SSI Reductions Begin Next Month

[nightbird47]

Originally Posted by nmnita

I wish we had tried harder, but we are managing. I will add though, anyone can save for retirement if they set their mind to it: If all you do is put a couple of bucks a week away and start when you get your first job. Did we always do this? NO, my husbands entire family did and had no problems. None of them even had a company retirement...It can be done..

Nita

This is a good lesson, but if you apply it to those who end up on SSI it has a problem. There is a 1000 property limit. Unless your stash is in an envelope somewhere it will disqualify you. If you had money saved up, and its traceable it has to be spent first. Which means that anything saved for later has to be stashed away. If I had a retirement savings which was far from enough and became disabled, I'd have to spend it first. Then if I wanted to try working again I'd have to start all over with my savings, and if it didn't work out spend it.

I'm on SSI. Nobody wants to be unless its the last thing available. Its basically setting up a continuing poverty level with strings. It took me ten years and a marital implosion which took with it an online business to get me to apply. I would dearly love to try the business again, but its too iffy and likely to take money with it that I would need. And it took five years before it made enough that would cover living expenses.

Not to forget that to be eligable for SSI you are pretty much guarenteed that nobody will offer medical insurence.

I'm glad its there, don't get me wrong, but the way its structured its more like a last stop.

[NewToCA]

Originally Posted by NewToCA

SSI benefits for the elderly and disabled will be cut for California residents beginning next month. The benefits will be reduced from $907 to $870 per month, basically negating the federal Social Security cost of living increase the disabled received January 1st.

So basically, California is stealing the increase provided by the federal government. The increase wasn't provided by California at all, yet they are stealing this money from the disabled.

What a disgrace.


http://www.mercurynews.com/topstories/ci_11684781

Just as an update, they have now reduced the payment to $850 per month, an additional $20 per month reduction.

[heartfocus]

They reduced it another $5, too.
That makes three reductions in less than one year.

[heartfocus]

Want to bet they nickel and dime us to death again??
How To Close The Budget Gap In Ten Steps | California Progress Report