EDU: USA Safety Nets - FMLA, STD / LTD, COBRA, SSDI, resource ideas.

[Guest guest]

Okay one and all, this is one of those weeks when I need a research assistant

for Canada and the UK or any of the other countries. If you can help, please

post information on the Health Safety Agencies available to those in your

country. Marilyn will do Canada if she is up to it. If you don't see anything

from her by Wednesday, feel free to post information and or all of you

Canadians. All help is appreciated. It's a bit hard for me to know what to post

since I live in the USA. Smiles, Caroline

http://www.dol.gov/esa/whd/fmla/ Department of Labor (DOL) - Compliance

Assistance, Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) Rules and regulations.

info.insure.com/disability/shorttermdisability.html The basics on short term

disability (STD)

http://www.iii.org/media/facts/statsbyissue/disability/Interesting charts on

disabilities, frequencies and such. Also lists top companies to be insured with.

http://www.abeendowment.org/Insurance/dislt.html Long Term Disability

(LTD)information.

http://www.dol.gov/dol/topic/health-plans/cobra.htm Continuation of Health

Care through COBRA benefits. Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act

www.socialsecurityanddisability.com Social security disability, find out what

the eligibility requirements are and how to apply if you qualify. SSDI

http://www.ncsl.org/programs/health/uninsweb.htm Health Insurance coverage and

the uninsured.

Other resources to check out fo help if you are suffering from an illness and

need financial or medical assistance. are:

Unemployment office (diabled persons are allowed to collect IF they are

looking for work they CAN do. Each state has it's own regulations so check them

out.)

Welfare Office: You may qualify for resources depending on your income. Food

Stamps, Medical card, help with work search, and many other resources. Ask your

intake worker for ideas.

WIC for women, infants and children below certain income levels. Milk, cheese,

eggs, cereal, peanut butter or beans, formula, etc offered to at risk pregnant

or nursing moms and kids up to age 5 I think.

Senior Serivices: A lot of these places know of resources that help the

disabled.

Disability Services for people who need all sorts of help, including paying an

employer 50 % of your wages to hire you to see if you can perform a job. Less

risk for the employer. Special training if you need to be retrained. Money for

schooling if you need new skills.

Job Counsels : Help people get certified or trained to do a job.

ACCESS food and heat shares provide discounts for those in need.

Salvation Army will help pay utility or heat bills depending on circumstances.

Gleaners Organizations - share foods from gleaning crops and other

institutions.

www.lowermybills.com offers ways to reduce monthly expenses.

Buy quality items inexpensively at garage sales and second hand stores and

then consign them or sell them to upper line second hand stores. I once paid a

dollar for all I could stuff in a bag to get a consignment item I wanted for

$50.00!

Check local churches and charities for money available to people in your

circumstances.

Ebay items for cash. www.ebay.com

Call utilities and medical establishments. What plans do they offer for folks

in your situation. If you provide a Year to Date list of your medical expenses,

a lot of medical places will offer you a discount on your bill if they don't

write off the balance entirely. I've had both happen just by asking.

Car Pool

Ask for free or reduced lunches for your students. You may not initially

qualify but if you provide details of the medical you face, you may find

positive results. I did.

Check your cell phone carrier or plan. Can they reduce your bill? I saved

$25.00 a month by going over my charges with a plan advisor.

No Insurance? Many doctors and hospitals will reduce the cost of your bill by

25% if you pay cash up front.

Need medications: Ask the doctor for samples. If you don't have insurance,

most manufacturers have a PIN program. (Patient in Need) and will send you

medications free of charge or provide you with a discount card so you only pay a

small amount like $5.00 per script at the pharmacy. Ask your doctor for help or

ask me. www.blacklionent@...

I'm sure I have more ideas but I don't remember any more of them currently. If

you need something, just ask. Best if you put ATTN Caroline in the subject line

so I am sure to see it.

Hope this information offers mental anguish relief to some and ideas for

others. You got a lot to digest this week. Sorry, but this is clean up week on

left over topics I scheduled for this month. LOL

Smiles, Caroline the First

Empress of CUS

(Beautiful Southern Oregon, USA)

We may not be able to change the direction of the wind, but we can adjust our

sails.

May you have enough happiness to make you kind, enough trials to make you

strong, enough sorrow to keep you human, enough hope to make you happy.

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