Living back at home is such a living hell, every day is nothing but panic attacks and tears...
I am going to apply for Disability since I have been diagnosed with a crippling disease, and I have mental instabilities which should warrant me disability anyway.
But since I don't know what I'd get monthly, I can't say what I can afford for rent or not. I have my Rats, and Birds, and my cat, and I want to move in with someone I know and am comfortable around. I can't move in with strangers or people I barely know, I've gone through that and never will again.
And getting on welfare/disability is not only difficult, it can take a few months just to get my first cheque. And I'm not sure if they'd do direct deposit or not.
I wouldn't mind moving in with Giz and the new fur house but again, I wouldn't know when I could move or how much I could pay as of yet.
I will be looking for a place, and try and keep people updated.
(I'm also looking for a new home for Haku, my cockatiel. I can't handle him anymore. His own disability conflicts with mine and I need to get him a new home that can withstand him and understand him.)
Income assistance does use direct deposit, after they have mailed your first cheque. They do it this way to confirm that you are actually able to receive mail at the address you have provided to them.
They also have a system where your rent goes to your landlord instead of you, but I'm not sure if that is just a disability thing, or if it works on other income assistance systems as well.
Disability, at least for me, is suppose to be for life so I would think they would do that maybe. Lol I will find out.
: Felix McKline June 21, 2011, 11:23:23 -06:00
Income assistance does use direct deposit, after they have mailed your first cheque. They do it this way to confirm that you are actually able to receive mail at the address you have provided to them.
They also have a system where your rent goes to your landlord instead of you, but I'm not sure if that is just a disability thing, or if it works on other income assistance systems as well.
I live in a building that has several persons with disabilities so I know a bit about the rates etc. that they receive.
1.) The disability benefits for a single person ( from a couple of my neighbors ) is $906.00 per month. ( BC Govt. website confirms, shelter portion is $375.00, support portion is $531.00.)
2.) Disability recipients have a direct deposit option available, (once they confirm your address.) As well as a direct payment to landlords option (which is preferred) wherever you are renting.
3.) Disability recipients are also eligible, (in most cases) for a year long bus pass that only costs 45 dollars.
4.) Some recipients are, (from what the manager has told me) eligible for an extra BC housing subsidy on top of their benefits. While many places offer subsidies for low income persons, those subsides disappear once the person moves out of that residence. The BC housing subsidy follows the recipient wherever they move and from what I understand the BC housing grant is for life if the person is on disability. I have also heard its not easy to get but of course each case is different.
Hopefully you will be able to find a way out of your current situation.
I am on Disability. It took me two years of fighting to get approved. I had to use a advocacy group to finally get the paper work done so the government couldn't turn me away again. I highly recommend going to a advocacy group like Newton Advocacy. But they are in newton. I don't know where you live currently so i don't know if there is a group closer to you.
You have to have no more then two doctors to fill out the long application forms. But like I said go to a advocacy group before putting any pen to the forms.
Newton Advocacy # is 604-596-2311. They might be able to figure out if there is a group like them closer to you. You have to make a appointment to see some one as well.
The bus pass is awesome. 45 bucks a year but you have to apply for it through the ministry which means you will have to go to one of their offices AFTER you are approved for disability. You can claim the 45 bucks on your taxes as well to get it back. You can also get year passes to your area's rec centers so you can get in the pools, exersize rooms and get 75 % off programs through those centers as well. But you will have to pay for the id card (about 13 bucks a year)
Trust me when I say this. DO NOT ATTEMPT to fill in the applications alone. you WILL be denied. They will also demand for you to apply for CPP through the EI services as well. It is mandatory.
This whole process can be HELL. so always make sure you have emotional support when doing all this. If you get on disability they will do a finical check every two years so make sure you keep all your bank statements and all rent, hydro and phone records.
If you get on disability you will also have the right to earn up to 500 bucks a month that you will HAVE TO report and they wont touch it but I warn you, if you do earn money they will question your claim on being disabled.
you can earn an extra 100 bucks a month if you volunteer for a certain amount of hours at your local food bank.
if your disability requires a can or a mobile device like a scooter you can get them to pay for it but once again you will have to fight. They really don't like giving money away.
If you have a disability that requires a food supplemental you can get an extra 40 bucks a month as well.
if you have any questions feel free to ask me ANYTHING. It is such a crap system to get into.
oh and another important note: if you are living with anyone else who is on welfare, that house hold will not be able to have anyone else on welfare. there is a law were only two people on welfare can reside in the same home. So if you move into a place where there is already two ppl in the system you will get in serious shit.
They make it extreamly hard for people on welfare to live. Its like they just want to give us enough to "survive".
that's the point velvet, they can't afford to give you enough to own a car and do fine dining and all that stuff, they give you enough to survive.
: velvetkytten June 23, 2011, 03:33:08 -06:00
I am on Disability. It took me two years of fighting to get approved. I had to use a advocacy group to finally get the paper work done so the government couldn't turn me away again. I highly recommend going to a advocacy group like Newton Advocacy. But they are in newton. I don't know where you live currently so i don't know if there is a group closer to you.
You have to have no more then two doctors to fill out the long application forms. But like I said go to a advocacy group before putting any pen to the forms.
Newton Advocacy # is 604-596-2311. They might be able to figure out if there is a group like them closer to you. You have to make a appointment to see some one as well.
The bus pass is awesome. 45 bucks a year but you have to apply for it through the ministry which means you will have to go to one of their offices AFTER you are approved for disability. You can claim the 45 bucks on your taxes as well to get it back. You can also get year passes to your area's rec centers so you can get in the pools, exersize rooms and get 75 % off programs through those centers as well. But you will have to pay for the id card (about 13 bucks a year)
Trust me when I say this. DO NOT ATTEMPT to fill in the applications alone. you WILL be denied. They will also demand for you to apply for CPP through the EI services as well. It is mandatory.
This whole process can be HELL. so always make sure you have emotional support when doing all this. If you get on disability they will do a finical check every two years so make sure you keep all your bank statements and all rent, hydro and phone records.
If you get on disability you will also have the right to earn up to 500 bucks a month that you will HAVE TO report and they wont touch it but I warn you, if you do earn money they will question your claim on being disabled.
you can earn an extra 100 bucks a month if you volunteer for a certain amount of hours at your local food bank.
if your disability requires a can or a mobile device like a scooter you can get them to pay for it but once again you will have to fight. They really don't like giving money away.
If you have a disability that requires a food supplemental you can get an extra 40 bucks a month as well.
if you have any questions feel free to ask me ANYTHING. It is such a crap system to get into.
There is no one living in this house on any sort of welfare. And I am getting Abbotsford Advocacy to fill it out for me. The lady on the phone said I only need one doctor, she asked if I had a doctor and if he approved my appliance. That was about all she asked about docs.
And the only money I earn is from drawing. Commissions. And from making t-shirts (hand painted) and tails and stuff like that. That stuff I usually keep in my pay pal, not in my bank, but sometimes when I transfer it over, it goes right to my credit card, or to pay off my motorbike payments.
I got my tax returns so I'm living off that for now.
all I have to say to you now is Good Luck. You will still need it.
: Sevrin June 23, 2011, 04:26:59 -06:00
that's the point velvet, they can't afford to give you enough to own a car and do fine dining and all that stuff, they give you enough to survive.
It is barely enough to survive. if it wasn't for my dad I would be starving since I cant eat 90 % of what the food bank has since I have crohn's disease. It is NOT easy at ALL.
: velvetkytten June 23, 2011, 03:33:08 -06:00
I am on Disability. It took me two years of fighting to get approved. I had to use a advocacy group to finally get the paper work done so the government couldn't turn me away again. I highly recommend going to a advocacy group like Newton Advocacy. But they are in newton. ...
Is that the Newton area in Surrey, BC?
Star's bcfurries page says "Location: Surrey BC Canada", so Newton Advocacy should be close enough
and if not nearby (since Surrey is so large) maybe they can recommend an advocate that is even closer.
IF Star is no longer in Surrey, but is in (or near) Vancouver: MPA in Kitsilano had an advocate (or advocates) for helping people get on disability http://www.mpa-society.org/ (http://www.mpa-society.org/) . I assume they still offer that service since their website says they offer "Advocacy and social justice" service.
: gruntmaster700 July 10, 2011, 04:19:06 -06:00
Is that the Newton area in Surrey, BC?
Star's bcfurries page says "Location: Surrey BC Canada", so Newton Advocacy should be close enough
and if not nearby (since Surrey is so large) maybe they can recommend an advocate that is even closer.
IF Star is no longer in Surrey, but is in (or near) Vancouver: MPA in Kitsilano had an advocate (or advocates) for helping people get on disability http://www.mpa-society.org/ (http://www.mpa-society.org/) . I assume they still offer that service since their website says they offer "Advocacy and social justice" service.
I'm in ABBOTSFORD... Hence why it says I'm trying to move back to surrey.
Being on a Disability pension myself, it takes approximately three months before you start getting the full benefits; until then you start with smaller portions of the cheques on a monthly basis. That's what I can recall correctly, anyway.
Having a PWD benefit cheque monthly is a good way to stay financially stable (mostly, anyway), and it at least helps out until one has a job. But it's really tough to find one in BC these days, so there isn't much of an option, other than to buckle down and keep trying to find one. It's why I've been unemployed for over a year. x.x When (or rather, if) you get a job, you're entitled to make an additional $500 monthly for Employee Income; beyond that, they will cut portions of your cheque, cent by cent. Pretty much what I know so far.
Hope your return will be safe!
: Mikau Seafox July 20, 2011, 02:53:16 -06:00
Being on a Disability pension myself, it takes approximately three months before you start getting the full benefits; until then you start with smaller portions of the cheques on a monthly basis. That's what I can recall correctly, anyway.
Having a PWD benefit cheque monthly is a good way to stay financially stable (mostly, anyway), and it at least helps out until one has a job. But it's really tough to find one in BC these days, so there isn't much of an option, other than to buckle down and keep trying to find one. It's why I've been unemployed for over a year. x.x When (or rather, if) you get a job, you're entitled to make an additional $500 monthly for Employee Income; beyond that, they will cut portions of your cheque, cent by cent. Pretty much what I know so far.
Hope your return will be safe!
I can't get a job Mikau, that's the problem.
it is VERY important you find people who know the system. I am fucking assed lucky i got myself into a semi-independant living program. they take my $375 rent portion and cover the rest for suites up to 650-700, as well as being in the system so i can acess a shrink and social workers and the like. Catches are i get visits from workers 2-3 times a week making sure i keep my house clean ( very hard to do with all my art and craft supplies...i kinda frustrate them. i can only do so much in a 1br basement) and i cannot have roomates as its to teach me to live independantly.
some other things i had no idea i was elligable for:
it's under rehab for drugs, but i can get it too, leisure funds. They give you up to 200-250 a year to fund leisure activities, there are strict guidelines, and you are expected to pay a portion of the activity, but i get art supplies. yah art supplies. i'd assume craft supplies like fur counts too.
food banks aren't so bad. cobs gives all thier day old breads to there and yeah good stuff.
Theres a store by gateway station that im elligable for, but haven't looked into yet, that sells real cheap food. like close to expiry, dinged cans, ect.
: Mayhem July 20, 2011, 08:52:44 -06:00
it is VERY important you find people who know the system. I am fucking assed lucky i got myself into a semi-independant living program. they take my $375 rent portion and cover the rest for suites up to 650-700, as well as being in the system so i can acess a shrink and social workers and the like. Catches are i get visits from workers 2-3 times a week making sure i keep my house clean ( very hard to do with all my art and craft supplies...i kinda frustrate them. i can only do so much in a 1br basement) and i cannot have roomates as its to teach me to live independantly.
some other things i had no idea i was elligable for:
it's under rehab for drugs, but i can get it too, leisure funds. They give you up to 200-250 a year to fund leisure activities, there are strict guidelines, and you are expected to pay a portion of the activity, but i get art supplies. yah art supplies. i'd assume craft supplies like fur counts too.
food banks aren't so bad. cobs gives all thier day old breads to there and yeah good stuff.
Theres a store by gateway station that im elligable for, but haven't looked into yet, that sells real cheap food. like close to expiry, dinged cans, ect.
Yeah there's lots of little bonuses. Like if you volunteer you get extra a month. However; I cannot go to food banks. I have looked into it and they have nothing vegan. Cobs bread isn't vegan either. They have dairy in it. I almost never buy canned things other than red kidney beans. Sometimes brown beans. And the lady I went and saw yesterday really helped... She is helping me apply for welfare and what not then when I go to apply for disability she will be the one to help me too.
i tried to get the volenteer bonus when i was at cinemazoo and it was a limited number of slots >.<
i'd push for the leisure funds tho. thats how i got my starter set of copics
: Mayhem July 21, 2011, 03:30:28 -06:00
i tried to get the volenteer bonus when i was at cinemazoo and it was a limited number of slots >.<
i'd push for the leisure funds tho. thats how i got my starter set of copics
I just want to get on it and get it over with.
I know this probably isn't what you want to hear, but unless you have a medical condition absolutely preventing you from eating a vegan diet, maybe until you get back on your feet you should start eating more non-vegan foods. It's never fun to switch diets, and I'm sure you have your reasons for eating the way you do - I'm not trying to disrespect that. However, when you're starving, taking what you can get is sometimes your only option.
: MurphyErasmus July 22, 2011, 06:36:24 -06:00
I know this probably isn't what you want to hear, but unless you have a medical condition absolutely preventing you from eating a vegan diet, maybe until you get back on your feet you should start eating more non-vegan foods. It's never fun to switch diets, and I'm sure you have your reasons for eating the way you do - I'm not trying to disrespect that. However, when you're starving, taking what you can get is sometimes your only option.
This.
: MurphyErasmus July 22, 2011, 06:36:24 -06:00
I know this probably isn't what you want to hear, but unless you have a medical condition absolutely preventing you from eating a vegan diet, maybe until you get back on your feet you should start eating more non-vegan foods. It's never fun to switch diets, and I'm sure you have your reasons for eating the way you do - I'm not trying to disrespect that. However, when you're starving, taking what you can get is sometimes your only option.
I will starve to death before I ever touch meat again. I literally will PUKE if there is any sort of meat in my food. Vegan diets are CHEAPER than other foods. People just don't know how to shop and extend the food. It's not a diet it's my way of life. I have starved before, I don't care. And throwing up while starving is worse. Thinking about it right now is making my stomach turn. So it's NOT an option.
: Accophox July 22, 2011, 04:46:56 -06:00
This.
I will starve to death before I ever touch meat again. I literally will PUKE if there is any sort of meat in my food. Vegan diets are CHEAPER than other foods. People just don't know how to shop and extend the food. It's not a diet it's my way of life. I have starved before, I don't care. And throwing up while starving is worse. Thinking about it right now is making my stomach turn. So it's NOT an option
And please don't write in my posts, you have hurt me so bad reading your name makes my eyes water and I did nothing to you. You alienated two people at the same time and I don't even know you.
Thank you.
Edit - I mean I am just telling Acco he hurt me so incredibly bad and I don't know him and he hurt other person and that hurts even more. Doesn't have anything to directly to do with the other person, it's still about me and my feelings, that is all.
: Star Wonder July 23, 2011, 04:28:51 -06:00
I will starve to death before I ever touch meat again. I literally will PUKE if there is any sort of meat in my food. Vegan diets are CHEAPER than other foods. People just don't know how to shop and extend the food. It's not a diet it's my way of life. I have starved before, I don't care. And throwing up while starving is worse. Thinking about it right now is making my stomach turn. So it's NOT an option
And please don't write in my posts, you have hurt me so bad reading your name makes my eyes water and I did nothing to you. Same with Kitten/Alex. You alienated both of us and I don't even know you.
Thank you.
I have nothing to do with this thread, why have you added my name in?? If it's about any issues that
I have with Acco then they are
MY issues and
only HE and I have to know/deal with them. Please don't make my drama public even if it's reference to yours.
Can we dial this back to the original topic? Thanks.
Sidetrack needs to go to Private Message or be dropped.
yeah i thought this thread was about you wanting to move back... why on EARTH would you start talking about personal issues with people. And frankly if you have issues with people on the forum responding to threads... maybe you shouldnt post publicly... save us a lot of your private drama.
: velvetkytten July 23, 2011, 07:29:20 -06:00
yeah i thought this thread was about you wanting to move back... why on EARTH would you start talking about personal issues with people. And frankly if you have issues with people on the forum responding to threads... maybe you shouldnt post publicly... save us a lot of your private drama.
It was Murphy that brought it off topic. Not me. Then Acco followed. And you don't need to read other threads, the only important one is the first few. I also felt he should have a reason instead of none because I find it rude when people ask me to stop posting to them and don't give me a reason. I am doing what I feel is best. No one has to read it. And by posting your post you have brought it further away from the topic AND Rain is probably just going to delete the posts from Murphy all the way down to your post. *Shrugs* I'm not the one that started any of it, I just responded and was trying to be courteous to Acco by letting him know why.
~lol~ your funny. Good luck finding a place Star.
: Star Wonder July 23, 2011, 08:08:25 -06:00
It was Murphy that brought it off topic. Not me. Then Acco followed. And you don't need to read other threads, the only important one is the first few. I also felt he should have a reason instead of none because I find it rude when people ask me to stop posting to them and don't give me a reason. I am doing what I feel is best. No one has to read it. And by posting your post you have brought it further away from the topic AND Rain is probably just going to delete the posts from Murphy all the way down to your post. *Shrugs* I'm not the one that started any of it, I just responded and was trying to be courteous to Acco by letting him know why.
For the record - Neither I nor murphy brought it off topic. We're just pointing out the reality that you live in, and that moving back to Vancouver isn't much of a possibility without making sacrifices somewhere -- you can't be too picky when you're asking for help without any strings attached.
This isn't a personal attack on you, or your lifestyle. It's just a cold, hard dose of reality, which we all sometimes need.
: Accophox July 23, 2011, 10:25:57 -06:00
For the record - Neither I nor murphy brought it off topic. We're just pointing out the reality that you live in, and that moving back to Vancouver isn't much of a possibility without making sacrifices somewhere -- you can't be too picky when you're asking for help without any strings attached.
This isn't a personal attack on you, or your lifestyle. It's just a cold, hard dose of reality, which we all sometimes need.
For the REAL record - Murphy brought it off topic by talking about my diet. My sacrifices where the things I enjoyed and it was the realization of what really went on that took that away. Now I am physically ill to it and it is now my way of life. I am not being picky. I never once said I was picky about food. I would eat grass and in fact I have eaten grass and even dandelion leaves. It doesn't bother me. I was replying to the fact food banks don't have what I need and there's nothing I can do about it- nor does it bother me. I am not moving to Vancouver I am moving to Surrey. And the sacrifices I have made and still am making you have no idea about.
And I live in reality. This is my life. Again - I will starve to DEATH before I touch meat. I have NO problem cooking it for other people. But I won't touch it for myself. It's my own personal choice and I don't push it on others. I never have. Ever. All the power to everyone who can eat what they want that's the great thing about being a human. I literally cannot eat those things. I get physically sick. So please don't assume things. This is the end of this conversation. No more about this stuff and just stick with the original post. My diet has nothing to do with it. End of story.
Being vegan is EASY and it's CHEAPER than eating meat, dairy, etc. It works GREAT for my low budget. THANK YOU very much.
Okay guys, chill.
Star: I did not mean to offend you. Now that I know your feelings regarding meat, I wont push the topic. I was merely trying to offer what I thought could be a solution. Please respect that I was only trying to help. Furthermore, as several people were suggesting food options, I was under the impression I qas on topic. Being blamed for derailing the thread seems rather unfair.
I recognize that you're stressed; however, I'm only trying to help, and advice is all I can offer at the moment. I thought that eating slightly less vegan - notice I didn't tell you to noms steak - might make temporary measures, like making use of the food bank - slightly more feasible. Of course, this is only a suggestion i made with YOUR best interests in mind.
: MurphyErasmus July 25, 2011, 08:36:52 -06:00
Okay guys, chill.
Star: I did not mean to offend you. Now that I know your feelings regarding meat, I wont push the topic. I was merely trying to offer what I thought could be a solution. Please respect that I was only trying to help. Furthermore, as several people were suggesting food options, I was under the impression I qas on topic. Being blamed for derailing the thread seems rather unfair.
I recognize that you're stressed; however, I'm only trying to help, and advice is all I can offer at the moment. I thought that eating slightly less vegan - notice I didn't tell you to noms steak - might make temporary measures, like making use of the food bank - slightly more feasible. Of course, this is only a suggestion i made with YOUR best interests in mind.
Hon, I can make a $3 block of tofu last two or three days and I don't know anyone that can make steak last that long because anyone would just eat it all. Being vegan is a lot cheaper than any other food diet I have come across and is way easier to sustain. And we weren't really talking about food at all, it was a food bank suggestion nothing more and a statement reply. It didn't bother me that they don't have vegan things. I also don't even eat a lot. At all. Food is not the subject, it is welfare and moving back.
And currently I am going in on next Monday - finally, took long enough to get to talk to someone. And it's high stress and high anxiety for me - this whole thing is. Last time I went the woman made me cry and made me feel like shit and like I wasn't worth anyone's time and took away my dignity. My appointment was with a disability office on the 21st, and she knew exactly what I went through because 21 years ago she went through the same thing but with her husband, they both felt like that and were to hurt and embarrassed even though they had no reason to be. She said she will support me any way she can and if one of the people there gives me any hassle to either talk to their supervisors, or call her and she will talk to their supervisors. The shitty thing is, they can't get fired for treating anyone like dirt, they can only be talked to and warned or suspended for a time.
: Star Wonder July 20, 2011, 01:20:18 -06:00
I can't get a job Mikau, that's the problem.
can't or won't? a desk job might not be so bad on the old back ;) other than the weight it would add to your wallet
Locking. Will figure out what to do with it when I have time.