Lots of young people on disability?

Fribblet · May 17, 2011

Y
Um, you can get Medicaid, Foodstamps, WIC, etc. when you work. I do know that in some instances they have Welfare to Work programs where someone does work and get Welfare. It goes by your income. You can get a Smartphone for free on many websites. I cannot advertise, but there are plenty with a new contract. What if someone buys them the cigarettes? You don't know.
The economy is only going to get worse and more people are going to get handouts whether you think they are abusing the system or not. God forbid your ER doesn't close and you wont be one of them. They don't just hire anyone these days. Don't think Dunkin Donuts or McDonald's will hire you either.

Yeah. You can get government assistance when you work, but to qualify your income has to be so low that you might as well not be working. And, this is the case because too many people milk the system. If we could get rid of those people, we could actually help so many more people.

The smartphone may be free, but how do they afford the data plan each month? Do you really think you just get a free smartphone, just connect magically to the internet and surf until the phone breaks? Cellphone plans + data plans aren't cheap.

I once asked a mother who told me very flippantly while engrossed by something on her phone and appeared completely unconcerned with her child's 103 temp, that she couldn't give tylenol to the child because she couldn't afford it.

I asked her if she had cable? Yes.

Do you have a computer and internet at home? Yes.

Do you have a cell phone plan? yes.

Then you can afford Tylenol.

It's all about priorities. And, no one here has any problem with people receiving "handouts" when they fall on hard times. What some of us have a problem with is people who make receiving "handouts" their career. I once had a young girl (who came into the ER for a pregnancy test) that she "needed to be pregnant, like, yesterday." I asked her if she had a job? Nope. Did she graduate high school? Nope. How was she going to support her child? "Once you get pregnant the government gets you an apartment and pays for your food and stuff." *Facepalm* I've also had a woman tell me that 10 is the "magic number." Ten being the number of kids you need to have for your benefits to go up significantly.

So you can go on thinking that we're just being mean ER nurses who are judging people without basis, and just making all this up. Its your head, bury it in whatever sand suits you.

Also, I'm pretty sure McDonald's just hired 50,000 people.

Gold_SJ · May 17, 2011

--.-- I don't disagree with that, there is an unbelievable amount of waste and fraud in Australia's system too.

I never said I disagreed with there being liars out there, just didn't like it all lumped together in the way the first post is set out.

But to fix the fraud? I don't even know if its possible truly as really a part of human nature it seems is to lie or survive as one best can. Even if it is a really dishonest life, all the same honest or not living on disabilty payments or medicaid or whatever you guys have that way would suck. The amount is pitiful I could barely call it living.

^.^ Maybe we could have secret swat unfrauders lol.

dance4life · May 17, 2011

McDonald's hiring does not cover all the jobs lost in the economy. LOL big picture here. They are going to hire a Bank Executive or Nurse. Yeah okay.

Your income does not need to be that low. I mean what is low? At least not the state I live in. We even have Medicaid you can pay for here if your income is too high. How will you know behind an insurance number? We don't have Section 8 left here. The list is too long.You have to live in a shelter first. And you can work when receiving Section 8.

I didn't say anything about any nurses being anything.

Fribblet · May 17, 2011

--.-- I don't disagree with that, there is an unbelievable amount of waste and fraud in Australia's system too.
I never said I disagreed with their being liars out there, just didn't like it all lumped together in the way the first post is set out.
But to fix the fraud? I don't even know if its possible truly as really a part of human nature it seems is to lie or survive as one best can. Even if it is a really dishonest life, all the same honest or not living on disabilty payments or medicaid or whatever you guys have that way would suck. The amount is pitiful I could barely call it living.
^.^ Maybe we could have secret swat unfrauders lol.

Though the OP didn't include an exahaustive list of every possible exception-to-the-rule, it's pretty clear that the OP is venting specifically about people who abuse the system. In fact, by mentioning "young" people, the OP has already not "lumped" everyone together because they're not talking about everyone.

There's absolutely no way to eradicate fraud, but there's an awful, awful lot that could be done to improve the system. It's not like we see fraud every now and again, we see it EVERY day, all day. The same people come in with different names and SSNs. We report them. Nothing happens.

I think living on government handouts would be pretty ******, but to some, not having to work is the way to go. Generally the people who do this are so short-sighted. They get started, and don't realize that with just a little work on the front end, they can have a bigger pay-off on the back end. But I think once you start, like a lot of things in life, you get comfortable, and then inertia takes over. But, the sad thing is, a lot of these people do work, they just work at finding a quick buck. They'll sue the city transportation for falling after a short stop. They'll call the "turn your wreck into a check" lawyers for a fender bender. They "fall" in the store and attempt to sue. Those sorts of things. They, really, spend more energy NOT working than they would working. But whatever, it's just my money, right?

A secret swat of unfrauders is a team I'd join. It's seriously sad to me when I'm taking care of someone who's essentially poor, but works hard at a low paying job. They work, but just don't make quite enough to get health insurance, and are struggling to support themselves and their family. Unfortunately, they also make too much to qualify for government assistance. So now they're totally screwed. I want to tell them to just quit working so hard and then the government will take care of you. There'd be more than enough money for people like that if we kicked the free-loaders to the curb.

ugh.

dance4life · May 17, 2011

They are suppose to start drug testing people. But, I am not sure if that was a rumor. That would weed some out for sure. Get them some help they need. Well hopefully.

caregiver1977 · May 17, 2011

Also, I'm pretty sure McDonald's just hired 50,000 people.

So? With all the McDonalds there are in America, do you think that is really significant? And if you work more than full time at McDonald's in most of their positions you are STILL going to qualify for most government benefits. Just because a person is on government benefits does not mean that they are not working, looking for a way to **** off a ER nurse and get some free drugs.

But yes, there are freeloaders. A lot of people who really need help don't get it because they are afraid of being put in the "freeloader" catergory.

Gold_SJ · May 17, 2011

though the op didn't include an exahaustive list of every possible exception-to-the-rule, it's pretty clear that the op is venting specifically about people who abuse the system. in fact, by mentioning "young" people, the op has already not "lumped" everyone together because they're not talking about everyone.
^.~ i think we can just agree to disagree on that one, when i read over the first post there's a spotlight focus on bipolar and the chronic pain individuals. both already rather stigmatized groups, i just see things could of definately been worded differently, tact or not why try to put stigma on an already stigmatised area like mental health or disability anyway? but thats just me, my opinion. certainly don't think less of the posters feelings, they sound fed up and i often work in ed so i know how frustrating it all can be, it can just be hard sometimes to understand why patients do the things they do, considering its impact on others.
there's absolutely no way to eradicate fraud, but there's an awful, awful lot that could be done to improve the system. it's not like we see fraud every now and again, we see it every day, all day. the same people come in with different names and ssns. we report them. nothing happens.
totally agree with you. i know many people who claim handouts (food) yet they work, or are capable of working and joke about it with everyone. actually australia have introduced working for the dole or study for the dole. so now unless you work or study you don't get payouts. with disabilities however which is in question, isn't it more the doctors who sign these things and the law system that gets it legalised that need to be more focused on stopping the liars getting through? its hard though --.-- as the genuine ones you don't want to make it harder on them either.
i think living on government handouts would be pretty ******, but to some, not having to work is the way to go. generally the people who do this are so short-sighted. they get started, and don't realize that with just a little work on the front end, they can have a bigger pay-off on the back end. but i think once you start, like a lot of things in life, you get comfortable, and then inertia takes over. but, the sad thing is, a lot of these people do work, they just work at finding a quick buck. they'll sue the city transportation for falling after a short stop. they'll call the "turn your wreck into a check" lawyers for a fender bender. they "fall" in the store and attempt to sue. those sorts of things. they, really, spend more energy not working than they would working. but whatever, it's just my money, right?
i guess suing like that isn't very common here in australia, people would think you're a moron. if you fall well generally you accept it was your own fault for not looking or the shop apologises. suing that's way extreme. and yes i think government handouts can become a lifestyle but also those families with a drug taker in the family they're often at a loss to care for their kids as all the moneys gone. i find these people too are often the ones claiming payments even though its their partners fault, if they don't get the handouts they won't survive. i'm not sure what the best option is for them there.
a secret swat of unfrauders is a team i'd join. it's seriously sad to me when i'm taking care of someone who's essentially poor, but works hard at a low paying job. they work, but just don't make quite enough to get health insurance, and are struggling to support themselves and their family. unfortunately, they also make too much to qualify for government assistance. so now they're totally screwed. i want to tell them to just quit working so hard and then the government will take care of you. there'd be more than enough money for people like that if we kicked the free-loaders to the curb.
i agree with you here too, it is sad and it's hard to encourage those working the crap jobs for crap pay when knowing if they quit they'd get definately not as much but along the same for less effort. but then again the system here will make them work/volunteer/study for their payments anyway so it's probably less stress to continue working in the jobs they have.
ugh.

drug testing as dance said would maybe be an interesting concept to have in for those claiming unemployment, however it wouldn't be really effective for those on disability as they're normally on a large range of meds anyway right? unless they're checking for certain drugs that aren't so average. say morphine for a mental health client.

ImThatGuy, BSN, RN · May 17, 2011

I hate seeing people with ADD (or ADHD) get disability benefits. That chaps my butt royally. In fact a lot of disability claims do. I was given the chance to interview for a job with the SSA when I got out of college, but I turned it down because I thought it'd be boring. Now, I think it'd be great to sit there and turn down frivolous claims for a living.

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Gold_SJ · May 17, 2011

I don't know everyone's individual I guess. Well as to how severe a mental condition is. Would be frustrating if they are high functioning ADHD.

caregiver1977 · May 17, 2011

Why aren't you all as frustrated with whoever is GRANTING the frivolous disability claims? Someone is helping these freeloaders (those who are in fact freeloaders) get disability, people don't just get it on their own. Maybe if there were more checks, balances, and punishments for those granting frivolous disability claims then ER nurses and others wouldn't be so frustrated. The fraud is happening with more than just the patients.

enchantmentdis, BSN, RN · May 17, 2011

I recently met a distant relative at a funeral who is diagnosed with bi-polar. He could not sit still at his own mothers funeral. He was her only child. He was disheveled, had no one there who he could call to give him a ride to his own mothers funeral!. He told me he took 3 buses to get there, 5 hour ride. He had become so isolated. He is on disability. He had graduated from law school, only to be unable to take his boards due to his exacerbations. When you are isolated, you rely on psych case managers, social workers to see that you can get rides to your appointments and pick up you medications, buy food and clothes ect. Where he lives, ano one would want to be. He would be the type to frequent an emergency room. I fell sorry for nurses wh his o would turn themselves so hard to be unable to see the crisis in front of them. I am sure you see some abuse, but these are people who once they leave your E.R., go back to living in their own hell on earth.

If he stayed on his meds and did what his doctor told him to do he would probably look, smell, and behave much better. Sounds like a man who is not taking his meds.