WYFP is our community's Saturday evening gathering to talk about our problems, empathize with one another, and share advice, pootie pictures, favorite adult beverages, and anything else that we think might help. Everyone and all sorts of troubles are welcome. May we find peace and healing here. Won't you please share the joy of WYFP by recommending?
I've several FP's--so I'll start with my Catch-22.
Early in January 2008 I lost the job I'd had for approximately 20 years. The official story was that I'd been laid off. So at first I lived on severance pay--but after that had run out, I applied for unemployment--which I'm still getting today but will be running out later this year.
But my FP is more complicated than that. I suffer from bipolar disorder with mainly severe depression, social anxiety, ADHD, arthritis in both knees, and fibromyalgia. So I'm currently in the process of appeals for SSI and SSDI. I'm unable to work because of pain, fatigue, and being unable to keep my emotions under control--when I'm sad, angry, stressed, etc. I show it.
So here's my Catch-22: In order to continue receiving unemployment, I have to fax into their office a list of the places I've applied for work or contacted to see if there are openings. I have to apply at a minimum of three companies on three different days per week, and contact two more for a total of five. While most job applications can be done online, I'm running out of possible places to do so.
However, being in the appeals process for SSI and SSDI, I'm not supposed to be on unemployment and actively looking for work. Never mind the fact that I haven't gotten so far as an interview yet, which is just as well because being disabled I can't work. I'm merely going through the motions, carrying out this job search in order to collect unemployment because without it I'd have no source of income.
(I do receive food stamps, and rent is on a sliding scale which means if I lose my income I can stay in my apartment, but I still need money for electricity and other necessities.)
The true FP here is that I shouldn't need to go through this Catch-22--the state should provide a real safety net--something more than food stamps for people waiting on SSI and SSDI so they wouldn't have to resort to collecting unemployment with its requirements for an active work search.
And here's my second FP--besides everything listed above I have severe sleep apnea which means I periodically stop breathing in my sleep and consequently don't get the rest I should be getting. So I'm now trying to get accustomed to using a CPAP (special mask connected to equipment that blows air into your nose to keep your airways open and ensure that you don't stop breathing.) So far it's been uncomfortable--so wish me luck getting used to it.
The third FP is because I'm uninsured I've been getting charity care at the hospital I go to. Which I'm grateful for--but the problem is, it has to be renewed every year and I'm still waiting on the renewal. I've heard it takes 6-8 weeks to be renewed, and it's been at least 6 weeks now. I'm just hoping my application didn't get lost in the shuffle somewhere. And that they didn't look at my records and decide that I'd made too much use of the charity care. Anyway, wish me luck on that one, too.
My last FP is that lately I've been down about all of the above--especially the Catch-22 and the slowness getting SSI and SSDI in general. I do have a lawyer who's helping with the appeal but he can only do so much--and I just hope my case isn't held up on someone's desk somewhere.
That's it for my FP's--now WYFP?