Re: CFS more common in lower classes of people'?

[Guest guest]

Thats exaactly right .

I'm on disability myself, and I happen have more than $698 only because I

worked for 20 yrs so I have SSD.

Unfortunately, it is not more than $1000 a month, and winds up to be several

dollars less, after they take out for Medicare, and yet is too high an amount

for me to receive Food Stamps or Medicaid.

If a person hasn't been able to work enough time and/or or has been

hospitalized for their condtion they can qualify for SSI and that includes

Medicaid too.

The sad truth is, neither is easy to obtain. I was fortunate that at one point I

had 2 doctors willing to support my claim. With my back injury and fibromyalgia,

I was only considered disabled because of the back injury. I was out of work for

several months before I was hit by a car and in more pain with more injuries.

But am only considered disabled since that particular accident-the fibromyalgia

was not considered. My being on several medications that also make me sleepy and

dizzy at times *was* thankfully taken into consideration.

Your main point,that whatever socioeconomic level we were included in *before*

we were disabled, we often wind up being on an almost poverty level as it

continues. :-/

thanks for bringing that up.

A.

Re: CFS more common in " lower classes " of people'?

To be fair, many people with life-long debilitating illnesses end up

" lower class " . [There really isn't much of a safety net (in the US or

UK)]. So, it would not be very surprising to find a significant number

of people with CFS financially struggling. Treatments are expensive,

insurance doesn't cover everything, and when you can't work, long-term

disability is hard to get and very limited (SSI pays a maximum of $698

for an individual and $1024 for a couple).

Steve M in PA