Difficulty of Poverty

[wanderer03]

I'm feeling frustrated and like the deck is stacked against me right now. My difficulties with executive functioning have left me in a state where my credit is poor and no bank even wants to let me open a checking account. I just obtained employment and my new employer, effective Dec. 18th, will no longer issue live checks.

So, I went to Wal-Mart to get a reloadable debit card and was effectively turned away. I guess I'm persona non grata with GreenDot as well. GreenDot would only issue me a one time use card. What can I do? I haven't committed any crimes as far as I know and I cannot get an explanation.

I admit I have made mistakes but I wish I wouldn't be continued to be punished for them. I'm feeling sad and today was really difficult. I used my EBT (food stamps) and someone behind me told me that I am a drag on society and should get a job. It's as if I've been dealt a double whammy: Autistic and Poor.

 

[AsperDragon]

I feel ya....Aspie burnout has left me unemployable in the eyes of business. But since i am single with no kids the state says no food stamps. ..I'm to poor for food stamps and too poor to get a discount for Healthcare. But i can't get medicate in my state. Double whammy indeed. ..
I hope fortune favors you, my friend.

 

[wanderer03]

I feel ya....Aspie burnout has left me unemployable in the eyes of business. But since i am single with no kids the state says no food stamps. ..I'm to poor for food stamps and too poor to get a discount for Healthcare. But i can't get medicate in my state. Double whammy indeed. ..
I hope fortune favors you, my friend.

What state do you live in? It would seem that they are cruel to the poor and disabled. This is why the system needs to be overhauled.

 

[Ste11aeres]

I feel ya....Aspie burnout has left me unemployable in the eyes of business. But since i am single with no kids the state says no food stamps. ..I'm to poor for food stamps and too poor to get a discount for Healthcare. But i can't get medicate in my state. Double whammy indeed. ..
I hope fortune favors you, my friend.

In some states, the Affordable Care Act ("Obamacare") is the best thing to happen to poor people in many years (i.e., the states which responded by expanding Medicaid). In other states, since our government had the bright idea of fining everyone without health insurance, Affordable Care Act is just another way for them to ***** us over.

 

[Ste11aeres]

I'm feeling frustrated and like the deck is stacked against me right now. My difficulties with executive functioning have left me in a state where my credit is poor and no bank even wants to let me open a checking account. I just obtained employment and my new employer, effective Dec. 18th, will no longer issue live checks.

So, I went to Wal-Mart to get a reloadable debit card and was effectively turned away. I guess I'm persona non grata with GreenDot as well. GreenDot would only issue me a one time use card. What can I do? I haven't committed any crimes as far as I know and I cannot get an explanation.

I admit I have made mistakes but I wish I wouldn't be continued to be punished for them. I'm feeling sad and today was really difficult. I used my EBT (food stamps) and someone behind me told me that I am a drag on society and should get a job. It's as if I've been dealt a double whammy: Autistic and Poor.

Poverty is bad enough. But poverty plus difficulty with executive functioning leaves one wondering how one will be able to survive.

 

[wanderer03]

Poverty is bad enough. But poverty plus difficulty with executive functioning leaves one wondering how one will be able to survive.

Well, it means I kind of survive on the fringe of society. I really have to live each day one day at a time. I'm well educated and reasonably intelligent but executive functioning remains elusive. Numbers confuse me. I'm grateful for qualifying for medicaid and food stamps. I just hope that I've found good employment this time.

 

[hiraeth]

I kind of survive on the fringe of society. I really have to live each day one day at a time. I'm well educated and reasonably intelligent but executive functioning remains elusive.

I relate to that so so much.

It makes so many things harder, things that people take for granted. Like planning for the future. Feeling a sense of hope, and faith in oneself, whatever. And it's impossible to even begin to explain to them what it's like.

 

[Miker]

I'm feeling frustrated and like the deck is stacked against me right now. My difficulties with executive functioning have left me in a state where my credit is poor and no bank even wants to let me open a checking account. I just obtained employment and my new employer, effective Dec. 18th, will no longer issue live checks.

So, I went to Wal-Mart to get a reloadable debit card and was effectively turned away. I guess I'm persona non grata with GreenDot as well. GreenDot would only issue me a one time use card. What can I do? I haven't committed any crimes as far as I know and I cannot get an explanation.

I admit I have made mistakes but I wish I wouldn't be continued to be punished for them. I'm feeling sad and today was really difficult. I used my EBT (food stamps) and someone behind me told me that I am a drag on society and should get a job. It's as if I've been dealt a double whammy: Autistic and Poor.

Although I live in the UK with different healthcare and welfare systems it seems to me everyone in the world is saddled with the same issues, a dysfunctional society. I recognise that is a subjective view, but it would go some ways to describe your plight as well as the myriad of others problems facing the world!
Change is needed in the world before the human race destroys itself!
I hope things take an upward turn for you.

 

[Progster]

I have a house and work part time, but I still face great financial hardship because the government here sends me large property tax bill on top on the income tax, which I really can't afford to pay. It's very unfair that they impose this tax on people on low incomes. Owning a house does not automatically mean that I have money. I think that their main goal is to keep people in debt so they can keep syphoning money from people, so the poor stay poor and the rich just get richer.

 

[wanderer03]

Sometimes it seems like I'm given a tax on life. My therapist encourages me to feel gratitude for what I have and there is power in that. Yesterday, I guess I had private meltdown.

I did find a reloadable card that would accept me but the fees are usury. This is only temporary and this too shall pass.

 

[flynn_gabriel]

Wander my brother, you are not alone in this struggle! As for the A-hole in the grocery store, I would have decked him, got my groceries and walked out. But its in my nature to be more violent..... I work for myself, others peoples trash basically(Its AMAZING what people throw away or consider trash!) back 3-4years ago I was pulling at least a grand a week. Now I'm lucky to make $100.Its not for lack of trying, the whole aspie mid life crisis thing has gotten in my way the last year or so.I'm slowly workin on fixing that. I don't make enough to go on the "books" as it were. So when asked I am unemployed when it comes to medicade etc. I do not collect unemployment, food stamps etc. I work strictly cash under the table. My wife and I struggle EVERYDAY. She works full time in IT, and is about to go back to school to get her B.S. in network administrations. She has her B.S. In network security. We both work for a home décor store, she does online sales, marketing, etc. I'm the muscle, repairing stuff and making deliveries etc. The guy that owns the store also owns an auction company, we work that too. I can fix most anything that needs fixing.(I'm the oldest of 7 we didn't have the luxury of buying new stuff we learned to fix what we had).
Sorry for the long post, but this is only part of our struggles, I could be typing for days on all that. Point is you are not alone in this struggle of poverty & autism. I am just a message away!

P.S. My wife has more knowledge of the whole debt card for paychecks than I do. I will ask her when I wake up.(i deliver newspapers on Sunday mornings so im headed to bed now). Ill PM you with more info later today.

 

[wanderer03]

Wander my brother, you are not alone in this struggle! As for the A-hole in the grocery store, I would have decked him, got my groceries and walked out. But its in my nature to be more violent..... I work for myself, others peoples trash basically(Its AMAZING what people throw away or consider trash!) back 3-4years ago I was pulling at least a grand a week. Now I'm lucky to make $100.Its not for lack of trying, the whole aspie mid life crisis thing has gotten in my way the last year or so.I'm slowly workin on fixing that. I don't make enough to go on the "books" as it were. So when asked I am unemployed when it comes to medicade etc. I do not collect unemployment, food stamps etc. I work strictly cash under the table. My wife and I struggle EVERYDAY. She works full time in IT, and is about to go back to school to get her B.S. in network administrations. She has her B.S. In network security. We both work for a home décor store, she does online sales, marketing, etc. I'm the muscle, repairing stuff and making deliveries etc. The guy that owns the store also owns an auction company, we work that too. I can fix most anything that needs fixing.(I'm the oldest of 7 we didn't have the luxury of buying new stuff we learned to fix what we had).
Sorry for the long post, but this is only part of our struggles, I could be typing for days on all that. Point is you are not alone in this struggle of poverty & autism. I am just a message away!

P.S. My wife has more knowledge of the whole debt card for paychecks than I do. I will ask her when I wake up.(i deliver newspapers on Sunday mornings so im headed to bed now). Ill PM you with more info later today.

I really appreciated that long post! Thank you [emoji1]

The only reason I didn't turn on the dude that told me to get a job is that I would've lost mine as a result. God knows I wanted to punch that snot-nosed little Napoleon.

This is what I love about Aspies Central .... we're here for each other.

 

[Naturalist]

I feel this immensely right now, because I have a job I am good at and it doesn't overwhelm me most of the time; it is 25 hours a week and I have a lot of autonomy and a boss who is very supportive of my ideas and helpful when I struggle with executive functioning. But I am not employed for half of December and January, or for June through most of August, because it is academic year only. So for four months I am essentially unpaid / unemployed. I tried for unemployment benefits last summer but they told me I didn't make enough to begin with to qualify. Essentially I am too broke to get benefits for being broke. The executive functioning thing makes it especially hard, I can't sort out what to do first, second, third, etc. to try to improve my situation, and I can't seem to manage even the basic tasks of day to day living, especially cooking so I buy a lot of things that are precooked or can be eaten raw, both of which can be expensive. Will someone please explain this to the student loan people, because they keep harrassing me to pay them the $80,000 I owe for going to college, which I persisted in doing because I was told if I did my earnings would be so much greater than if I didn't. Ironic, that! It took me 14 years to finish and could only work part time so I missed many years of potential income, not to mention the debt accumulated. But everyone tells me how great it is that I worked hard to finish my degree. Somehow it doesn't feel so great. I feel like I've been duped yet again for not being able to tell when people were lying to me and taking advantage of me. I don't qualify for a full salaried teaching position...unless I borrow more money and get a master's degree!

 

[wanderer03]

I feel this immensely right now, because I have a job I am good at and it doesn't overwhelm me most of the time; it is 25 hours a week and I have a lot of autonomy and a boss who is very supportive of my ideas and helpful when I struggle with executive functioning. But I am not employed for half of December and January, or for June through most of August, because it is academic year only. So for four months I am essentially unpaid / unemployed. I tried for unemployment benefits last summer but they told me I didn't make enough to begin with to qualify. Essentially I am too broke to get benefits for being broke. The executive functioning thing makes it especially hard, I can't sort out what to do first, second, third, etc. to try to improve my situation, and I can't seem to manage even the basic tasks of day to day living, especially cooking so I buy a lot of things that are precooked or can be eaten raw, both of which can be expensive. Will someone please explain this to the student loan people, because they keep harrassing me to pay them the $80,000 I owe for going to college, which I persisted in doing because I was told if I did my earnings would be so much greater than if I didn't. Ironic, that! It took me 14 years to finish and could only work part time so I missed many years of potential income, not to mention the debt accumulated. But everyone tells me how great it is that I worked hard to finish my degree. Somehow it doesn't feel so great. I feel like I've been duped yet again for not being able to tell when people were lying to me and taking advantage of me. I don't qualify for a full salaried teaching position...unless I borrow more money and get a master's degree!

I hear you, Naturalist. The fact that you've held down a job is great. I haven't even been able to do that. Most jobs I last 4-6 months and then am either fired or forced to resign. Those were office jobs. I really hope I can hold on to this bus driving gig. It's only 25 hours a week but it's a job I find I don't mind so much.

 

[The Penguin]

I tried for unemployment benefits last summer but they told me I didn't make enough to begin with to qualify.

I think the unemployment benefits should be improved as I don't find it fair they determine who qualify based on the person earnings. I feel it should be a system a person need to work so many hours during the work term qualify.

But everyone tells me how great it is that I worked hard to finish my degree. Somehow it doesn't feel so great.

I feel the same way finishing college. Yes it great I finished, but most employers won't hire someone disability. I mean I finished college in 2004 and didn't find a full time job in my trade until 2011. Between those years, I had to do general labour work. After being let go in 2013, I had trouble finding someone willing to hire me. I know part of the issues is because communication skills. This is caused with my language based learning disability. No matter how hard I improve, I will always struggle with this. The biggest problem is, we live in a society being judged by communication skills which don't work into my favour.

 

[wanderer03]

I think the unemployment benefits should be improved as I don't find it fair they determine who qualify based on the person earnings. I feel it should be a system a person need to work so many hours during the work term qualify.


I feel the same way finishing college. Yes it great I finished, but most employers won't hire someone disability. I mean I finished college in 2004 and didn't find a full time job in my trade until 2011. Between those years, I had to do general labour work. After being let go in 2013, I had trouble finding someone willing to hire me. I know part of the issues is because communication skills. This is caused with my language based learning disability. No matter how hard I improve, I will always struggle with this. The biggest problem is, we live in a society being judged by communication skills which don't work into my favour.

You're quite correct. I finished college with a B.S. in Criminal Justice which might as well be basket weaving. My verbal communication skills suffer somewhat so it seems I'm oft misunderstood. I much prefer writing to communicate because it allows me to be fairly precise.

No one will hire me in IT anymore .... not that it matters because I don't really want to do it. My last IT job was a disaster. It seems that driving is what I will be doing. Communication is very simple and scripted.

 

[The Penguin]

If I think about the issues many people is facing, it all about finding that employer giving a fair chance, being treated equally, and the ability to grow in a company if the person wants this. Of course this is very hard to find.

One thing I learned in life is building the right connections that can lead you to somewhere. I have been connecting with a lot of people lately and I might be able to have a stable full time job soon. One IT jobs I applied for wants candidates haves a disability. The other IT jobs, the employer might be understanding of my disability.

 

[wanderer03]

All I really ask for is a fair shot but it seems like, these days, that that is asking a little too much.

I don't know whether or not to disclose my disability. Now that I'm hired and I have an open case with VocRehab, if they fire me, it might be prima facie evidence of discrimination. Of course disclosure will prevent any advancement but I'm not seeking advancement.

 

[The Penguin]

That can be a hard one. From my last employer I have two versions of a reference letter. One talks about my disability and the other one does not. This gives me flexibility which version I would like to use.

One job posting a recruitment agency contact me about it. I told them I'm interested and they offer me a interview at their office. Near the end of the interview, I felt I didn't communicate effectively and they might not refer me to their client for the interview. So I decided to share the reference letter talks about my disability. The first response was "That is a really good reference letter". The next response was "Can I have a copy of it". The recruitment agency said he share it with their client and try to get the client to be understanding of me. A few weeks later, I found out I have an interview this Wednesday. The recruitment agency also told me to come up with 5 soft skills amount my self to share during the interview with the client.

I can't promise the scenario will be the same every time. It the risk the person needs to decide if they want to take it or not. I also recommend anyone face discrimination is to report it. If everyone keeps the pattern of letting things go, the employment system will not improve.

 

[shinkansen]

I don't know whether or not to disclose my disability. Now that I'm hired and I have an open case with VocRehab, if they fire me, it might be prima facie evidence of discrimination. Of course disclosure will prevent any advancement but I'm not seeking advancement.

It's a difficult situation, isn't it ?

I work in a small company with no job security. My boss knows that I have ADHD (he's fine with that), but haven't yet mentioned the ASD to him. It's a tedious repetitious job, where I endlessly browse the internet searching for people to call. There are deadlines, too. I tend to work better, when my boss gives me structure. It's a small company and I'm supposed to be smart and capable, so I don't want to rely on my boss too much. He's already said that he feels like he's doing my job.

I seldom think beyond the end of the week. If I get to Friday, then I'll have a job on Monday morning.

So let's think more cheerfully. You have job and you need to keep the job. In my case, the prescription drugs help. Like almost everyone here in the UK, I have access to free universal health care.

Talking is the best medicine. And that can mean sharing experiences, offering advice and knowing that you are not alone. And give yourself some credit. You've relied on some special skills to get this far.