It has been EATING at me that we got declined for SSI because of our income (which is not that great for a family of five!). So, you know me, I decided to take action! It is just WRONG that people who need assistance don’t receive it, especially if they have been paying into the system for decades!
I wrote a letter to Senators John Cornyn and Kay Bailey Hutchison, our Texas senators, about our situation last week. I ended the letter asking for help with that issue as well as “In addition to requesting assistance from your office to obtain eligibility, I would like to work with your office to alter the eligibility requirements for individuals with severe chronic medical issues to obtain SSI benefits.“
I also wrote our local congressman, Kevin Brady. Kevin Brady’s office sent me an “I’m sorry but that is the way it is” letter with a phone number to call the state senator to see if there are other assistance programs available. Not quite what I was looking for.
Today, less than a week later, I received a letter back from Senator Cornyn’s office:
“Thank you for your recent correspondence and for bringing this matter to my attention. The decisions of the federal agencies have a direct impact on the lives of many Texans. For that reason, I understand the iportance of this issue to you. As your United States Senator, I am happy to offer my assistance.
However, the Privacy Act of 1974 requires me to have your written authorization before obtaining personal information from a federal agency on your behalf. If you would like for me to proceed with a congressional inquiry, please complete, sign, and return the enclosed form to my office…It is a priviledge to represent you in the United States Senate. I will await your response.”
How awesome is this! I don’t know how a “congressional inquiry” proceeds and what exactly it means, but it has to mean something!
This is awesome news!! I hope that things are able to move forward quickly 🙂
BTW I added you to my blogroll. As a blogger at today.com I have to leave entrecard and have been trying to get everyone added but it is time consuming! I don’t want to lose touch with the wonderful blogs that I have found 🙂
I’m sure someone is able to tell you what it means.
I’m glad he reacted this way and takes action.
Here I’m still trying to get politics interested in matters like these.
It should be the case that certain diagnosis lead to immediate access to certain forms of care and therapy.
I’m so tired of requesting everything, that I stopped requesting everything that’s not lifesaving.
It saves me from a lot of administration to explain where each euro has gone.
I hope all goes well for you.
Added you to my blogroll.
laane’s last blog post..again a unique frame
Oh my goodness that is WAY COOL!!!!! It shows that they are listining and that they do care, I do pray that an answer and SSI bennies will start very soon.
It means someone actually read your letter. And it has to mean that someone will actually do something with your response. I hope it means something good for you as well as others in similar situations.
It’s nice to see a senator taking action. I am a disabled federal worker and my senators have been less than helpful here in CA. I did get some assistance from the congressperson I had previously but the one for the district I live in now is more concerned about corruption charges than she is about her constituents.
Good luck with the congressional inquiry and getting the SSI. I was told by SS that I can’t get disability because I haven’t got the required quarters in the last 10 years. Not to say that the last 6 years I have been on federal disability and haven’t worked more than 4 months a year. What a ripoff, you pay in for 40 years and can’t get any help. I hope your fight is successful.
I am so happy for you! I hope that with a Congressional Inquiry a decision will be made that families who meet the medical criteria are eliegible REGARDLESS of meeting income limits! Good Luck and we are praying for you!!