Disability rigged against needy

Pandemic aside, other factors can make supporting your family almost impossible.

Due to gun violence a friend lost a lung, nearly died and has sever problems breathing.

Some mornings he comes for a coffee wheezing and gasping for air. Recently his doctors informed him some shrapnel in him may be starting to damage a kidney. He has more surgery in July to remove a small remnant of damaged lung that is dying inside him. He cannot always afford medication to help his breathing.

He has a spouse and two little boys to support. No steady income. They do have SNAP which helps with some food.

He has been fighting with Social Security for disability for over a year now and even after a hearing with a judge he is being sent back to a doctor...again.

His doctors on trauma team that saved him made it clear to SSI that they DO NOT want him working.

I bought a house to sell him so he could have a mortgage but I have waived payments for a year.  I pay their electric bill. I am making a car payment. I loan cash when I can.

My only consistent income is my own social security check.

I am counting on SSI coming through to save him. I cannot do this much longer.

I’d suggest a gofundme but those are not much use except in a high profile case that makes the news.

We really need a Social Security system that works FOR Americans not against them.