Okay, just lost half a day's pay running around to the bank--for no reason!!! Running around to Social Security and finding out...

I DO actually get a disability cheque!!! Arrgggh!

Seems the people I was speaking to were in SSI (Suplemental Security Income) which I STOPPED getting in March of 2005! They were the one's who told me I shouldn't be getting a cheque! Ugh! Govenment!

I was SUPPOSED to be talking to the SSD people! No one ever bothered to ask me--or tell me--what department I was speaking to, when I called--I had NO IDEA that there were "departments" now! There never were before! The whole system's changed in the past year, and the people there just assume John Q Public's going to know this automatically--tho' we've, naturally, NEVER been told! Arrggh!!!

So, SSI shunted me off the waiting room, to sit and wait some more (after a 40 minute wait to uselessly see someone from SSI) for the SSD lady to interview me.

I got a letter this summer telling me my payments would end in October--and and didn't get a cheque in November (till "surprise," one came in December)...so I assumed my cheques had stopped for good. Wouldn't you?

Long story (and wait) short: I get my SSD checques until March of 2005, and then, if I make under 850 a month in pay, I still get my 659 dollar cheque....this is a brand new policy, it seems. Nice of them to let recipients know this, ey? I've been fussing and sweating over the shut off notice, for nothing!!!

Oh, and it gets better (meant both literally and sarcastically):

When I spoke to Natl. Grid in early DEC. I was told I HAD to pay the entire 999 dollars! The minimum they'd let me pay was over 350 by the 15th, and I just couldn't swing that and still pay the rent on the 20th (rembering that I had a 659 dollar cheque sitting around the apartment, that I thought I had to give back).

NOW Natl. Grid is all sweetness and light, telling me all I have to pay for now is 169 dollars, and then I go on the budget plan--between 200 and 300 dollars--which is doable, though still hard. Arggh!!!

Why the hell didn't they tell me this in early December??? Arrgh!!!

So, to cut to the chase: I've been sweating out the last several weeks of Decmeber over nothing, only because people in this country don't blinking well tell you anything---or they don't listen to what you're saying or ask questions--or, they just are blinking stupid!

The picture below says it all.