disability no picnic in Canada either

April 3, 2002

Brine, :

On disability 2 status (those not expected to ever be able to be

self-supporting) I get just about $800 CND per month and some

prescription coverage (excluding newer and often better drugs) and such

items as are both requested by a doctor and approved by the province

(approval may be turned down, then the appeal and several months later

still nothing. Now they're penny pinching again (on the back of the

defenseless). Last month several programs were cut directly

impacting me, the liquid food supplement was one. Statistically

this is one of the most (last I looked 'the' most) expensive places in

North America to live (especially housing). There have not been any

increases in years yet all needs items have become more expensive.

Rental accommodation is covered up to $325 a month when a bachelor

apartment in the poorest neighbourhood (mine) will cost over $600.

Social justice is only paid polite lip service here too. We live in

fear of what will be cut next because we are at their mercy.

Universal Health Care my ass!

aletta mes, vancouver, bc canada

http://www.aletta.0catch.com

April 4, 2002

Aletta,

From what I have heard from other Canadians your universal health

care is horrible. I would not want to wait 6 months to get a MRI if I

needed one as I have heard can happen there. I know that everything

is not wonderful in the USA. I can not get disability SSI because I

didn't work in the right years. I worked for 14 years and then I

didn't pay in for 14 years because I worked for myself thinking that

I wouldn't get sick at 43. I thought if I did get sick it would be

past the age of 62 anyways. At the age of 62 you can get social

security. Now my family is suffering because I can no longer go out

to work and can't get any help. My motor skills are way to bad to

drive also so that is out. They say my husband makes too much money.

He makes a third of what a lot of our friends make and they are not

wealthy. They told me I could get help if I had 2 more children. I

told them 2 more children would cost more than what they would give

me anyways. To me the worst part about our country is that we are

always giving so much money to take care of other countries and not

taking care of our own people. This is what I don't understand. I

don't have a problem helping other countries if there is enough money

left after we take care of our own people. If I have any money to

help someone I will help someone in this country. All you have to do

is drive down the streets of Atlanta or any town and see why we need

to help our own. If truth be told most people are only one step from

being on the streets.

God Bless,

Belinda

> Brine, :

> On disability 2 status (those not expected to ever be able to be

> self-supporting) I get just about $800 CND per month and some

prescription

> coverage (excluding newer and often better drugs) and such items as

are

> both requested by a doctor and approved by the province (approval

may be

> turned down, then the appeal and several months later still

nothing. Now

> they're penny pinching again (on the back of the defenseless).

Last month

> several programs were cut directly impacting me, the liquid food

supplement

> was one. Statistically this is one of the most (last I

looked 'the' most)

> expensive places in North America to live (especially housing).

There have

> not been any increases in years yet all needs items have become

more

> expensive. Rental accommodation is covered up to $325 a month when

a

> bachelor apartment in the poorest neighbourhood (mine) will cost

over

> $600. Social justice is only paid polite lip service here too. We

live in

> fear of what will be cut next because we are at their mercy.

Universal

> Health Care my ass!

>

> aletta mes, vancouver, bc canada

> http://www.aletta.0catch.com

April 4, 2002