Being Alive; August 1996
Fran McDonald

Since I mentioned Renter Assistance in the last issue, more than 400 of you have requested the claim form! That's kept me busy and out of trouble, but I want to remind you that September 3 is the deadline for filing so if you haven't done it yet, hop to! And if you don't yet have a claim form, call me.

Credit Reports

Many of you have told me about your concerns regarding credit ratings, especially since HIV/AIDS often radically changes income and personal circumstances. Rather than wonder just what is what, it's best to get the facts in order to properly plan finances. Learning your credit rating is easier than many people think. For example, to get a TRW credit report you make the request in your own handwriting; next, print your name and all present and past addresses for the last five years, your social security number, and your date of birth; enclose a photocopy of a utility bill; and, last, sign your name. Mail the request to TRW, P.O. Box 2350, Chatsworth, CA 91313-2350. The report will be sent to you in about three weeks and you are allowed one report per year at no charge. If you have any questions, TRW can be reached at 800.682.7654.

General Assistance in Trouble Again

As a result of SB 681 (Hurtt) which was passed by the Legislature and signed by the Governor, effective January 1997 counties will be able to drastically cut their General Assistance ("General Relief" in Los Angeles) rolls. This law allows counties to limit assistance to 3 months out of 12 to "employables," cut grants by $40 for providing medical benefits and further reduce grants for recipients who share housing. The bill further allows counties, if they so choose, to pay recipients with in-kind assistance, two-party payments, or voucher payments instead of cash. In Los Angeles, the news is especially grim, as the Board of Supervisors recently received approval from the Commission on State Mandates to lower General Relief to $212 per month. As LACEH (L.A. Coalition to End Homelessness) so astutely points out, Los Angeles leads the nation in homelessness. With decreased grants and time-limited payments, tens of thousands of people will certainly end up on the street.

This is perhaps only the beginning, as Governor Wilson has already introduced a harrowing redesign of California's welfare program with AB 3140 (Bordonaro). Assuming passage of federal welfare reform, this could give him carte blanche to effect massive cuts without requesting federal waivers. Although the Governor has said his goal is to move families off of welfare, he says nothing about moving families out of poverty. Simply herding poor people into the gutter does not solve a pressing social problem; it only creates more for an already beleaguered society, not to mention that such tactics are unconscionable-but then conscience has frequently been absent from the Wilson agenda.

You not only help affected persons living with HIV/AIDS but you truly help everyone when you put your foot down and notify your Assemblyperson and State Senator that you won't tolerate such electoral behavior. Speak in terms of withholding your vote in the future and working for their opponents in the next election. And that reminds me: Make sure you're registered to vote!

Medicare Helpline

The California Medical Review, Inc., which is the federally-funded, non-profit quality improvement organization for Medicare in California, has a Helpline where questions about patient rights and responsibilities (as well as those of Medicare) and questions about the program and its workings will be answered. The Helpline is multilingual and can be reached at 800.841.1602 or TDD 800.881.5980. (Fran McDonald has been in Social Services for 25 years and welcomes your calls at 213.664.4772.)

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Copyright © 1996 - Beings Alive. Permission granted for noncommercial reproduction, provided that our address and phone number are included if more than short quotations are used. Subscription lists are kept confidential. Being Alive, 621 N. San Vicente Blvd., West Hollywood, CA 90069, Tel - 310.289.2551; FAX - 310.289.9866; Email: BeiAlive@aol.com  http://www.beingalivela.org/