THE NUMBERS GAME~~~THE DESPARITY OF THE TRUTH AND THE PRINTED GROSS INCOME ACCORDING TO “HEAP”–AND GOVERNMENTAL ASSISTANCE “GUIDELINES.”

April 26, 2008 at 4:31 pm · Filed under Black Children, Black Family, Black Male Children and Poverty, DESPARITY OF GROSS INCOME TO NET INCOME AND LACK OF ASS, Faith, GOVERNMENTAL LAWS ON FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, KEYSPAN NATIONALGRID HEAP ASSISTANCE, single parenting, Views from Within and tagged: GOVERNMENTAL LAWS ON FINANCIAL, KEYSPAN NATIONALGRID HEAP ASSISTANCE, THE DISPARITY OF GROSS INCOME TO NET INCOME AND LACK OF

As always I am having some type of economic disfunction.  I live in that.  I hate it.  But I digress. 

 Let us proceed toward this humilating desparity that needs to be  addressed by the economic organizers of  financial assistance programs in our society. 

Here we go,  follow along and analize this problem and see if you have encountered this before….I believe most of us with financial disfunciton have….let me know if you can relate. 

 I will bullet this to make it easier to follow.

• Due to financial problems as single parent last year  June 2007 my child graduating from school caused major problems for me and of course my family.
• My family =  myself, my son and my 78 year old invalid mother.
• Also in June 2007  my car had a severe oil leak that ended up costing me over $800.00 for  the repair in July.
• I renewed my car insurance in June 2007.
• My son went to his prom in June 2007.
• I also had my car finally inspected after the repair.
• My mother who lives with me gets a social security check, and a small penison check.
• My monthly rent i $1600.00.
• I pay the heating and hot water, and electricity on my rental….It is a duplex.
• I have a monthly car insurance…($230.00) —but no car note( thank the good L-rd)
• My son needed school supplies,  and school uniform in September of 2007.
• My son attends a College Board Highschool that required uniforms.=$$$$
• All of these  expenitures caused severe financial crush.
• The gas bill, and the electric bill fell severly behind. 
• Year 2008 what is the problem to date?   The gas has been cut off–for nonpayment.
• Keep in mind the amount of debt I had since the summer and fall of 2007. 
• My son has a medical condition that is irritated by his teenage hunger patterns.
• I spend most of my money when I get paid on FOOD first.
• My son was recently hospitalized and confirmed with seziures.
• If  my  food is low in the house then that irritates his condition.
• 15 yearolds are constantly hungry…especially 150lb. 6 foot tall teenagers who play advanced beginner tennis!
• Bottom line….today I sit in this rather COOL house,  without hot water! 
• Oh, I am using my electric tea pot to make our washing water hot/warm.  (it takes a long time though)—we are troopers…we have suffered like this before… unfortuneately!
• I am cooking with my rice cooker…It steams my chicken, and vegetables, and then cooks my rice.
• I went to the KeySpan National Grid (New Name)–which used to be called Brooklyn Union Gas Company yesterday.
• I was told that my gas bill was shut off for non-payment. 
• I had paid back in November and then did not send anymore payments. 
• I admit that it may appear strange…but it is based on the food struggle I have to feed this child of mine who has a medical condition. 
• Why do I not get FOOD STAMPS YOU ASK?

Now let us walk into my world for a moment….more the world of  NUMBERS, NUMBERS, NUMBERS!!!!!!!

The Pay period between August  2007 and September 2007 bi-weekly check was a gross of $1241.28 however the deductions were as follows…..

• Federal tax:   $103.20
• Social Security  $76.96
• Medicare  $18.00
• City Tax   $30.50
• Pension   $36.74
• Life Insurance   $ 16.96
• Insurance   Additional $12.05
• Pension Loan repayment   $91.22
• Additional Insurance coverages for Disabitility and Castrosphic illness  adding up to $216.14
• Savings Bonds for my son’s future,  mandated donations to the poor total, and another insurance   $116.19

The total amount deducted from my paycheck with all insurances and pensions, and other donations is $767.20!!!!!

My net take home was   $474.08!!!!

You may ask….why all of the insurance?

Well you may not have read my other blogs…so here is a quick up date….My husband whom I am STILL legally married to…..is missing!  

 He was Corrections Officer who suffered from Paranoid Skizophrenia after reaching his eigth year in the Corrections Department.  He became removed from reality and has been missing for 10 years to date. 

 Thus I do not get child support of any type.  You cannot access the social security money of a sick person.  

The sick person who is completely disabled must report directly to Social Security his or herself to collect that money and apply and follow the guidelines to confirm whatever the illness is.

So my husband being very, very, very severely ill did not apply…or actually he did…but never followed through because of his mental illness. 

He thought everybody in the world was part of some type of plot to kill him etc.  

 Let us continue in this “numbers” game shall we?

So back to this excessive  insurance policy hang up I have.  I am black,  obese and have high blood pressure etc., etc.,—thus I am a high risk and need as much insurance coverage as possible. 

 I am trying to loose weight…but in the mean time my son needs protection in case I get sick,  or die…..I have to keep it real…or my child will suffer more from the loss of not just one parent but two.

Recently I did alot of over time on my job….not enough to make it rich…but just enough to lose at the numbers game according to the Keyspan National Grid…Governmental HEAP HELP AND ASSISTANCE representative who told me that my gross was too high. 

According to her my gross and my mothers social security are over the allowed amount….so we cannot get any help to cover the gas bill. 

 That is why the bill was cut off.  Back in November when I did make a payment….I knew that same numbers game was there.  The representative that had gone over my account had told me to apply to HEAP…

I told him that it would not work.   He said try it anyway…that will keep them from cutting off the gas while they check into assisting you.  I did  not waste  the time to approach  the HEAP—BECAUSE OF THE NUMBERS  GAME!

So yesterday the HEAP REPRESENTATIVE  stated  that my gross combined with my mother was over $3000.00.  

 Cut the $3000.00 in half and what is left?  How much can I  spend on food;    how much to spend on car insurance;     how much to spend on the telephone bill;      how much to spend on electric bill;    how much to spend on the gas bill;      and gas for my car to get to work; how   much  to spend  on the    $4.00 parking lot….that I have to swipe daily. 

 So basically I spend $80.00 per month on parking. 

Why do I drive you ask?  Right now my son and my mother are medically fragile people. 

 They may need to get to  doctor or hospital at a moments notice.  How much would it be for an ambulette service?  $100.00.   My mothers medicare/GHI does not cover transportation.—-She is also not covered for 4 hours of home attendant.  Go figure…she is 78 years old…cannot walk, and she is not allowed a home attendant.  I have attempted 3 to 4 times.  Only when you are ready to got to HOSPICE..are you allowed a home attendant…before you die!

So instead of wasting my time and hers the nice lady at the HEAP OFFICE IN THE KEYSPAN NATIONAL GRID governmental financial assistance program told me, (after looking over my paystubs that had a gross amount  of  $1616.00  on the 1st week of April and  $1511.00 the second  pay week of April told me…..”YOU ARE OVER THE LIMIT OF THE $3000.00 LIMIT. 

 You only have 1 child in the house and your mother’s income. 

 I explained that my income is limited to my NET…..MY NET IS WHAT I LIVE OFF!

SHE KEPT SHAKING HER  HEAD AND TELLING ME THAT THE GOVERNMENT ONLY GOES BY THE  GROSS….THE  GROSSS,   THE  GROSSSSS,   THE   GROSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!! 

So what if  I only brought home $683.oo and the rent for that week was  $1600.00.  So my mother and I share the rent.

  So After I add my $683.00 there is nothing left to buy food, gasoline,  or anything else….. So that is why I have to”ROB PETER TO PAY PAUL”..PAY CHECK TO PAY CHECK.   I have to hold back some money toward food,  some money toward gasoline. 

Oh….and I have a  another numbers game….my son’s  school just sent me a BILL!!! 

  FOR $120.OO!   FOR  HIS LUNCH MONEY!!! 

 They stated back in September that I was over the financial limit….so my son has to pay for his lunch.  Look….again,  I am a SINGLE PARENT…BUT OVER THE GROSS AMOUNT OF MONEY. 

 THE GROSS IS PAYING MY TAXES, AND MY HEALTH INSURANCE AND MY SOCIAL SECURITY AND ETC., ETC., ETC.,…..YET I AM MADE TO FEEL ASHAMED THAT I AM ASKING FOR HELP!!!!  

 They do not care that I am trying to be a good provider….I should not have a decent job….and try to get a little assistance.   I make a general $38, 000.00 per year.

  Last time I checked that was not the rate that they would use if I was buying a house by myself to get me a mortgage….but it is the amount that they would  use to keep from giving me any type of assistance. 

WHAT????!!!!! 

 FOOD STAMPS YOU SAY?!!!!! 

 AGAIN….I AM MAKING $38,000.00 AND  I AM OVER THE LIMIT FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE WITH BUYING FOOD…SO AGAIN,  I ROB PETER TO PAY PAUL

I   was    AM/  A LEGALLY MARRIED WOMAN WHO HAS A CASTROPHICALLY MISSING SICK HUSBAND…I DO NOT GET CHILD SUPPORT AND  I PAY MY TAXES…AND SUBMIT MY TAX RETURNS EVER YEAR…..BUT NOT….I AM NOT ALLOWED TO RECEIVE FOOD STAMPS!   WHAT ELSE IS NEW?

IF I MADE ATLEAST  $50, 000.00  I would not be so quick to complain. 

Oh, really you say….that is what you think…but the MORE MONEY YOU MAKE THE MORE MONEY YOU SPEND.  

 ~~~~~~ Hello,  let me re-explain….I was married to a Corrections Officer for New York City…..

  When   purchased our home in Queens Village he made $80,000.00  and I had my paycheck of less than $30, 000.00 at that time. 

 Since he became sick,  I made $8000.00 more…that is all.  I cannot switch jobs…

because I now have 19 years on my current job and I do not know what the future will bring for my son’s health….so I have to keep the regular paycheck…however tight my budget…or lack of a budget!  

FOOD IS HIGH,  RENT IS HIGH,  GASOLINE IS HIGH AND THE  UNITED STATES IS IN A RECESSION!!!!  But guess what…..according to the HEAP GOVERNMENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS  I MAKE OVER THE $3000.OO  LIMIT PER MONTH!

So I would like to ask…are the people who are able to meet the limit and have a house, with a mortgage or a rental fee????? 

 How could you afford the rental fee and still pay the heating costs too?  Does that make any sense?

Please tell me I am wrong…and that there is hope!   I would like to know.

Thank you for your time…..

riveroflifelisajoy

Oh….and by the way….Monday  I will write back and tell you the next part of my saga and tale.  The Keyspan National Grid Representative told me to get DOCTOR’S NOTES THAT EXPLAIN THAT MY MOTHER AND MY SON WILL HAVE MEDICAL ISSUES WITHOUT THE HEAT/ AND HOT WATER. 

So Monday I have my work cut out for me.  I have to run to doctors for notes for the above listed folks.

But guess what…..I must end on a up note….Things could always be worse,  and I have job….and public school is still free

….America is still greatest  place on  earth  and that  I am happy to live here! Hallelujah!!!!!  EVERY CLOUD HAS A SILVER LINING…AND DON’T YOU FOR GET IT!

…..BLOG AGAIN SOON….riveroflifelisajoy

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