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Post subject:
 Posted: Jun 29, 2009 - 12:17 AM
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Member
Joined: Feb 12, 2005
Posts: 14129
Location: Your daily life is your temple and your religion. Kahil Gibran
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I wish I had 575 a week! Believe it or not, hubby and me could live very nicely on that.
Of course, we don't have children. Our monthly expenses are around 500.00 monthly, so heck, I could squirrel away 3 weeks worth of income and save for a new car, or even a new home.
And, yes, I realize that everyone's situation is different and what one person can live comfortably on, wouldn't be nearly enough for another. |
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Post subject:
Posted: Jun 29, 2009 - 12:23 AM
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Member
Joined: Dec 08, 2008
Posts: 77
Location: City on the Edge of Forever
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| greenchick wrote: |
sorry to seem dim, just can't get my head round it!
I'm not familiar with the unemployment benefit system, as I haven't had to use it, touch wood! I could look it up if you're interested.
BTW, I'm not very good at Maths, but isn't $575 a week more than $1600 a month?? |
It is... I'm the one not very good at my math. lol
I edited to reflect what I meant to say: $1600 bimonthly - twice per month... on the 15th and the last day of each month.
If I fell and broke a leg, an ambulance might come to pick me up... but if they wanted to be paid for the transport and I refused to sign for the payment - then they can leave me there, in some cases. Ditto the hospital.
Regional trauma center hospitals must treat anybody no matter what; other hospitals need not treat anybody who can't or won't pay. Some ambulances - depending upon how the company is set up - must transport, but others need not transport non-paying people.
There is no "Right" to health care in the United States of America.
We are a free country, all right - but nothing is free here. Don't mistake the meaning of the word "free".
We ARE free... as in we have our freedom. nothng else here is free... as in "no cost". We must pay - and pay a LOT - for food, medical care, legal assistance, clothing, housing -- all the "basics" of life. Get it, now?
The sarcasm isn't directed at you, it's just..... *sigh* Never mind. I'm sorry. |
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Post subject:
Posted: Jun 29, 2009 - 01:02 AM
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Member
Joined: Dec 08, 2008
Posts: 77
Location: City on the Edge of Forever
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| SMB wrote: |
I wish I had 575 a week! Believe it or not, hubby and me could live very nicely on that. |
You think so?
Where do you live, if I might ask?
What do you pay for ---
health insurance? $863/m
property taxes? (no mortgage - we own free & clear) Almost $1000/m - why do I live in Essex county, NJ?
a quart of milk? or a half-gallon? $2.69/q & $36.9/ half gallon
a loaf of bread? approx. $3.89/loaf
a pound of chicken leg quarters? approx. 89˘ on sale or $1.19 regularly
peaches, nectarines, fresh vegetables? fresh produuce runs beween $2.99 and $8.99 per pound for most non-fancy produce - nothing exotic
I pay the following basic utilities (note - no cable or naything fancy, and the DSL is becauses hubby can't remain up-to-date with hopes of ever working again, without it - as he writes custom software).
Verizon - aprox. $2.69/m
Earthlink - $80/m (contract - can't get out of it)
AT&T Wireless - $89.95/m (contract - can't get out of it)
PSE&G (electric & gas) - $approx. $300/m - but that's before the summer and need for Air/Con
GEICO/car insurance - $289/m (and that's dirt-cheap in NJ!)
gasoline to drive either car or the truck - approx. $2.45/gal (thank God I live in NJ - the "Land of No Self-Serve" and still the cheapest statewide prices nationwide!)
[/b] |
Last edited by Stephanie on Jun 29, 2009 - 01:06 AM; edited 1 time in total
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Post subject:
Posted: Jun 29, 2009 - 01:04 AM
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Member
Joined: Dec 08, 2008
Posts: 77
Location: City on the Edge of Forever
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Post subject:
Posted: Jun 29, 2009 - 01:14 AM
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Member
Joined: Dec 08, 2008
Posts: 77
Location: City on the Edge of Forever
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| SMB wrote: |
Of course, we don't have children. Our monthly expenses are around 500.00 monthly, so heck, I could squirrel away 3 weeks worth of income and save for a new car, or even a new home. |
Do you have a landline telephone?
Pay electric and/or gas bills?
Have or pay for health insurance coverage?
Have a car or cars? Pay insurance on them?
Own or rent?
Hubby is a senior, and I am handicapped with EDS: Our medical bills are significantly higher than those of healthy younger people.
I'm not attacking you. But if *I* can live on this income where YOU live - thenI'm moving there. |
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Post subject:
Posted: Jun 29, 2009 - 01:42 AM
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Joined: Oct 24, 2002
Posts: 15102
Location: CA
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Gee...I understand you aren't feeling very good about all of this, but you sure are quick to give "superior attitude" to someone else about what they relate of situations in their area....I don't mind constructive criticism, but you do get a bit touchy. Sorry for not keeping up to your standards of communication, but we don't work under the same system,as you are stating, in California.... I think Sue is used to the way I speak by now and she certainly knows I may only speak about the state I live in. She is of high intelligence and knows, by now, that each State varies in it's procedures and rules and I was simply giving her a rough idea of what happens here.
Nothing I said was untrue for my area. In California, it is calculated, as I said by the previous years earnings. The amount for benefits available is based on the claimant's earnings in the base period. To qualify for
benefits in California, a claimant must have (1) earned at least $1,300 in the highest quarter of the base period, or (2) have earned at least $900 in the highest quarter and earned total base period earnings of at least 1.25 times the high quarter earnings. For example, if the claimant has $900 earnings in the highest quarter, he/she is also required to have earned a total of $1,125 in the base period ($900 x 1.25 = $1,125).
The maximum amount of a regular UI claim is either 26 times the claimant's weekly benefit amount or one-half of the claimant's base period wages, whichever is LESS.
This requirement denies benefits to claimants whose earnings in a 12-month "base period" are below the minimum noted above on the assumption that low earnings indicate a short or temporary attachment
to the labor force. The "base period" is 12 months long, but it is important to think of it as 4 quarters of 3 months each. The quarter in which the highest wages were received determines the weekly benefit amount.
You can only collect if it is deemed to not be your fault that you were fired, there is a two week waiting period for submission and another two weeks for determination.
You are lucky that if it IS your fault that you got fired, that they get to become eligible after 13 weeks waiting. The amount in California is calculated on gross earnings and the maximum benefit is $450 week.Which is Taxable to Fed Income tax. The benefit is for up to six months UNLESS you are approved by the EDD for job training, then it can be extended to one year.
The stimulus funds to California will only be made available to those who qualify for retraining and Gov. Swartzie is trying to keep every cent he can from every program..at this point in time. Of course that didn't stop him from using quite a chunk of the Fed Stimulus Funds to buy computers, telephones and mobile filing/contact equipment for on site filing during Major Layoffs...in other words...he spent money on Office equip. and Staff.
AND...Federal legislation signed into law on February 17, 2009, allows for a weekly $25 stimulus payment. This $25 stimulus payment will be added to each week of UI benefits paid to eligible workers in California. The federal legislation states that these $25 stimulus payments are only payable for weeks of unemployment that start February 22, 2009, and after.
Effective immediately EDD will automatically add the $25 stimulus payment to each paid week of unemployment that starts on or after February 22, 2009, as part of the regular UI check.
Unemployed workers will continue to receive Unemployment Insurance (UI)benefits even though California’s UI Trust Fund has run out of money. The Federal Government provides loans to states so that UI benefits will not be interrupted.
On January 26, 2009, the California Employment Development Department (EDD) began borrowing from the federal government to pay UI benefits due to the insolvency of California's Unemployment Trust Fund.
Anyway, I would say that you are actually doing quite well, compared to allot of people I know, at an income of $3200 monthly. They can squeek by on that.... |
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Post subject:
Posted: Jun 29, 2009 - 02:00 AM
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Joined: Feb 12, 2003
Posts: 7743
Location: NSW -Australia
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Just as an example and I am sure you have no idea how we do it here in Australia , this is not a dig at any system, but to show you you are way behind with much needed help.
20 years Back I went on to a permanent invalid pension. that switched to a senior pension when I reached sixty five
From September I will receive
$1344 every 4 weeks as a single senior
A couple receives $2028
here is the budget for this year for pensions,
http://www.budget.gov.au/2009-10/conten ... iew_02.htm
This includes about $650 which is to help with Prescriptions utilities, and an allowance for Phone a year. I have to pay a nominal fee of $6.50 for any prescription ,And every man woman and child recieved a stimulus payment of $1000. I got $1400
There is also if I needed, it rates are cut in half for homes., and rent assistance for those renting homes
If I broke a hip I would be picked up by ambulance and taken to one of several hospitals, or if a road trauma for example I would be air lifted to the Bigger hospitals.
This would be free of charge as I am a senior, and I am on Medicare, but "anyone'' who needs help gets it, as GC said elective surgery you may have to wait but you are on a list. and this also if you are unable to insure yourself it is free.
How do we do it all. every wage earner has to pay a medibank levy. Not sure how much it is.
I might just add here if you were out of work, and there was none available, even with the help of our ''Centerlink social security'' ,you would have the same pension as above immediately (a lot more if you have kids) and NO limit. they would try to find jobs on their lists . but even young 16 year olds get help. they do have to wait several weeks though.
we do get a lot of American news and we see rallies for a fair go. and I have to say I am shocked at the money spent on wars and aid abroad. and people there need so much help.
I do understand it all, as my Daughter has been under the poverty line in the US for several years now. with little hope of it getting any better in the short term..
Daisy  |
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Post subject:
Posted: Jun 29, 2009 - 02:41 AM
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Member
Joined: Oct 13, 2005
Posts: 1745
Location: Lakeland Florida
Status: Offline
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| Stephanie wrote: | | SMB wrote: |
Of course, we don't have children. Our monthly expenses are around 500.00 monthly, so heck, I could squirrel away 3 weeks worth of income and save for a new car, or even a new home. |
Do you have a landline telephone?
Pay electric and/or gas bills?
Have or pay for health insurance coverage?
Have a car or cars? Pay insurance on them?
Own or rent?
Hubby is a senior, and I am handicapped with EDS: Our medical bills are significantly higher than those of healthy younger people.
I'm not attacking you. But if *I* can live on this income where YOU live - thenI'm moving there. |
Sue is sleeping right now- but when she wakes up she will break things down. |
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Post subject:
Posted: Jun 29, 2009 - 03:07 AM
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Member
Joined: Oct 13, 2005
Posts: 1745
Location: Lakeland Florida
Status: Offline
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Daisy, what you describe sounds heavenly. It's so much much nicer than anything I've experienced. Everything here is based upon your ability to pay.
One year, things were tough (recession) and I had to go to the emergency room with a bad kidney stone. After waiting over six hours for a doctor, one came into the room where I was- but he wasn't there about my kidney stone- his first question was about my insurance (none) and the second was how I was going to pay (I told him I had no income and didn't know). He got mad and PUNCHED ME IN THE AFFECTED KIDNEY. I almost fell off the table from the pain. It was his word against mine, so it went nowhere.
They sent me home and I passed it on my own a couple of days later.
As I remember, I got a SMALL prescription for Tylenol 3. It didn't do a thing for the pain and ran out before the stone passed. (I've had so many that I tend to ignore them UNLESS the pain stops me from "functioning".)
They're even worse about not listening to you if you're not rich. I won't go there now- but I will say that they didn't listen to me for over 20 years.
Last Thursday, I was asked to take part in a round table discussion about the medical care system and why it needs to be changed. The discussion was covered by a local radio station (which left a lot out). They did cover part of what I said (and every word is true!!!)
Here is a link to the news report including my part:
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/wmnfeven ... sr_252.MP3
My experiences have turned me into an activist for universal health care, or at least a system like Canada, England, or Australia have. |
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Post subject:
Posted: Jun 29, 2009 - 04:02 AM
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Member
Joined: Oct 24, 2002
Posts: 15102
Location: CA
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What the HELL-O causes all these people to be so abusive toward you, Bob?
Kidney Stone, or not ,that guys balls would have been in his throat if he hit me like that !!!!  |
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Post subject:
Posted: Jun 29, 2009 - 05:07 AM
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Joined: Oct 13, 2005
Posts: 1745
Location: Lakeland Florida
Status: Offline
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Most of my life, I was taught NOT to defend myself. In the churches I attended before I met Susan, it was SIN to not be "in submission" to authority. If I complained about bad treatment- I was punished (shamed or publicly "rebuked") or I was told "Let Go and Let God!" I even heard "It's all your fault"- even one time when an employer split my lip because I interrupted his private conversation (about angels) with a minor emergency. (In that case, the church ORDERED me not to sue and told me "Christians don't sue Christians!")
After we were married, the churches were all "Don't take the law into your own hands, respect your betters, turn the other cheek, forgive and forget, etc ..."
Plus, every time I try to defend myself, things got worse. I'm deathly afraid of the cops. I've learned that the "legal system" is untrustworthy. Based upon our experiences, there is a 50/50 chance if you're stopped, it's not because you did anything wrong- and speaking up for yourself only makes them mad.
If I tried to speak up in my defense in general, I was called a liar and rebellious and a troublemaker.
Combine that with having an income around minimum wage for most of your life, and it's a recipe for abuse- something I'm fighting against now. |
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Post subject:
Posted: Jun 29, 2009 - 05:17 AM
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Joined: Sep 18, 2004
Posts: 7329
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I'm sorry, but I've lived in Australia. I didn't hate it there, but it had it's share of problems. My mother-in-law died because of the poor health care system, and my sister-in-law had a stroke because of it. My friend almost died in childbirth, and I could go on. I saw poor people, racism, all the things I've seen everywhere else.
I read about how the US is a third world country. I don't see that having seen cities in Mexico where there is a dump in the center of town, with people living in it. No food, no water, no toilets, no meds, no nothing. And putting together old tires, bits of tin, etc., for shelter. I've never seen anything like that here, am I missing something? And we've all seen the TV images in actual third world countries where kids are picking through garbage dumps with no shoes on, desperately trying to find food, or something to sell. Or the bloated bellies of starving kids. I actually think most of us are pretty blessed in comparison.
We will at some point lose our home. Okay, so what? We'll use the income to get by, and live in an apartment, and get by somehow. That's just life, and no one ever promised me it would be easy, or that someone else owed me anything. If it is really that awful here, why stay? A lot of people immigrate to the US to have a better life, so it is certainly possible to immigrate elsewhere to find a better life. I've been an immigrant to another country, and didn't care for it, but maybe others would. |
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Post subject:
Posted: Jun 29, 2009 - 05:45 AM
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Joined: Feb 12, 2003
Posts: 7743
Location: NSW -Australia
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| Quote: | | I'm sorry, but I've lived in Australia. I didn't hate it there, but it had it's share of problems. My mother-in-law died because of the poor health care system, and my sister-in-law had a stroke because of it. My friend almost died in childbirth, and I could go on. I saw poor people, racism, all the things I've seen everywhere else. |
I didnt say it was perfect Just we have a better deal:)
some times you just stand your ground.
Daisy |
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Post subject:
Posted: Jun 29, 2009 - 06:06 AM
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Joined: Sep 18, 2004
Posts: 7329
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| daisydownunder wrote: | | Quote: | | I'm sorry, but I've lived in Australia. I didn't hate it there, but it had it's share of problems. My mother-in-law died because of the poor health care system, and my sister-in-law had a stroke because of it. My friend almost died in childbirth, and I could go on. I saw poor people, racism, all the things I've seen everywhere else. |
I didnt say it was perfect Just we have a better deal:)
somtimes you just stand your ground.
Daisy |
Not a better deal, Daisy, just a different deal. 
I had some great docs in Aus. I was absolutely floored by one doc in Queensland, who stayed after hours to talk to me. He actually gave up his free time to help me, just because he cared. You don't see that often, anywhere.
But the system there isn't better than here, again, just different. We have a lot of flaws with the health care system here, and sadly, it's getting worse. But to me, it seems more of an attitude change by a lot of the health care professionals. And I only see National Health making that worse here. I think the best answer might be a time machine......  |
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Post subject:
Posted: Jun 29, 2009 - 06:15 AM
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Member
Joined: Oct 13, 2003
Posts: 1754
Location: Country NSW
Status: Offline
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The Medicare levy is 1.2% of your wages and high income earners who choose not to have their own insurance pay an extra 1% so the most you can pay is 2.2% of your wages on medical.
This covers everything except dental and ambulance cover which costs us about $150 per year for the family, the ambulance cover includes helicopter and air transport even from the snowfields.
Cat I would love to know what area in Australia you lived, I suspect Sydney because the Hospital system there is terrible, we are very fortunate here to have a top hospital and very good acces to doctors, much better than most country towns. We have a very good standard of living here, the envy of many. No one starves. |
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E=M'Ski Squared.
Ausi Ski Bum (ASB)
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Post subject:
Posted: Jun 29, 2009 - 06:24 AM
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Joined: Sep 18, 2004
Posts: 7329
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| ASB wrote: | The Medicare levy is 1.2% of your wages and high income earners who choose not to have their own insurance pay an extra 1% so the most you can pay is 2.2% of your wages on medical.
This covers everything except dental and ambulance cover which costs us about $150 per year for the family, the ambulance cover includes helicopter and air transport even from the snowfields.
Cat I would love to know what area in Australia you lived, I suspect Sydney because the Hospital system there is terrible, we are very fortunate here to have a top hospital and very good acces to doctors, much better than most country towns. We have a very good standard of living here, the envy of many. No one starves. |
Well, if you are saying that some areas of Australia have a high standard of living, and others don't, then I agree with you, and the same goes here.
I'm not trying to put down Aus, there is good and bad as there is here. But I don't like my home being put down either. It's a two way street. I've lived in several places in both countries, and there is always good and bad.
Our home was in Berowra, but the medical experiences I mentioned happened in several different areas. |
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Post subject:
Posted: Jun 29, 2009 - 07:40 AM
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Joined: Apr 14, 2004
Posts: 11564
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| Stephanie wrote: | | rdb wrote: |
That too has been my experience. They don't care, except that you pay their bills. All driven by the profit motive.
I'm fighting to get that changed. We need a system that takes care of EVERYONE, irregardless of their financial situation. |
Yes, but I don't happen to think that fully socialized medicine is the right way.
Socalized medicine doesn't work "right" in countries where it exists now. What will make that different here in the USA? |
You do realise that Cuba has the same life expectancy as the USA and that our infant mortality rate is lower than yours, as is that of many other countries, mostly with "socialised" or "fair" as we like to call it, medicine? |
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"It's never too late to be who we might have been" George Elliot
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Post subject:
Posted: Jun 29, 2009 - 08:29 AM
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Joined: Sep 18, 2004
Posts: 7329
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| greenchick wrote: | | Stephanie wrote: | | rdb wrote: |
That too has been my experience. They don't care, except that you pay their bills. All driven by the profit motive.
I'm fighting to get that changed. We need a system that takes care of EVERYONE, irregardless of their financial situation. |
Yes, but I don't happen to think that fully socialized medicine is the right way.
Socalized medicine doesn't work "right" in countries where it exists now. What will make that different here in the USA? |
You do realise that Cuba has the same life expectancy as the USA and that our infant mortality rate is lower than yours, as is that of many other countries, mostly with "socialised" or "fair" as we like to call it, medicine? |
Sue, I've got a friend in the UK, who has both arthritis and ITP. She has been on Enbrel for the arthritis, and it helps, but it has as a side effect a worsening of the ITP. This could be fatal. She would like to use Rituxan, but the health care system won't allow it, since Enbrel is "working", and much, much cheaper. I absolutely guarantee that here, she would be receiving Rituxan, and it would be paid for. So, how is your system better? It's not fair if you can be denied the appropriate meds by the government because of cost only. |
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Post subject:
Posted: Jun 29, 2009 - 05:04 PM
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Joined: Apr 14, 2004
Posts: 11564
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I'm not saying our system is perfect and there is, unfortunately, some rationing which is deplorable when we seem to be able to find the money for military adventures overseas. I can't comment on your friend's case but I do know that bottom line, if you lose your job, you don't have to worry about getting treatment for an injury or a sickness. I know there are some aspects of US healthcare that are some of the best (I think France has the internationally recognised best overall system) but I would hate to live in a country where I knew my fellow citizens lived in fear of getting ill because they couldn't afford it which seems to be the case with some people on this board.
My father has had an aneurysm removed and a quadruple heart bypass on the NHS and he's on a pension. |
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Post subject:
Posted: Jun 29, 2009 - 05:10 PM
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Joined: Jan 14, 2003
Posts: 8322
Location: Chillville, PA
Status: Offline
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| greenchick wrote: | | my fellow citizens lived in fear |
Everybody lives in fear. An overwhelming fear that controls us to the point where we can no longer get out of bed in the morning. Such a great amount of fear that with every breath we take, we just know we've ingested a lethal germ. Our govt. needs to take care of us. I can't do it myself. There's a lot of blame to go around, so let's start finger-pointing ASAP!
Every time I don't feel safe, someone else should have to pay a price. I wish I could get to the point where I could convince people I'm afaid and not safe and they would have to pay me trillions of dollars. |
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Post subject:
Posted: Jun 29, 2009 - 05:17 PM
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Joined: Oct 13, 2005
Posts: 1745
Location: Lakeland Florida
Status: Offline
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Greenchick, you've hit the nail on the head for a great many Americans.
Their SURVIVAL depends on not getting sick. Others are reduced to poverty and even begging because they got ill, while their better-off neighbors sneer at them because they don't have insurance and can't afford it.
A good book is "Nickled and Dimed: On NOT Getting by in America"
The system here is cruel and heartless towards those who have a hard time, while supportive of those who have money.
(There is something seriously wrong with a system where most of the citizens are only two or three paychecks away from being homeless at all times.) |
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Post subject:
Posted: Jun 29, 2009 - 05:25 PM
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Joined: Jan 14, 2003
Posts: 8322
Location: Chillville, PA
Status: Offline
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| There should be some compensation to those who never use the system. There's no govt. reward for healthy living. There's no fed govt. reward for being green either. If you're gonna penalize people for being fat, or having a carbon footprint, it makes sense to reward those who follow orders, like The Third Reich. |
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Post subject:
Posted: Jun 29, 2009 - 05:39 PM
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Joined: Oct 13, 2005
Posts: 1745
Location: Lakeland Florida
Status: Offline
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JT- is obesity a SYMPTOM or a CAUSE???
If you say cause- you're blaming the victim.
If you say SYMPTOM, you've at least read some of the research.
Medically caused obesity is far more prevalent than the average citizen would think. Based upon my own observations, most morbidly obese people eat far less than skinny people- and are as active as they can stand to be. Fat is not synonymous with lazy or gluttonous. It IS synonymous with bad health- and I would argue that bad health STARTED the obesity.
Indeed, I'm starting to be of the opinion that overeating only causes one to be a little overweight- and people who are really obese have some underlying medical condition that hasn't been diagnosed, much less treated.
Let's put it this way- when I was finally diagnosed with FMS, the doctor told me that if the medicines worked, I would loose weight.
I went from a TIGHT size 56 pants to size 44, and lost over a hundred pounds. The medicines, by the way- only help a little. I'd bet if they'd come up with something that took care of 100% of the symptoms I have, and that cured the source of the problem- my weight would drop to what would be considered normal. (I'd also love to experience some pain-free days- and the idea of a *mostly* pain-free life would be like heaven to me!!!)
People sometimes still try to tell me "If you'd loose the weight, you'd feel better!" - which gets them a lecture about medically caused obesity if I'm in a good mood- and foul language and being told they are blindly prejudiced and IGNORANT if I'm not.
I will also add that poor diet (a low-cost diet) is also associated with obesity. In this case- if you jump on the person for being fat, you're also punishing them for being poor. |
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Post subject:
Posted: Jun 29, 2009 - 06:01 PM
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Member
Joined: Apr 14, 2004
Posts: 11564
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| Have to disagree with you there, Bob! I think there are definitely some conditions that cause weight gain and for some people food is an addiction like any other, but most people who are significantly overweight eat too much of the wrong things and don't do enough exercise. Some people have slower metabolisms, but if you take in less than you expend, you will lose weight... |
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"It's never too late to be who we might have been" George Elliot
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Post subject:
Posted: Jun 29, 2009 - 06:05 PM
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Member
Joined: Feb 12, 2005
Posts: 14129
Location: Your daily life is your temple and your religion. Kahil Gibran
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| greenchick wrote: | | Have to disagree with you there, Bob! I think there are definitely some conditions that cause weight gain and for some people food is an addiction like any other, but most people who are significantly overweight eat too much of the wrong things and don't do enough exercise. Some people have slower metabolisms, but if you take in less than you expend, you will lose weight... |
I only have half of a thyroid, so it is very hard for me to loose weight. I have been loosing, but very, very slowly. The kind of diet that would help me best is somewhat expensive, so I have had to compromise. Also, stress can interfere with digestion, causing the body not to absorb the nutrients properly. |
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