************I. Am. So. Furious. ************No longer allowed to smoke in my OWN home!!********

Not a smoke after sex, that sux.

After seeing your web page, I think your income level is about to rise.
Hope I'm first in line to get "Banishing winter".
Jool is a good moniker.

Sadly that went a few years ago... but I can get a print made for you if you like... ?

I'm delighted you like it!!

Word.

Go to her website www.wix.com/joolfire/joolfire-studio and read her bio.I think as blessed as most of us are worrying about her having a cigarette is about zero on my list.You need to worry about something worthwhile.Why do some feel if someone receives any assistance they shouldnt have one pleasure or perk.Geeze find something else to bitch about.

That one is really beautiful isnt it?

I really like "The Watcher"

Subtle and eerie

Does that mean that HUD pays 100% of your rent and if this is correct then what can you afford without relying upon HUD, as at is it worth losing your rights to live in their apartments.

I used to work for the Income Support Division and realize you have an up hill battle as a disabled person however if your work can cover an apartment then it is worth ditching HUD.

The problem is even when you smoke outside the house and come back in you are exhaling smoke for at least 30 minutes or more thus polluting the inside of the house. Might just try to stay outside a little longer if you need to smoke. Not saying don't smoke or anything like that but just know that you are still breathing out smoke even when you come back inside.

I do hope everything works out for you and just count your blessings because it does look like you have many even despite your disabilities. Stay strong and keep smiling!!

Thank you for your kind words & support.

Very nice Thankyou You're so calm and patient Much respect to You!

Thanks!

My responses may get a bit shorter...been typin' a while now....neck is getting tired.

But I'll keep at it!

LEEEEEEEECCCCCCHHHHHHHHHH!!!! Govt TIT SUCKER!!!!!!

So this is someone who really does need the housing and physical assistance. If OP were kicked out of the system, all that would accomplish is taking a job away from her health aide at this point. I would guess that the helper makes less than 20 dollars an hour even-though insurance and the agency that they work for makes much more than that?

I'm wondering OP if you have ever tried to get an agent? For your art, and maybe even for your biography? Seriously, by trying to keep your income low-enough to qualify for services, YOU may be the one cheating yourself?

OP-have you looked at the latest rules for SSDI? and income? From what I saw there, they had a graduated-program and the income limits were waaay higher that $750. and maybe they even have some ways to deal-with HUD? The point is that they don't just cut someone off if they happen to have good income for a few-months, it looked to me like they actually give someone a chance to get set-up and test the waters, maybe even establish a savings cushion?

I think that you need to speak to an accountant or financial adviser. There are opportunities that you are not aware-of, and I don't mean entitlements. But even as far as entitlements, have you made-use of tuition grants for higher education? There is a deadline every year and FAFSA is open now for applications for next year. It seems that you really could use some courses in managing your small business?

WOW! They are beautiful paintings! You are VERY talented. Do you sell these? There are fall festivals all over the place where I see people selling their art. If you don't do this you should find a way to. Find local art festivals. Has any local papers done a story on you and your art? They should.

Hud (Duh backwards, lol) does not pay all of my rent. I won't lose my rights by smoking in my apt...of course it isn't worth that. In Nj, if you can afford rent, it disqualifies you from most much needed medical services, such as home health care.

Perhaps you're missing my point-

I am not allowed to work from home under Hud (which is within my ability & I'm glad to do it) and now, being told to no longer enjoy a small vice, whis is still legal, that makes the rest of the unnecessary oppressive, nothing to do with the limitations I was born with, tolerable. Does that make sense?

wait if you have that much trouble getting around then how did you start smoking in the first place?

I'm a smoker - trying like hell to quit though. Used to smoke about a pack and half a day and now I'm down to about 5-10 cigs a day - not great I know, but I'm trying.

We dont smoke in our home, but that's by choice. We have three young boys so its a no brainer for us. We smoke outside, when we come in we wash our hands, ect...In the summer when we dont have the coat to take off when we come in we throw on another tshirt or something - anything so that when we come back in the smell isnt on the clothes we're wearing as much.

If a person wants to smoke in their home, they should be allowed to, even if they rent and dont own it. You pay rent to use and enjoy the property right? wth? I understand the smell is hard to get out, but a GOOD landlord will put on a fresh coat of paint before each new tenant ANYWAY.

And by the way _ I DONT think of you as a parasite. Someone like you that NEEDS the assistance does not bother me. What I get pissed with are the women who pop out baby after baby to get more and more money, or the people who live on welfare, who aren't disabled and CAN work, but who dont try at all to support themselves. My husband works at least 60 hours a week, often more, and I am a stay at home mom. We've ran the numbers and if I worked part time, we would actually spend MORE on daycare, gas for me to get to and from work, ect. Pretty crazy.....I am taking college classes though and am about 13 weeks away from being done this spring semester - and being a certified medical assistant. Then, after the summer semester I will have an associates degree in administrative management. My goal/dream is to work in some kind of healthcare facility, but doing the "office" stuff. However, I also want the experience as a medical asst for a couple reasons. 1 - MA's do perform some office/administrative duties 2 - having the experience with patients will be beneficial to me I think. A good paying job will make it possible for us to afford the costs of daycare AND me still bring in something, instead of spending it all on daycare and work related stuff. I WANT to work, trust me I do, but I have to admit - its been nice to be home now while my boys are young, and it gives me the time I need to focus on my school work and do well with it. But, I also am very much looking forward to working.....maybe I'm a rare kind but I feel much better about myself if I am contributing something - doing something!! If i was at home like this and not in school I think it would have drove me crazy!!!Anyway, he works like crazy to support us, and thankfully we're doing fairly ok financially. However, there have been some times when we werent, at all. There was a brief period of time a few years back when, even though I HATED it, we applied for assistance and got it for about 4 months. I honestly felt so embarrassed to be on welfare - worked our butts off to get jobs and get OFF the system and havent been back on it since. Some ppl NEED the help, like you, and cant help it that they cant' work, but for all the others who are lazy? They need to stop! Have some damn pride in yourself!! Argh, just irritates the hell out of me.

Last Edited by *<3sugar&spice<3* on 02/03/2012 11:39 PM

Exactly!!! You indulge in the vices and yet take tax payer money... and before you all jump on board saying she "earned it" you probably should look at what OP contributed vs what OP is getting out of the system in total benefits. I would be willing to bet that OP has extracted MORE than paid into the system. This is the reason why Amerika is broke...

OP, how about getting a job, any job? Sell your art, do something.

I like Circle of Life and Second Sight. I really though love them all. Just have faith that everything will work out.

Uh, if you rent or lease, said property is not yours. It is no different than smashing holes in the wall... not your property...

I don't like smoking but hey, she only smokes a few a day. Everybody needs some kind of vice whether it be a beer or some junk food. Give her a break. She has overcome a lot. Probably more than most of us here. Go read her BIO on her web page.

hey now wait a second, if she wants to smoke let her smoke but i am just curious how she picked up the habit in the first place.

Have you read ANYTHING she's said?

Obviously it would be best for her to quit smoking. I did, and I'm glad I did. But given what she has to struggle with every day -- and the fact that despite it she manages to make beautiful art and create something in this destructive world -- I am not too fussed if she spends a little taxpayer money on smokes. Hell, we all need our vices to make this s**tty world bearable. Would you be whinging on about it if she was drinking a liter of Coke a day?

Uh, yeah I get that...its not technically yours but you pay to live in and enjoy the property. I know some landlords who just charge a little more for smokers - and ppl around here have no problem with that.

Many, many years ago, I survived an assault. A friend accidentally left a few smokes behind. Had a lit candle. Felt momentarily self destructive. Smoked it....& thought...'Hmmm....I feel a little less stressed/horrified... I think I'll have another...' And so the addiction began. I never said I was proud to smoke. Just that I do smoke.

Hey, I'm glad OP is trying, what I am saying is that the system is close to imploding, if not already there. How would OP have functioned 150 years ago? Just saying...

The not being able to work from home part is nuts!! you would think they would WANT ppl to do that and earn income if they can - and then hopefully not need the assistance!! DUH!! stupid government....

I wouldn't either.