Supplimental security income SSI fiasco
by Dakota
(Oregon, USA)
Supplemental security income is probably one of the most frustrating parts of my life. It's easy to think ssi recipients are just mooching off the system, but let me tell you I'd rather be anywhere else, except homeless.
I've been filtering through the puzzle of receiving ssi while being a full-timer for almost two years now and I'm not sure where I stand. Every time I go to the social security office to ask questions it seems they have a different reply to the same question. Often they appear almost hostile that I might be trying to cheat the system.
I've tried researching online. all the articles I've found regarding social security and fulltime rving is either geared toward the retiree with a savings or those with ssd. Both lifestyles hold an entirely different set of rules and problems then being on ssi.
Not only that being a single mother, the few articles i could find didn't apply to me. they were discussing those who were married or both had ssi. that also changes the rules quite a bit.
The first problem I noticed is that ss was entirely convinced I needed to have a permanent address in order to continue receiving ssi. and that along with that I would need to report a rental/payment amount. but if I fulltime rv and boondocked I would lose ssi due to not having a permanent address or a rental amount to claim. after explaining I would be in a rv spot a few times a month along with camping here or there where I am permitted (blm) I would not rally have rent to report. which would in turn help me pay for proper food for me and my son. 300 fs + 100 out of my pocket is not quite enough to eat healthy. though we still eat. the lady I talk to became quite hostile and said "well, someone has to pay your rent!" (who then? state of oregon? blm? who do I send my payment to? lol!)
She then handed me (aggressively) a stack of change of address forms and envelopes saying every time I parked my rv I had to send in a change of address notice.
That I don't understand. I was homeless for two and half years. not once did social security b**ch about me having no permenant address then and they knew very well I was homeless. so they had every chance to move against me.
This along with various other small things, such as the pressure of not owning possessions or cash of more then ~$2000, has kept me from setting up proper fulltime rving lifestyle. if I lose my ssi I will suffer massively. I would likely be forced to give up my son.
Does anyone full time on supplemental security income? quite frankly ss has done nothing to assist me in this matter except make me feel inferior and scared. and keep me paying rv park rent.
The second thing I noticed is that a lot of articles that address the cost of fulltime rving seem to think that 1500 a month is about average for "cheap" rv living. hold-the-phone! I get 730 a month! where do all those expenses come from! anybody out there rving for near that amount or less?
So far it seems I'm park bound in the matter of money. but I can't give up hope. all through high school it was made clear I wouldn't go very far or have a happy life unless I went to college and made a six digit income.
Well let me tell you I'm living like a queen on 8,000 a year. sure I take the bus, instead of owning a car. I live in a tiny 17' 1981 brougham, instead of a two story house. but I got air-conditioning, $20 internet, and a bit of spare change for a babysitter once in a while. I really am doing ok.
I don't plan on traveling for 100's of miles a month. my general plan is to blm hop. park on blm for a week or two. going into town for shopping and tanking, maybe stay the night in a park. go back to a new blm spot. and generally creep my way around Oregon. anywhere between 100-150 miles a month is an upper estimate. I'm the park and play sort of rver at heart. don't like a whole lot of driving.
I just wish it didn't feel like such a punishment to be on ssi. there seem a greater punishment for daring to help yourself. because it really does fell like I'm being expected to sit and wait to die. instead of traveling to see the beauty of the world.
No wonder so many of us (not all of us, to be sure) end up drinking, smoking, and being porn hounds. what else is there to do!
Well... I could marry rich! ROTFLMAO!!!!