finally, I tried for financial assistance with LVHN - a hospital in Allentown and I qualified and would only have to pay 10 percent on my part. So I saw a neurologist, which he has been helpful, but as would guess, I ran into more problems. The doctor tried to get me to do some rehab for my concussion and get some shots to relieve my head pain and spasms, but FA said I didn't qualify since this has to do with my accident and so they could not treat me for those problems while my case is in litigation. Why do they make everything so hard? So, I'm back to square one again. My neurologist is trying to do all he can to see me despite FA not wanting to treat me - so I'm thankful for that.
I know you're asking yourself, why haven't you applied for disability? Can you guess? I did, but I was denied. Strike three. I've gotten a lawyer for that as well, but not sure if I will get approved the second time around, though the law firm said I would more than likely be approved. But at this point, I'm not holding my breath on anything.
I have a lawyer trying to get me a settlement from the car accident, but with all these denials, it's taking a long time to be able to see a doctor that I qualify for and then it's even taking longer because there is a long wait list. For the neurologist, I had to wait until March of this year to see him even though I tried to get an appointment last year in November. For my appointment to see about possible nerve damage in my neck, lower back and arms, I won't be able to see anyone until March of 2020! That's the earliest they could give me. So you can see why I sometimes feel this is futile. I worry about being denied the disability, I worry that it's taking so long to see doctors, I won't get the settlement I deserve, I worry because I feel I won't get the treatment I need and will suffer for the rest of my life and will have to find work and I don't know if I can really keep a job.
But you know what really frustrates me? The way this government is set up, why all the red tape, why do they make it so hard for a born citizen to qualify when I see those illegal citizens, get homes, jobs, food, money, and health care that I've worked hard for all my life and can't get, in two and threefold efforts? Talk about an experience in futility.
