QUOTE=fairweathergolfer;674785]What is your disability?
-My disability is schizo-affective disorder, bipolar type. I have also been diagnosed with Gender Identity Disorder/Gender Dysphoria.
There are degrees of being transgendered. I have been determined to have a "profound' degree of being transgendered.
This was done at the Persad Center, in Pittsburgh.
At 43 years of age, I have not been able to work full time in my life.
Not yet, at least.
Is a transgender person now labeled disabled in California or nationally and thus you qualify for state and/or national tax payer money to live off disability?
-Yes and no. To be able to get hormones and surgery, ANY transgendered person must follow the universally accepted Harry Benjamin Standards of Care.
One requirement of the HBSOC is a diagnosis of Gender Identity Disorder by a licensed psychiatrist or psychologist, just to be able GET the surgery, in the first place.
Hormones and surgery are irreversable!
They want to make SURE you are qualified!
However, a person who meets the requirements for GID is not necessarily disabled. Or qualify for government assistance.
In fact, you might even know one or two of them right now and not even realize it!
So a TS can have a label of Gender Dysphoria/GID, but not be disabled.
And, to qualify for state/or national funding, I am a TS and ALSO disabled.
If you are disabled and qualify for SSI/SSDI, you automatically qualify for state aid.
(Regardless of which state).
Is this a disability where you presently live? Or is it in only in California and this is why you want to move here?
-I qualify for SSI. When you qualify for SSI/SSDI you are automatically eligible for state Medicaid funding, regardless of state.
What is SRS through Medi Cal?
SRS is what they used to call Sex Reassignment Surgery. Although now it is usually referred to as Gender Confirmation Surgery.
Medi Cal is California's version of Medicaid. If you qualify for SSI/SSDI, you automatically are covered for this state aid, reserved for the disabled and poorest of the poor.
But you must reside in California!
(You must also meet certain income limits. For instance you cannot have above $1,000.00 in assets, as a single person).
Is this state government medical insurance funded by tax payer money that will pay for your sex change and all the hormones for the rest of your life? Is this what you are moving to California for?
-Till now, you couldn't get SRS covered by ANY insurance.
But recently, in San Francisco, a company started including SRS for its employees. And far from "disaster ensuing" the company found it actually SAVED the insurance company money because of the increased productivity and lowered health care costs of its employees.
And insurance companies around the continent are beginning to follow suit.
Blue Cross/Blue Shield (for one) has begun covering these procedures (in some states).
And finally, coverage for the very least advantaged is starting to happen. Only in California.
I only qualify for hormones here. Yet, I transitioned in my small town in PA because people have such cruddy misconceptions of "who we are." I wanted to prove we are, indeed "everyday kind of people, who have families,
just like theirs.
I've paid a huge price for my honesty! The ostracism, the threats of violence. Being Caucasian but "profiled" by people you'd never think would be bigots.
But I want to move on now. let the younger generation take over and do their part. Before I get any older.
And before I get raped or killed, even.
In a small town (bigger than where I live, though) a born bio Male transitioning to Female was raped then murdered on the street by paramedics who were supposed to be saving her from as heart attack. When they discovered she had a penis.
I am very confused by your post and thread. You said you are in PA and very poor, I am very unclear why you would move to a place not even the middle class can afford, especially when it comes to safety.
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-My only real chance of a real life is having this done. I want to work and be productive like everyone else does.
Poverty sucks!
SRS is EXTREMELY expensive. I have been unable to work full time EVER in my life. I am 43 years old now. How on Earth can someone like me come up with over $200,000.00 to pay for it?
California has now added GCS (SRS) to its list of covered services! PA probably won't anytime soon (understatement)!
note: Thanks for the comment, Sorcerer68. I'll definitely check out Long Beach.
(You know, it'd sure be GREAT to find somewhere that is cheap BC "those LGBT people live there". (Ha ha)
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Transgendered, disabled, and poor! Nd. info on San Bernardino or San Jacinto (or any ideas where to seek housing in CA)?
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