I feel like I've been kicked in the butt.

I am so frustrated with our ever so wonderful US government, and more specifically the Social Security Administration, I could scream.. or cry.. whatever!

Let me explain...

Note: For my new readers and followers, if you didn't already know, my dad passed away December 31, 2008.

In case you are not aware, after someone passes away, social security issues a check to the family (spouse, child, whatever) in the amount of $255. My grandmother said that this was originally started to help cover the cost of a monument at the grave site. I'm not really sure what the purpose of the check is now, but they still issue it.

2nd note: My parents have been separated for a few years, but were not divorced, and they have remained close. Everything is seriously like normal when we come into town to visit. We are still a complete family.

Well, since my mom and dad did not live in the same house at the time of my dad's death, we do not get the check. Even though she is still legally his wife and they were together 25 or so years before they separated. Okay... no big deal... it's only $255 that's fine. It's just frustrating that there is a loophole for everything when it comes to anything having to do with the government.

3rd note: After finding out about my dad's worsening heart condition in March of 2008, my dad was declared disabled according to the government and was instructed by his doctors to never return to work. He was not physically capable of doing anything that required too much physical exertion without doing further harm to himself.

So after going through the whole applying for disability process and everything that that entails, my dad received his first disability check in November that was for the month of October. They run a month behind for whatever reason. Can I say that it was so nice for my dad to live without income from March - November. The disability process makes you wait 5 or 6 months before they will give you anything so that way people who aren't really disabled will get up and go back to work. I sure hope that someone who seriously is disabled doesn't go back to work because they are so desperate for money. That could end up very badly.

Moving on, my dad received his direct deposit for his disability in January (which is for the month of December, remember) and then we got a letter in the mail from the bank. It stated that the funds were being placed on hold for now because the bank has to send the money back to social security. Okay, wait.. Excuse me?? I called the bank so check on the situation and they said that we needed to contact the social security office about the status of the funds and whether or not we could have them. Well, according to me, we can have them. It was for December and my dad passed away on the last day of the month. I think that he was entitled to them.

So, my mom talks to the social security office the other day.

Final note (sorry): The first time we talked to the social security office when dealing with the $255 check, they informed us that we would get to keep the December disability check that would come in January.

While on the phone with them, the lady so kindly informed her that she was told wrong and that we would not be able to keep the December disability check. WHY, you ask? Well, according to the Social Security Administration, they do not, and will not, prorate checks. This means that you must be alive at midnight on the last day of the month in order to be eligible to receive payment for that month. (My dad passed away shortly after 7am on the last day of the month)

Are you freaking kidding me?!?! When I found this out today I was angry and wanted to cry all at the same time. I feel like this crappy government is screwing my family over. It literally feels like the just slapped me in the face. I understand that they have their rules and policies for whatever but in our situation, we are really getting screwed. Now if he would have passed away at the beginning of the month, I would understand a little bit more as to why they would say we can't have the money. And please don't get me wrong, it's not the money that I really care about. I'm not greedy.. it's what we were going to use the money for is what I care about. We were waiting on that last check because that was the money that we were going to use to buy my dad's headstone for his grave site. Now we must figure out something else. Thank you social security, thankyouverymuch. I hate you right now, I really do!

So finally, I am sorry to rant and rave so much on this post. I hope you will understand that I just had to get that out while Mr. D is still at work. Besides, I really don't want to make his birthday a downer by me being upset about this. It's nice to have a place to come and let things out, so thank you to whoever reads this.