Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group The Economy and AS

Hi friends,

You know, I find it interesting about something here that does not seem to be brought up. If it has, I apologise.

What I have observed is that no one here has mentioned about the struggling economy in our world. And what I think is that it is another challenge but why it may have not been as big an issue here, is it because we are already experienced to deal with challenges?

I am not looking for political issues here. There are way more than enough thoughts on this. But I do imagine that there are many here who are seeing the added challenge struggling with the costs of living and our savings that have dwindled worldwide.

I am one who still has a job thankfully although I will be laid off soon for a short while (hopefully). I am in my early 60's and still have a few years left to retire, but health-wise I am not sure just how much longer I will be able to continue. And such a big loss in savings poses a real challenge for me.

As you know I am not a big poster. I am one who has my faith in God and see the challenges lightened because of Him. But that is where I am and still living with real-time challenges. But what has also given me great encouragement is from all of you and I thank you all for your wonderful input. For as many of you here who post, there are a huge number who still come on here to receive your input. KickAS is terrific!

So how are you doing with this new added dimension? Have you found frugal ways to keep your life going? Have you had to sacrifice things to keep going?

I feel concerned for all who have to deal with challenges that come with chronic issues and every day living and then yet another challenge of making ends meet. I know it isn't easy. But maybe this is why all of you here have such a heart of compassion.
Thanks guys, from the bottom of my heart.

Bill

Hi Bill, Good Question,

The 'economy' as a whole hasn't really hurt my wife and I that much, because my income is from Disability. She on the other hand, works for a friend as a paper carrier. So it's not really like I can say "we work" anymore. So we're not effected by lay-offs or anything like that.

However, Inflation alone has taken it's toll on us. When the gas was way up there, I didn't have gas to take me to doctor appointments, and she had to keep borrowing money from her boss. The price of food is an issue too, because we are on a constant limited budget and it's very hard to accommodate two complete opposite diets. She needs her food as much as I need mine, and the US dollar can only stretch so far. As for medications, once in a while I have to go without medications to make other medications available to me.... even though I am insured.

I have a big gripe, and it concerns the economy, but it also concerns Social Security. Sorry, I feel so strongly about this that I don't care what anybody says in rebuttal to what I am about to say. Nobody who is disabled deserves to live in poverty because they are disabled, even if they haven't worked at all. Yeah I'm talking about you Social Security. They say that disability and retirement is adjusted to match the current inflation rate, but there are younger disabled people and they can't do a thing about their health because they have hardly any money to live by. If I weren't married I wouldn't be fortunate enough to visit this great site. I guess I can say miracles do happen for me. Anyways, I became disabled at a young age at no fault of my own, and I am going to have to struggle financially the rest of my life because of it. My wife, now 56, still doesn't have enough credits earned to retire or even file for disability if she needs it when she gets both of her knees replaced. I fear our future. We have talked about her and the possibility of a new job, but there is no work for someone like her to be found, when there are people always getting laid off from Campbell's Soup an GM in my area,and they are looking for jobs, and most of my neighborhood's jobs depend greatly on what is going on up there in Detroit. However this is my only complaint about disability and social security. They have been faithful with their checks, and they have done a lot for me, especially when it comes to me, so I won't rock the boat too hard.

Anyways, I used to talk about this with people I worked part time with (so I could actually provide food on the table) and all they gave me was a sour face and a pfffft in response. I know that there are people here that are at least caring enough to let me have my say on the situation... and to those of you I thank you.

Whew, I got that off my chest finally. Sorry Bill but I feel that needed to be said. Hope that wasn't too political.

Thanks for bringing up the topic.
James

Although I am not in your situation, James, because I am still able to work, as is my husband, I want to stand by you and declare strongly that NO ONE should have to live in poverty, especially in the western world where there is huge wealth and plenty to go around. Absolutely, our tax dollars (Canadian as well as US) should be going to support those who are not able to provide for themselves as well as they would like. I do not want, or need, tax breaks until all those who have no health insurance and live in poverty are protected and supported.

As you can imagine, most of the youth that my social services agency works with struggle against socio-economic disadvantages. If we could get at the root causes of their difficulties (which all too often are linked to poverty) we would save millions of dollars in ongoing costs when these youth end up in the adult prison system.

I applaud all those like yourself, who battle the daily challenges of this debilitating disease and manage to live on a limited income while staying positive and contributing to society in many unrecognized ways.

Thank you, James, for reminding us all of this.

The economy in general has not had so much of a direct impact upon my life yet. I was looking at real-estate several months ago and prices are dropping but it's still totally insane out here in BC. For example, a crack-house the size of a two-car garage would go for around $400K (maybe $360K now).

The bigger issue for me and consequently, my family, is my disability status. I've lost my career and am completely incapable of working, my wife works as an office clerk which usually helps a lot. For the past month or more I have had nothing coming in and this has brought a lot of changes into my home. We are much more frugal, there is a great deal more thought put into whether something is needed vs. simply wanted. All in all, we're just fine and getting by.

I grew up dirt poor and know all too well what going hungry feels like - my family is rich in comparison to those days. This is what I try to remember when I stress about not being able to provide for my wife and daughter as I once did.

It's just one more "challenge" to deal with.

The hardest part is having to adjust my dreams. What I wanted to achieve in this life seems to have outdistanced me like a ship with bigger sails disappearing into the mist. I'm not a quitter, I don't just give up but this is different - I simply am no longer capable of doing what I wanted...this isn't such a big deal, lots of people cannot do what they want. My life has been one where I believed that I truly could achieve anything I set my mind to...then I got sick.

Now I need a new plan. My ability to contribute to my society may be temporarily put on hold but I can still be vital and relevant whether I have a career or not. I know I will surprise myself with the things I will accomplish in the years to come. It's just that I can't see those things from here just yet.

Chris

The economy has been good for me. I run a computer repair business and when the economy takes hits like this people tend to have there old computers repaired rather the buy new ones. The key thing to remember is for every door that is closed and new one opens!

At the present time we are doing very well considering how we were doing just six months ago.

Six months ago we were 1 month behind on both our house payment and car payments, as well as most of our other bills. We really struggled until after the first of this year. It was the first time we didn't have money to put food on the table, I found myself crying in the store, do I by the dog food to feed the dogs or do I by food. We had really hit rock bottom and I was scarred. I was not sure how we were going to make it and I truely felt it was all my fault because I was not able to work like I wanted to, too help support our family.

Last May I was had to quit my full time job because I was unable to preform the office tasks required of my and as well handle a 40 hr work week. I ended up taking a minum wage job with a flexable schedule to meet the needs of my AS. Unfortunatly due to having to come off of all my arthritis medications in July, it caused me to go into a major flare and I've only been able to work 9-15 hrs a week.

I am thankfull for the help of our church and friends, we are cought back up with all of our bills and even a head on some of them at the present time.

I am also thankfull in November I was approved for disability and received my first check in December. I am still continuing to work, but I only work about 9-12 hrs a week and bring in about $50 a week. We could not make it without my disability check.

Hubby broke his leg at work the end of December and has been on workers comp since. He is planing to return to work in a week. He drives semi for a building and material supply company to whole salers. Since he has been off his company has put a 15% wage cut in afect for all employees, as well as his boss informed him that instead of runing three semi's they've only been running 1 semi full time and another semi 2 times a week. I'm praying that with the weather getting nicer here in Wisconsin that the building/remodling picks up so that Hubby will have hours cover our bills. I know things are going to be tight.

James I can relate to having to go without medication, even with our copays we pay close to $300 a month for our meds, hubby is diabetic and there's been times were I've had to go with out becaue Hubby can't go without his.

I hate to say it but I think in general we are in for some hard times. We've been a socity that if we want it we just go get it with out even thinking and we've over extended ourselves in so many ways, trying to keep up with the Jones. It seems like so many people have had to have bigger and better then everyone else.

Kim

Great Post!

We have friends and family that have and have not been affected by the horrible economy all the way from some who seems like they have been untouched to some are looking for jobs, trying to downsize.

As far as we go it hasn't hit us in the normal way, my husband has been looking for another job for like 6 months and we have seen it hard in the economy by it being hard for him to find a job. The jobs he has been applying for aren't even in the same financial catagory he is in now.

We have found 1 job for BCBS that salary starts around $70.000 plus comission but how many people do you think will be applying for that job.

Bill made it thru the first phone interview but we are not getting our hopes up.

I don't see how the economy can't touch you unless you are uber rich.

I am also on disability so at least I have that and know that it is going no where.

Take Care,

Lisa

Hi Wendy,
I appreciate your reply and how you feel about it, and I am glad the economy hasn't effected you and your family as much.

When I bring up topics like this, most people assume I am thinking 'taxes' as the 'solution' but that's not really what I mean. I'm saying this now so other people know what's going on inside my head lol.

(A) The amount of Disability someone gets is based on how much they have worked...How much they have put into the system. (B) When disabled Americans get a raise in their disability to make up for inflation, it is based on the same thing, everyone gets a certain percentage increase on what they already have (I mean what they have put into the system).

I feel there is nothing wrong with (A), and it seems only fair to everyone, but what I don't like is (B), because 4% of "not much" equals "not much more" of a pay increase to help with inflation. In other words, in the attempt to help "everyone" with inflation, they fail to help the less fortunate. The people who have worked all of their lives in the US get much more out of the pay increases. It wouldn't be so bad if everybody got say... I don't know maybe a flat $25 a year increase for everybody (depending on current inflation rates), perhaps, even on top of the normal increase they usually get based on how much they have worked. That alone would take alot more of the burden away from the less fortunate.

Something needs to be done about inflation itself too.

Take care.
James

Bill,
We have not been spared. I was laid off two weeks ago. My challenge is that I will be having surgery on my ankle. This is a direct result of the AS. How am I supposed to send out my resume and interview while I am laid up in a cast with on my right leg no weight bearing for at least 4 weeks and then in another boot contraption for another 4 weeks and not be able to drive. I have already had an interview and was called back for a second. But had to tell him what was going on. He was kind enough to say call him when all is done. But was that just a polite way to move on? Here in IL. while you are collecting unemplyoment bennies you have to call in every other week with jobs you have applied to.. I am torn b/c I don't what to apply get and IV and burn that bridge with response "oh I would love to IV or accept the job however I will not be able to work for 8-10 weeks".. Not the best way to start a biz relationship.. So Yes AS and the economy has touched my life and I am still trying to sort it out.. Of course my ankle comes first.. I have to have this done so I can function as best I can in the years to come. The timing just stinks.