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John Jump

From: Great Bend, Barton County

Impact of Budget Cuts:  Lowered Protected Income Level

LOC Score: 44

Senator: Ruth Teichman (33^rd)

Representative: John Edmonds (112^th)

I am totally disabled and live on what I get on my SSDI check that is $697.00.  I can't and am not able to make ends meet with what I get.  I have to do without food sometimes just so I can get all of my medicines, which I have to buy now, since I have to have a spend down of $31.00 a month.  It may not seem much to you, but it is a lot to me.  I even get $10.00 food stamps and that doesn't help me get enough food to last me all month.  My rent and utility bills are $589 a month and you expect me to make it on that?  I have $107.02 left and I have to buy household items and food out of it and now you want me to buy more of my medicine.

 

Roger Carter

Age: 62

From: Smith Center, Smith County

Impact of Budget Cuts:  Lowered Protected Income, Reduced Reimbursement Rate

LOC Score: 47

Senator: Janis Lee (36^th)

Representative: Clay Araund (109^th)

Roger worked hard to get out of the nursing home and into the community. "It felt like a prison in the nursing home, because they had locks on the doors and you couldn't get out much," recalls Roger.  Now Roger has the opportunity to have dinner and talk with his neighbor and buddy Jim (who also has a disability).  He also loves to go to the pond and watch the ducks.    Roger is non-ambulatory and uses a wheelchair all day because of his physical disability.  With help from the PD Waiver and Senior Care Act, Roger receives PCA assistance helping him to get out of bed, bathe, prepare meals, and do other daily living tasks.  His PCA's help him to be independent and stay out of the dreaded nursing home.

For all the hard work that his PCA's do, Roger cannot pay them their full worth.  One PCA has worked for Roger for over two years, and he wanted to give her a small raise, but couldn't because reimbursement rates have dropped and not rose, like they should.  Now he has to worry about whether he can continue to pay her at her current rate, when she deserves a little more for her hard work and dedication. In addition, Roger's client obligation went up by $100, making it hard for him to meet his expenses.  When he is done paying rent, utilities, and groceries, he barely has any money to buy decent clothes.  Roger has been disabled for about 10 years, but before that he worked as a mechanic all his life.  He paid taxes and saved his money like all American citizens.  Before going into the nursing home Roger spent his entire life savings on hiring his own personal care assistants.  He also spent his own money to buy specialized lift equipment for his apartment.  Now his retirement savings is exhausted and he wonders why the government won't help him out.  "I feel like I am being discriminated against because of my disability," says Roger.  It wasn't his fault he acquired a disability, and it isn't right that he had to use his retirement just to live independently.  Now he just wants to get some of his money back.

Carl Fry l Contents l Brad Linnenkamp/Marilyn Tuttle

 

 

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