• @IonAddis@lemmy.world
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    222 months ago

    I don’t know about orphaned, but my guardians got $300/month in the 90s because my mom was on social security disability. And when I was still with my mom, I think she got $700/month on social security disability. That’s with me included?

    Obviously this is different from what orphans would get, and 25+ years ago. But if Musk had stolen it from us then, our situation would’ve been even worse…and it wasn’t great to begin with. Even back then, with my mom having an incurable disability, she had to be careful of how much money extra she made from odd jobs lest they take it all away (people on disability aren’t allowed to save or have above X amount in income or the benefits will be revoked). And apartments in the area were $700/month, and we weren’t in section 8 housing so all of her benefits went to rent–and that was before utilities, food, etc.

    From what I’ve heard, similar restrictions are in place now. Nobody’s getting a plush ride on benefits, ever, and it’s a struggle to even get on them to begin with. Even with things that are 100% disabling and incurable.

    • @qarbone@lemmy.world
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      142 months ago

      I’ve heard that before and it still baffles me. People on disability aid have to maintain poverty to or else be subjected to greater poverty. It sounds like an obvious joke from Futurama. Except it’s real and the joke is the system.