I got a letter from the SSI today,well it was not a happy letter, and all you folks that will say I should have worked more can cram it because I raised 4 kids, well adjusted kids, considering the way the world is now.

Anyway, I cannot get retirement benifits cause because I am 7 credits short.

I cannot get disability because I have not earned enough credits in the last 10 years.

Survivors benefits....Well if I die this year my husband and son can get them....HA HA HA

Medicare..well forget it is same as retirement, not qualified.

So the way I see it is the SSI sent me a letter that said financially I would be better off DEAD.

I am considering writing them a letter and telling them to send the money I have payed in back to me so I can do with it as I please beings having my money in their care is doing me no good.

I have not worked, for money alot in my life, I mostly stayed at home and raised my kiddos, but believe you me that is work too.

I don't want a hand out but I think if I payed in some bucks and I cannot get my bucks back that I am being screwed. I t makes me very mad.

My grandmother never worked a day in her life but she got SSI, but I worked they got some of my money and they say I will get nothing unless I die.

CAN I SUE THEM? Or can I tear up my ss card and tell them to give me my money back??? Odddog

-- 3legs (odddog_3@hotmail.com), June 05, 2000

Answers

You maya be able to appeal: the denial of benefits notice presumably included an invitation to dispute the SSA findings. Read all the enclosures sent by SSA, and be sure and file a notice of appeal, or of intent to appeal. Failure to do so, etc., may seriously impede the processing a a re-evaluation of your case/claim. MEANWHILE the nearest major metropolitan area in your region should have a few indiviudals -- maybe former SSA employees -- who assist individuals in challenging or working with the system, in cases like this. Like many insitutiaotns, SSA is biased in favor of holding on to the cash for the longest itme -- it's their mandate, you know. So they will often view the evidence in THEIR FAVOR unless or until you force thier hand and compel them to comply with their own regulations. Grab the yellow pages, or call or visit your local SSA office and find out if there are local folks in private practice as "social security consultants". They can do wonders, for about 25% of your benefits check, perhaps, if they are successful. If there is a bulletin board at yoru local office there will likely be cards from dba's such as this.

Good luck.

>"<

-- (nuts@upina.cellrelaytower), June 05, 2000.

3legs:

I feel what you are saying. My aunt applied for SS disability, as she has severe epilepsy, unable to work, for real. She was denied 2x even after she appealed and had many doctor's verifying these facts.

Keep appealing, she did, and they did give her the ss disability, it took time, but they paid her from the beginning of her first attempt.

Dont give up. Raising children is just as important and if you paid in, it would only be fair to get your 'share'.

-- consumer (shh@aol.com), June 05, 2000.

Hey you all, I don't want disability, I don't need survivor benifits cause I am not dead yet, But what I hate is they told me unless I die this year, I will get nothing, unless I get to work and get 6 more credits, to me that is bull, I think if they will not give me my money back via retirement then they should give me what I paid in, plus interest for 20 or 30 years,..Well they pretty much told me unless I die this yr. there is nothing, but if I die my under 18 son will get money and my hubby will get money. I think that is pretty shitty for the government to send a letter to someone that tells them they are worth more dead, in a financial cents.

Anyway I am not planing to die in the next yr. but I do think I will write a letter to them telling them beings I am not dead and not going to get benifits that I want the money I payed in back and the interest on it. Lotta good it will do... maybe I'll tear up my SScard and send it to them too. Is that illegal?

-- 3legs (odddog_3@hotmail.com), June 05, 2000.

3legs:

Just trying to 'help' re: disabilty. You dont have to be so darn touchy about it.

Tear it up, send it back, later on you can STILL apply for another.

BTW, this is AMERICA, you can do what ever the hell you want.

I am considering writing them a letter and telling them to send the money I have payed in back to me so I can do with it as I please beings having my money in their care is doing me no good. (your words)

Its not doing me any good either, but it WILL eventually, if it is still around. If not, hey, look on the BRIGHT side, there are lots of seniors who do NEED the money, I dont mind paying my fair share.

Write your congressman/woman, but dont rip us up because we 'offered' some imput.

kindest regards,

sumer

-- consumer (shh@aol.com), June 05, 2000.

PS, you can ALWAYS go to work, I do,as do many others, part-time, I've got enough credits? Just got me papers to prove it. I am not saying you Should have worked more, but NOW is as good as time as any.

Attention K-Mart shoppers!!!!

-- consumer (shh@aol.com), June 05, 2000.

Odddog

Are you talking about SSI (Supplemental Security Income- for blind, and/or disabled and under 65 Americans) or are you talking about SSD (Social Security Diability-for those under 65 who have worked and are no longer able due to physical disability as defined by the Federal Legislature)? There is a big difference. Contact your local chapter of Law In the Public Interest to see if they will assist. They have atty's who will help you for no charge as well as explain the laws regarding this issue. You may also wish to see if your state, county, city, has a client advocate who can assess your situation and refer you to other possible sources of assistance based on your needs.

-- Aunt Bee (SheriffAndy@Mayberry.com), June 05, 2000.

Actually, there's a good chance all Odddog got was one of the standard SSI letters that are being sent out this year giving everyone an estimate of their current benefit status. If that's the case, then Odddog has not been denied benefits. She's just being told that, as of this year, she has not worked enough in the past to collect retirement benefits in the future.

-- E.H. Porter (Just Wondering@About.it), June 06, 2000.

Mr Porter, You are right, I just got one of those statement letters from them, although it was not hunky doory, so to speak, like I said I would be better off dead, or my child would, according to them.

As for working, I love to work, I do everyday, although I do not get paid for it. It is hard for aperson to get a job in this country when their teeth are falling out, like I can get a job smiling at Mc Donald's Anyway beyond all the goverment stuff, all is well, my kids are healthy, I and my finally good hubby are too (except maybe for our teeth). But we caught supper in the pond, catfish, no fishing license necessarry,we got rain this week, got a job building a fence tomorrow Life is fine, BUT I would like to get back what I payed in to ssi so we could drill a water well, that would be so much better than the benifits I won't get. And so it goes....

3 legged no teeth sometimes rabid angel dog

-- 3 legs (odddog_3@hotmail.com), June 06, 2000.