Why do all these people have to be involved?

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Every time I make any financial decision whatsoever, I have to consult with at least three people: my service coordinator, my VESID counselor, my job coach, and possibly more. I am on SSD, have an IEP, and am applying to ISS; I'm told that is the reason that every one of these individuals has to know everything and sometimes be told repeatedly. I am irritated that every financial decision that I make (if I decide to work, if I lose a job/quit a job, what KIND of job do I want, etc) is so closely monitored and requires meetings and consultation.

Is there any way around this level of intrusion? If anyone else has to deal with this problem, how do you cope?

I'm on SSDI and when I lived in NC, I had a job coach, a DD casemanager, a therapist and a doctor. Having a team of people to work with you can be very beneficial.

My AS BF has a payee and a caseworker and he gets his money through that system. He hasn't been frustrated with it because he is so relieved he doesn't have to manage his own money.

I'd suggest you communicate about your frustrations, because I do understand why you're frustrated. You must feel like you have to go through a committee to get enough money for a soda pop. It sucks.

Still, communication is key.

All those people are involved because taking care of disabled people is big business and you are the commodity.

There may be some truth to that. There very much seems to be a fear-based mentality amongst service professionals that work with the disabled. Statements such as "if you do work/make too much money/exhibit too much independence, you'll lose your disability and/or insurance benefits," abound. There seems to be little interest in helping the disabled to gain any real independence, but to maintain a lifestyle that looks something like it but still utilizes benefits. I had to fight my service coordinator (and still do) to get her to understand that surrendering my benefits and living an independent lifestyle in terms of finance, insurance, employment and transportation is exactly what I'm trying to do.

In my state, many of these employment, service coordination, and mental health programs are Medicaid funded. While I'm sure that the desire to help me is very real, I wonder if the type of help I request is what my service professionals are willing to offer. If many people like me realized that it is possible to get off state and federal financial and insurance assistance, I wonder what would happen to funding? Until I gain financial independence, all I can do is keep advocating for myself.

When you accept money from the government, you accept their rules.
And their #1 rule is - Make Busywork for Government Employees so they don't look as totally useless as they usually are.

#2 Never trust others with your future or YOUR MONEY! Thats an easy way to get screwed.