Sunny Day, Dark Clouds
Wednesday, 28 January 2015
Hmmph!
Just got off the phone with Ms. H. from SSA, and she says that I am not eligible for payouts, because they say that my Ducati (a '94 Monster that hasn't run for 3 or more years) is worth $1500 more than the $200 I've been offered for it! And that I need proof of the sale of my trailer in January of 2014, and records of my expenses that I spent my January 2013 401(k) benefits on! And she expects detailed accounting of how I spent all of the funds I received from both!
Now I am definitely going stir crazy! I have received one monthly payment from SSA, $1459, minus $13.50 for 2 day shipping of a new debit card, and bought 2 pairs of pants, underwear, some slippers, a $27 DVD player and 3 western movie compilation DVDs, and some cooking and hygiene items not covered by food stamps, paid Sheryl $700 towards 2 months rent & utilities, paid Matt $200 I owed him from last year, and bought him lunch (Shepherd's Pie and Garlic Fries at the local Tilted Kilt).
I have $30 left on the card, and $250 in my new checking account at First Merit.
I did go to the Akron Gun Show with him, where I traded a NIB Ruger LCP .380 extended capacity magazine for a 1911 .45 acp mag, and bought 25 rounds of .45 acp for my carry piece. (I have retired my Uberti repro SAA in .45 Long Colt, and started carrying a 1911A1 in .45 acp instead that I am buying from Matt whenever I get the lump sum check!)
I still want to treat Sheryl to a nice dinner out to thank her for assisting me, but that will have to wait now.
And now I have to come up with an accounting of my all of my expenses for 2013, in the form of bank statements from a bank account that was closed a year ago!
Well, Patrice from the attorney's office just called to reassure me that these items only affect my Supplemental Security Income, and not my disability.
The bike is supposedly a deal breaker, but my monthly $1459 will not change.
So now I have to get on to the BMV about the trailer transfer, PNC about my 2013 bank statements, and get my Ducati appraised!
This is why I said I would not relax until my monthly stipend starts (got the first one last week, for December), and I get the lump sum back payout.
This sucks. Basically, according to SSA, to be eligible for SSI, I have to live in poverty and stay that way to keep collecting benefits!
The disability is separate, and is not affected by all of this. I am confused. I am still not out of the woods, and I am being further scrutinized for whatever assistance I may have received the last 31 months!
I have had only one nibble for part-time employment, but no further word on that. I have an invite to a seminar by Mature Services of Ohio on 8 February, but no other prospects at all.
God, my stomach is doing flip-flops again, and even though my monthly benefits will remain untouched (according to Patrice, that is), I may lose a lot I was told I was eligible for.
Well, at least the monthly stipend will pay my share of the rent, and buy food when my food stamp benefits get cut back to $15/month.
"Life sucks, and then you die."
Not my personal philosophy, but I can see why so many others have adopted it. Sheryl is not happy, and is losing faith and confidence daily, and I was hoping my contributions might ease her frustration and doubts, so I have to be careful that I don't muddy her waters.
Well, just got an email from Patrice, she says that Erin (my attorney) says that the bike is not an issue and they don't know why Ms. H. is making one of it, and to just supply the bank statements and trailer info!
Apparently, even for SSI, I am allowed by SSA to own 1 vehicle. So a non-running motorcycle with non current registration should not be counted against me!
So I will get on with all of the other things and continue to hold my breath...
