~I am just really PO'd right now~

[Sunshine2]

:mad:

What the HECK is everyone's problem?

I've been fighting to get Vocational Rehab services for 15 years now (I got injured on the job 15 years ago)...well, the week before my major surgury, they sent me a letter saying that they had approved me......

I've been recovering from the surgury, it takes a good two months, in fact, because I've had so many people making demands of me, I ended up at the emergency room a little over a week ago relapsing from the surgury (not enough rest, too much pain, etc).....

Voch Rehab had scheduled some meeting for me and I had something else scheduled for that day (they don't seem to have enough common sense or curtousy to call someone to schedule something and see what other things they have to do too)....my case manager from the welfare office was supposed to be handling all of this....

So I asked her to get it rescheduled, especially since I had just gone to the ER, etc....I also have an ultrasound scheduled, etc.......several of us were supposed to meet together because I have so many health issues and trying to get social security and my welfare payments will end and we could end up on the streets if I don't find some other income to support us....

I get a letter today saying that they closed my case? We didn't even do what we were supposed to do........

I guess having surgury doesn't matter any more, I have been trying to stay alive and so they tell me to do volunteer work for 6 months to SEE IF I AM RESPONSIBLE ENOUGH???????????????

I have been raising a child alone now for 12 years and have done volunteer my entire life........I am one of the most responsible people I have ever met!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I JUST HAD SURGURY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :mad:

[Tootsie]

This sounds like a classic case of so many people involved that no one is communicating adequately with anyone else. I sometimes wonder if we didn't do a better job of keeping everyone informed before we had all these new gadgets like cell phones, computers, answering machines, text messaging, etc! It used to be that you could pick up a telephone and actually TALK to someone!

Well, that's my little rant for the dayx The only thing I can suggest is that you sit down with good old fashioned paper and pen, and write a letter, then make copies for every agency or department involved, and keep one for yourself. There seems to be a unspoken danger, in the written word. Any time there is a paper trail, there is the risk of an attorney being involved somewhere down the road.

I've written a few letters in my time, and have found that they get a better response than phone calls or emails. No delete button! Cheerio.

[moose53]

((((((Sunshine)))))),

Tootsie's right -- get it in writing.

I would make X number of copies of Letter One and indicate on the bottom who has gotten a carbon copy. Deliver ALL the copies in stamped, addressed envelopes with a cover letter (Letter Two) to the case worker who is supposed be working your case and inform him/her that he/she is responsible for making sure the copies get delivered where appropriate and he/she is also responsible for following up and coordinating a new meeting with all the parties to address HOW you could have handled taking a meeting where you were in the process of recovering from surgery.

Each envelope for the people that need to be attending the meeting will have copies of both Letter One and Letter Two.

Make sure that you circle on each letter in nice, thick red ink that you were recovering from surgery and were unable to attend the meeting.

Oh, put "return receipt requested" on each one of the envelopes.

What you will be creating is a paper trail from you to the case worker -- and then from the case worker to each person that is expected to attend a meeting. You will also be highlighting in very big, very bright red ink the sheer stupidity of denying you benefits because you were physically and probably emotionally incapable of taking a meeting immediately after surgery.

I'm telling you, Sunshine, when you get out that red pen and track the receipt of every letter, people start paying attention.

BIG HUGS. I **KNOW** this will work out for you. Take that anger and figuratively use it to whack upside the head everyone who is performing their job like a robot and not paying attention at all to what they're doing.

Barb

[Tootsie]

Barbara,
It's so nice to see you posting on BT again. You always have such succinct and appropriate suggestions that are truly helpful. There is nothing quite as helpful as someone who has been there and done that, like you have. Cheerio.

[JAVISI]

When you mail the letters I would also make a copy of your dicharge orders from the hospital and from your ER visit.

I hope that all of these thing will help you. As I see it, it was their fault and not yours. The system can really suck sometimes. When I left my ex-husband I moved in with my parents. I was waited on Disability at the time. I went to try to get a little help so I wouldn't be such a burden on my parents. They live on a tight fixed income.

No one could help me because my ex-husbands income was counted as mine along with my parents. I can gaurantee he was not giving me any money. They could not help me until I filed for a divorce. That was a little hard to do when I didin't have any money. so I was pennikless untill I was approved for disability and got my back pay and filed for a divorce by then I didn't need them! I wish they could fix the system to help the people that really need it, and kick off the people that abuse it. Unfortunatly the people that try to use the system hurt it for the ones that really need it!

Good Luck!:)

[Sunshine2]

What really gets me is the fact that, for 15 YEARS I have been trying to get Voch Rehab services....15 YEARS.......they have denied me and denied me all this time....

The ONE TIME that they approve me....and it is only for a few short weeks........

Oh, they told me "you need to do volunteer work for at least 6 months to see if you can be responsible".....

I am one of the most responsible people that I've known.

Now that I think about it...the VR counselor I had assigned has always been really NEGATIVE toward me...

For instance, when I told him I would really like to be able to get my bookeeping certificate (I have done bookkeepipng before and the bookkeeper who trained me said I was rather good at it.....just not certified....) When you get certified, you can start at $16 an hour where I live...

He told me he didn't think that would be a good job for me (we met for 20 minutes...how the heck is he going to know?) He told me to go get a clown job (I"ve done volunteer clowning).........

Yeah, the Voch Rehab guy told me to get a clowning job. The last Judge I had for social security told me I must have mental problems beause I've done volunteer clowning before.....

I just can't seem to WIN, can I??????????????????????????

[JAVISI]

Sunshine,
I am so sorry you have been treated this way, no one deserves that! Use that anger to your advantage, call the main headquartes of Voc Rehab! Turn that gentleman in! How would you make money as a clown?? Yes you could voluteer like you have in the past but you would not be bringing home any money?? Did you have to take a test that helps you to decide what type would be best suited for you?

I don't know much about Voc Rehab, but the experience that you are having with them, I am glad that I don't! Just don't give up!;) ! Fight for your rights! I wish I had more to offer, I will keep you in my thoughts!

[Sunshine2]

Hi Javis......

No, I have not been given any tests at the Voch Rehab place....

People can make lots of $$$ doing clowning, but you gotta be your own boss, type of a thing.......there is MUCh competition....you have to find the work yourself and push yourself out there to find work...I just turned 50.....I am too tired....lol.

But this VR guy decided I should do clowning, no tests, no nothing.....

I am thinking perhaps he was going to deny me all along......

[JAVISI]

Sunshine, I did not realize that you could make a lot of money being a clown, sorry! I agree with you that he probably already had decided right after he met you. It would make things easier for him! One less person to deal with. I am so sorry that you are going through this! I hope that the sun shines on you soon and your dreams come true. Let us know how things in the way of complaints and what the State decides to do!
Dreamiming big, and reaching for the stars, wishing you all of this, Javisi

[Sunshine2]

Hi, I'm trying to get a second wind right now, I still have several more diagnostic tests to undergo, a biopsy being one of them...I am just so tired. I was working before I ever graduated from HIGH SCHOOL......what good did it do?

Yes, I've known clowns to charge $150.00 per hour, but then, you gotta do the taxes and all of that, I'm not smart enough for any of that, nor young enough.

No, the VR guy didn't go over any of that with me either, I just suspect he was going to deny me....he did tell me he thinks I need to be getting social security. DHS has told me this also, for several years.