dianamanwaring
05-07-2003, 08:09 PM
I used to be employed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, in Syracuse, New York. I've had many health problems over the past couple of years & after numerous hassles, was approved for disability through the Office of Personnel Management. My last day on the job was April 18th.
Even though I was officially approved for disability as a Federal worker (this is separate from Social Security disability), the government has been giving me a hard time about when my benefits will start.
Getting information from OPM as to when my disability check would be sent was hard - they kept telling me they haven't received necessary paperwork from my agency, and my agency told me they already sent it. In other words, they gave me the runaround. This past Monday OPM finally gave in and told me my first check would be sent within 5 business days.
Today I received paperwork that made it look as though my health benefits were going to be cancelled, so I called OPM yet again. During this conversation I was told how much my first disability check will be. My check will come to a whopping (hold onto your seats!) $347!!!!!!!
I asked how could OPM possibly expect me to live on such a small amount. I reminded them of my bills, including rent, car payment (because I am disabled I cannot use public transportation), utilities, etc. She claimed this was some sort of interim check, and that disability checks aren't paid in "advance". She said my May check will be paid me in June. And, at first, my checks will only total 75% of what I am supposed to get. She claimed this is because they want to be sure that I am not overpaid, and that my insurance premium is paid for, etc.
With all my bills, including rent, car payment, food, utilities, etc, there's no way I can possibly get by on what they propose to give me - especially the $347 I will be given this month. When I was approved for disability, no one told me my disability check would be held back for a month. No one told me I would be getting what is called an "interim" check for much less than what I was told would be given. In fact, the original amount I was told would be over $1100 monthly!
So, it looks like my utilities will be shut off for non-payment. I will lose my car. I won't be able to afford to eat. I won't be able to afford medications or visits to the doctor because all those copays add up! And, to make matters worse, I will be evicted because I won't be able to pay my rent.
I have other miscellaneous bills, including taxes, that I will be unable to take care of.
I can't believe the Federal government would do this to one of its workers! How could they possibly do this to me, knowing darn well I would be unable to survive w/o an income!!! I don't know what to do. This is a slap in the face after all the work I put in for the government.
How is it that our politicians get so many perks & benefits, but us low-life workers get treated like dirt? I don't understand how the powers that be can sleep at night!
I would appreciate any advice anyone could have. I am in a real bind & there's a very real possibility that I will be on the streets within a few weeks. If I could work, I would do so in a heartbeat. But I can't!!!!
Even though I was officially approved for disability as a Federal worker (this is separate from Social Security disability), the government has been giving me a hard time about when my benefits will start.
Getting information from OPM as to when my disability check would be sent was hard - they kept telling me they haven't received necessary paperwork from my agency, and my agency told me they already sent it. In other words, they gave me the runaround. This past Monday OPM finally gave in and told me my first check would be sent within 5 business days.
Today I received paperwork that made it look as though my health benefits were going to be cancelled, so I called OPM yet again. During this conversation I was told how much my first disability check will be. My check will come to a whopping (hold onto your seats!) $347!!!!!!!
I asked how could OPM possibly expect me to live on such a small amount. I reminded them of my bills, including rent, car payment (because I am disabled I cannot use public transportation), utilities, etc. She claimed this was some sort of interim check, and that disability checks aren't paid in "advance". She said my May check will be paid me in June. And, at first, my checks will only total 75% of what I am supposed to get. She claimed this is because they want to be sure that I am not overpaid, and that my insurance premium is paid for, etc.
With all my bills, including rent, car payment, food, utilities, etc, there's no way I can possibly get by on what they propose to give me - especially the $347 I will be given this month. When I was approved for disability, no one told me my disability check would be held back for a month. No one told me I would be getting what is called an "interim" check for much less than what I was told would be given. In fact, the original amount I was told would be over $1100 monthly!
So, it looks like my utilities will be shut off for non-payment. I will lose my car. I won't be able to afford to eat. I won't be able to afford medications or visits to the doctor because all those copays add up! And, to make matters worse, I will be evicted because I won't be able to pay my rent.
I have other miscellaneous bills, including taxes, that I will be unable to take care of.
I can't believe the Federal government would do this to one of its workers! How could they possibly do this to me, knowing darn well I would be unable to survive w/o an income!!! I don't know what to do. This is a slap in the face after all the work I put in for the government.
How is it that our politicians get so many perks & benefits, but us low-life workers get treated like dirt? I don't understand how the powers that be can sleep at night!
I would appreciate any advice anyone could have. I am in a real bind & there's a very real possibility that I will be on the streets within a few weeks. If I could work, I would do so in a heartbeat. But I can't!!!!