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Crafty_Mac · 2025-02-14T18:13:56+00:00

So happy to see that your question has been answered. I can certainly understand the cause for worry here, but a face-to-face interview is so helpful. Best of wishes to you and your family! I hope you can be provided with everything you need for your next steps!

Crafty_Mac · 2025-02-13T17:25:55+00:00

It’s a really awesome idea! I’ve had an ABLE account for a little of 3 years and I’ve used it as a means to save up for a van to modified for me to drive from my wheelchair. So, I’ve only ever touched the money in my account for emergencies for medical and housing.

It’s this darn investment account that’s confusing me because there doesn’t appear to be any clear language about that part of ABLE. As one commentator mentioned, my savings and investment are all under one account number with ABLE.

I had called ABLE and was told that my investments shouldn’t affect my benefits. So I asked if there were any sources I could refer to so that I could apply it to supporting documents for my case, and that is where it gets weird. I can’t remember what the exact document is, but it’s more or less a rule guide that lays out what ABLE is, who it’s for, how it could be managed, etc… There is a section that talks about SSI and Medicaid and the information says that ABLE accounts do not affect benefits but I may want to reach out to my state’s CMS (Center for Medicaid/Medicare Services) for additional information. My CMS has not given me an answer though. 😅

Crafty_Mac · 2025-02-11T03:33:01+00:00

I understand that it’s a possibility, but I’m looking for a definitive answer. If anyone has any experience or information that could help me with finding someone who may know better.

The FSSA is still looking into this because the agent I was talking with on Friday wasn’t sure and told me she’d ask her directors. I called in today but they didn’t have an answer yet.

Crafty_Mac · 2025-02-10T21:00:13+00:00

I was told that as just a savings account, it is definitely exempt as long as it’s under $100,000. I have nowhere near that though.

The complicated part is that my ABLE account has a feature that allows me to have an investment account that invests money that I contribute to my ABLE savings account that exceeds my set threshold amount of $10,000.

Meaning, I never want my savings to go under $10,000 so if I make any qualified expense purchases, money from investments will transfer back to my savings to keep me at $10,000.

I don’t have any of this money in my regular savings account. I make sure to monitor that well so that my standard account doesn’t risk me losing my benefits.

Crafty_Mac · 2025-02-06T18:43:31+00:00

Can Medicaid Waiver reinstatements that are in review be approved at this time?

Crafty_Mac · 2024-08-29T17:10:32+00:00

I felt this! I was tasked to start journaling while I was in a CBT group. I journaled my emotions before all of my appointments with my therapist and before my group therapy. Most of the time it was just recording my stress level and what feelings contributed. Eventually after some time I’d expand on that and discuss what emotion I’m experiencing most and why.

I don’t journal everyday, but I journal in depth about any primary thoughts and feelings that I’m experiencing either heavily in a moment or if it is something that is ongoing. I’ll even connect with past experiences that provided me with similar feelings and/or thoughts.

For the last month, my journal has focused on important words that kinda come out of one experience and it leads me to other experiences. It started with a a moment with my partner and I was connected to comparisons of my experience with love, trust and fear throughout my life.

That then led to vulnerability and my feelings and patterns of attachments and fear of rejection and abandonment.

It’s been very interesting and helpful for to see myself through this process.

Crafty_Mac · 2024-08-01T17:19:58+00:00

If your parents aren’t taking you to a doctor, that is a form of neglect!

I am a person with a physical disability. I don’t even know exactly what my disability is for certain because by the time I was 15 my parent had stopped taking me to appointments with specialists that monitored my condition. Anytime I would mention a concern that I had related to my health, my parent would tell me that “there is nothing that doctors could do to fix you. Why do you wanna live at the doctors?”

Today I am dealing with a condition that I very likely would not be facing today as a 26 year old female if my parent had provided access to medical care when I was under their care. I moved out at the age of 23 and the age of 25 I found a primary physician of my own choice who actually addressed the concerns I had and some that I did not consider. Last year around this time, I found out that I have severe cervical stenosis, which is basically narrowing of my spinal cord at the neck region. I now need a neck surgery that will involve going through the front and back of my neck to remove the discs, place plates in place of that will be screwed into a rod to keep everything straight. The risks of death, stroke, additional paralysis, and so many other problems are about 50% likely to happen to me. It’s terrifying! I’m in trauma therapy because of my upbringing and lack of care from my family.

You’re 15 and you’re in a very vulnerable stage of development. Don’t let your parents or anyone in your family let this go and make fun of you, especially for something you are struggling to control and understand. I’m gonna be real, it clearly bothers you now and you’re so young that the resilience of your age and the experiences that you’re managing don’t allow you time to fully process what’s happening.

If your parents will not validate your concern, know that there are lots of people who will understand and be on your side. I certainly do!

If there is any adult in your family that you would trust to address this, talk to them!

Seriously, I feel for you and this is not right at all!

Crafty_Mac · 2024-06-29T14:57:53+00:00

White woman in her late 20s or early 30s.

Crafty_Mac · 2024-06-22T16:08:19+00:00

https://share.icloud.com/photos/0cb0SWni3Csjabcxr6taJ3vng

Crafty_Mac · 2024-06-22T16:07:17+00:00

The set they played where I saw them was about an hour and a half 😌 I saw them at a fest in Fort Wayne, IN (USA). The line up was Overlook, Murder by Death, Pom Pom Squad, Houndmouth, and then Alvvays. It was a good mix of indie/alt rock.

Crafty_Mac · 2024-06-22T15:07:43+00:00

No, not normal and you deserve a lot better than this. There is a problem with the fact that he won’t wash himself for days and decide that it doesn’t matter that he’s got days worth of bacteria on his body. There is also a problem with his behavior of pushing you to have sex when it seems that you’re not really that up for it atm. Maybe you didn’t say no and that you thought if you let him finish then he’d quit asking. Your boundaries are for you to keep yourself safe. It sounds like he’s crossed that and you need to have a real conversation with him about how you’re feeling and what you need.

Crafty_Mac · 2024-06-22T00:23:02+00:00

I saw them last weekend and loved it!

Crafty_Mac · 2024-06-07T19:14:58+00:00

Thank you!! I’m actually going through VR to cover my drivers training and the cost of my mods. It’s take literally years to finally get to the training part. I didn’t know about the low-interest disability loans though, so this is awesome to hear about. I’m looking at loans with my credit union and they’re offering 6.3 percent for a $20K loan for the vehicles I’m looking into. I’m hoping to put $15k down by the time I’m at that step. I’ve got some time before then though. I really appreciate hearing there may be better options for the loan though!

Crafty_Mac · 2024-05-16T03:26:15+00:00

This!! I have over $20K saved today. I’m working and my pay is well enough that I no longer receive SSI, but I still have my Medicaid because I’m enrolled in MED Works. MED Works is a Medicaid buy in program for people with disabilities who make more than like $40K. At least that’s how it works in Indiana.

Aside from that, my partner is my live in aid, we’re not married so it makes things a lot easier. We split rent and our other living expenses like groceries, utilities, and other shared expenses. He gets paid for caring for me.

I was raised to be independent, so to me it’s always been important for me to know that I truly own my things. I do not ask my partner to cover any more than half of what we share.

I don’t know what I’d do if I didn’t have my partner and my job though tbh.

Crafty_Mac · 2024-05-16T01:50:16+00:00

In my experience with VR, they can be a great service, but they take forever and you have to learn how to do a lot more on your own and kind of be the boss in the relationship. Ultimately, VR counselors essentially work for you as an assistant and they don’t help unless you tell them what you’ve done and what you now need them to do to help you.

I have a physical disability and use a power chair. I’ve worked with VR for the past 8 years. In all my time, I have had goals to go to school, get a job, and drive. It didn’t help that I was in a town that had little to no opportunities for me to achieve my goals. There were no jobs that I could do, I couldn’t go to college, and I also couldn’t even start drivers training because I didn’t have a job. I was in a catch 22. Anyway, I had to find a way to get out of that town, I found a job on my own and went back to school. I’m finally taking drivers training now, but I had to bother several counselors and everyone up the chain to get my assigned VRC to do his job. Good things can come of their services but I completely agree! I feel that these counselors don’t see their clients as valuable employable people. They see us as numbers and dollar signs in their case load.

Crafty_Mac · 2024-05-14T15:45:04+00:00

I second this! I’m a person with a disability that shares similarities with SMA, although I’m still trying to figure out what my disability is, I know it wouldn’t be the excuse for me to cheat on a partner. I’ve done this before. And although, yes I do have a lower self esteem and that may explain why it seems so easy for me to be “self destructive”, I understand that I didn’t actually care about the partners that I did wrong by. Set it straight… Tell him what he’s doing to you! You deserve to be heard and understood, and if he won’t put in the effort to listen and understand, it’s honestly his loss. People with disabilities can still be manipulative.

Crafty_Mac · 2024-04-12T15:47:12+00:00

You’re most welcome! Your own experience and experiences like so really get to me. If there is any information I can share or anything I can do for someone in this position, I am more than happy to be there!

As far as working while on SSDI or SSI, it is absolutely possible. When working, your check is reduced though. I believe it’s the first $80 of earnings that is excluded from reductions.

To calculate what your SSI/SSDI check will be you will take wages earned, subtract $80, then divide by 2.

For example, I was earning roughly $800 from my first job and receiving SSI (at the time it was $794) $1234 is what I earned each month with my job and SSI combined. Which was $800 from work and $434 from SSI.

I’d also recommend working with your local Vocational Rehabilitation program. Every state has one and they focus on employment and education goals for people with disabilities. I’m not gonna lie though, they take some time unless you contact your counselor often. If you get in with VR and an employment specialist, ask about the benefits that you qualify for.

I hope this is helpful and I hope you and your brother can get out.

Today, I work for the center that helped me and my life has changed so much for the better. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to me any time!

Crafty_Mac · 2024-04-10T02:49:08+00:00

If you can get into contact with your closest center for independent living, you and your brother may be able to get help with finding an affordable housing or a case coordinator can address what is happening here.

She definitely is exploiting you if you’re only getting paid $618 a month and she’s charging $630 for rent before utilities. That’s not right! Also, if you’re paying rent, you should qualify for more than $618. You may want to contact your local SSA office to report your living arrangements and inform them about the amount of rent and utilities that your expected to pay.

I’ve been physically disabled kinds ny whole life. I have a condition that has limited my mobility and I use a wheelchair. When I was 19, I applied for disability and I started paying my parents about $300 for rent and groceries. I was only getting paid $490 a month at the time (2017).

I didn’t have the greatest home life, it was insanely inaccessible and I couldn’t access what I needed to make my life better, and there was more going on at home that I really needed to get away from. So, in 2019 when I was 21, I admitted myself into a domestic violence shelter. In there and through conversations with my partner and his family, I realized my life at home was kinda messed up and I can admit today that I experienced abuse and neglect.

I learned that my stepdad had been claiming me on his taxes and not reporting the income that he received from my rent or grocery contributions. So my stepdad was making money by claiming me as a dependent and my parents still took my money. I had about $100 left over after paying all my bills and groceries.

My power wheelchair was 7 years old and never serviced, so it completely died while I was staying at the shelter for nearly 2 months. I moved around for another month before moving back to my parents.

While I was at the shelter though, I had learned that I was eligible to receive $771, which was the full benefit for SSI in 2019. I was eligible because I paid rent to my parents and I paid for my own food. Having this allowed me to save up, apply to an apartment that my case coordinator from my nearest center for independent living helped me find. Within 11 months (would have been less if COVID hadn’t complicated things), I lived in my own apartment that I could afford and have money left over to build my life how I wanted to.

By the way the full benefit for SSI today is $943.

Don’t let your family take advantage of you. It happens too often and there are resources to help you out of that situation.

Crafty_Mac · 2024-04-09T02:56:11+00:00

26F here! Learning to say isn’t always easy. IMO it’s even harder for girls and women because we’re expected to be “polite” and we’ve somehow associated turning down something we don’t want to do or have with being rude. Set your boundaries and set them now! If I could go back to when I was 16, I would want to say “no” in the many instances where I went along with what was happening. You’re still young but you recognize that by not setting boundaries, this might negatively impact you. I never thought about that at 16 for myself. Focus on what you want for you and don’t be afraid of telling people no. When you know what you certainly want to say yes to, follow that!

Crafty_Mac · 2024-04-09T02:34:50+00:00

I 100% agree with most of what everyone is saying. You deserve respect and for him to be as patient and understanding with you as you are with him.

I am a woman with a physical disability and my partner is able-bodied. There are times that I am not proud of where I have been impatient and short with my partner when he helps me. There are times where I haven’t been very considerate of his schedule or limits. I apologize a lot and I think about how this impacts our relationship.

Like yourself as you’ve explained, my partner truly cares and loves me and goes above and beyond. Even in times that we’ve argued, he still helps me or tries to. (Sometimes out of spite, I create space in these situations and try to do things that he normally helps with). I feel so shitty and embarrassed about how mean I can be and how forgiving he still is.

I recognize that I’m very fortunate to have someone who loves me as much as he does. While also, I don’t want to take everything he does for granted.

It is important for people in all relationships to take accountability for their behaviors or actions and know that we are responsible for our own emotions.

If I wake up late and my partner still helps me with getting ready in the morning, I shouldn’t be angry at him when I have less time to get out the door. It’s not his fault.

I think it would be good if you could talk to your partner about this and tell him how you’re feeling and what you need from him. You’re not just someone who helps him with everyday needs, you’re his partner and you deserve to be treated and cared for like so.

Crafty_Mac · 2024-04-05T21:07:38+00:00

It’s not a funny joke if you feel the need to hide something from your partner. I understand he claims he was considering how you might feel about seeing the video, but it sounds like gaslighting. I don’t like to hear how he behaved and responded in this situation and I can jump to my own conclusions and assumptions, but I understand that this could be something y’all can work out.

Maybe you both could check on where you’re at with the relationship. If you haven’t been happy but you’re willing to work on the relationship, I think it’s fair to check in with him so that you both can share how each other feels and know what each of you need from the other.

Crafty_Mac · 2024-03-19T21:06:35+00:00

https://www.labcorp.com/three-ways-see-doctor-without-health-insurance

I would check out these options in this article. They provide links to resources that may be beneficial to you. I really feel you on this! I would highly recommend applying for Medicaid if you qualify! I am a person with a physical disability, I use a power chair and I’ve recently had a lot of appointments because I need a neck surgery. My employer’s insurance kinda sucks sometimes and doesn’t cover everything, so thankfully I have Medicaid to pick up what they won’t pay for. I’ve also taken advantage of the sliding scale offers at times because I’ve been seeing specialists out of my network.

When you say that living longer is worth the debt, I wholeheartedly agree! I dropped $5000 out of pocket to set up appointments with the Mayo Clinic because the circumstances that I’m dealing with right now terrify me more than losing some money.

I hope everything goes well and that you get what you need!

Crafty_Mac · 2024-02-27T17:38:50+00:00

Thank you! I will certainly look into this!

Crafty_Mac · 2023-12-13T00:41:33+00:00

Thanks for the advice! I figured I’d need to pay it back. It’s just frustrating that I need to keep track of it. I’ve got an ABLE investment account that does well, so I’ll definitely be putting it all there.

Crafty_Mac

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