Politely Starving My Neurodivergent Ass
When Pros Patiently Explain Why My Benefits Must Be Cut
On LinkedIn, home of the professional class...
I observed my fear because "I am facing loss of benefits that I depend on to survive.
A human resources patiently explained why my Medicare benefits must be cut. To preserve her lifestyle…
#ActuallyAutistic #Neurodiversity #Poverty #Disability
From climate-controlled offices, they explain with practiced patience. Why I must learn to survive. On fewer crumbs than they currently bestow.
Their PowerPoint slides? No sound from an empty refrigerator at midnight. Or clinking quarters dropped in a glass jar. For gas to reach the only “local” doctor who still takes my Medicaid.
I politely lost my shit. What are YOUR thoughts?
One can be remarkably rational about a policy that doesn't affect one's own personal survival.
All my benefits are in danger. Social security, even tho I receive just over the minimum already. Medicare. Medicaid. Food stamps. Section 8 housing. Heat assistance.
Under Biden, all these amounts actually declined in real terms as inflation soared. Even cut the slight discount for rural Internet he boasted.
And saving gas money for the 25 mile trip to the only doctor who takes my insurance? Has become difficult.
You may not realize that in the last 4 years donations to food banks have greatly decreased.
As have donations to my advocacy work.
I already live well below poverty line.
I'm in my 70s.
I garden. Bake my own bread and so forth. And greatly reduced how many calories I consume. Because cutting everything but inexpensive staples like flour, we are struggling.
I am able to clean houses to some extent. But there are physical restrictions to how much I can work doing even that.
I wouldn't mind if you apologized, frankly. Your casual observation seems, well, hurtful from where I sit.
I take the survival of my wife and myself quite personally.
Professionals live in a narcissistic bubble. As humans... & the planet... die.
I know. I was born to that class. But couldn't meet expectations.
"Yes. Unfortunate. But things are improving. Maybe your children..."
Long mantra. Oft repeated. Salves your ego. Means jack shit to this old neurodivergent ass.
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Frightening. I wish there was something I could say that would help, but I've been there, and I know how little words mean without concrete support.
All I can say is, some or all of these cuts may not actually happen. There will be many people fighting against them.