Lying to Recieve Government Aed

[CTuck]

Today, I had an appointment with a counselor from the Department of Services for the Blind. I am not blind, but my vision is bad. Enough so that I can’t drive. Everyione has told me to let them help me. It would be nice as I am unable to afford insurance or all the things I would like to have ( eye exams, prescription glasses, etc) and they would cover all that. I have a job, support my family, I’m just poor. What bothers me though is that I okay’d lying about certain things that he would tell me, “I didn’t hear that. That would disqualify you.” I don’t want to lie, even if it would give me something good. I just kind of choked and tried to make little of it, because it would do something good. I’ve already resolved not to go through with this, even though everyone will be disappointed with me. I just can’t do it in good conscience. I would rather save the money, or find an agency that will help me and let me be honest. I just wanted some feedback. And is confession necessary? I will be going regardless, but I would like know if I should abstain from Communion until then. Thank you.

 

[Spencerian]

Today, I had an appointment with a counselor from the Department of Services for the Blind. I am not blind, but my vision is bad. Enough so that I can’t drive. Everyione has told me to let them help me. It would be nice as I am unable to afford insurance or all the things I would like to have ( eye exams, prescription glasses, etc) and they would cover all that. I have a job, support my family, I’m just poor. What bothers me though is that I okay’d lying about certain things that he would tell me, “I didn’t hear that. That would disqualify you.” I don’t want to lie, even if it would give me something good. I just kind of choked and tried to make little of it, because it would do something good. I’ve already resolved not to go through with this, even though everyone will be disappointed with me. I just can’t do it in good conscience. I would rather save the money, or find an agency that will help me and let me be honest. I just wanted some feedback. And is confession necessary? I will be going regardless, but I would like know if I should abstain from Communion until then. Thank you.

Hi.

Remember that a mortal sin has three qualifiers.
*
Mortal sin is a sin of grave matter
Mortal sin is committed with full knowledge of the sinner
Mortal sin is committed with deliberate consent of the sinner*

I don’t think any of us here can speak of either your personal trials or your moral trials, for it is not right for us to condemn you or give you professional advice. It does sound to me that you have a contrite heart and want to do the best thing by God but also recognize serious needs for you and your family. We will all pray for you, but I would speak with a priest. He may not only be able to help you in your moral plight, but could know of other resources for your health challenges. God bless.

 

[Castello]

There are groups who will help you and NOT require you to lie.

The Lion’s Club works with eye/glasses needs.

The Knights of Columbus helps those in need.

The St Vincent de Paul Society.

Your Diocese may have other resources.

May St Lucy interceede for you.

 

[jwakja]

No offense, you basically join millions of “Americans” who screw the system for their own wealth. Look at Greece and where they are now for corruption by their populus.

 

[Castello]

Reading again, if what you need is an eye exam and glasses, WalMart is very affordable - then ask the Lions, Knights or SSVDP to cover what you cannot.

 

[RastaPasta]

Not sure if you fall into this category, but are you legally blind:

medicinenet.com/blindness/page4.htm

“Legal blindness is not a medical term. It is defined by lawmakers in nations or states in order to either limit allowable activities, such as driving, of individuals who are “legally blind” or to provide preferential governmental benefits to those people in the form of educational, service, or monetary assistance. Under the Aid to the Blind program in the Social Security Act passed in 1935, the United States Congress defined legal blindness as either central visual acuity of 20/200 or less in the better eye with corrective glasses or central visual acuity of more than 20/200 if there is a visual field defect in which the peripheral field is contracted to such an extent that the widest diameter of the visual field subtends an angular distance no greater than 20 degrees in the better eye.”

You might want to see an eye doctor and find out if you are or not. If you are considered to be legally blind, then you can apply for and receive State aid with a clean conscious.

If the cost of seeing an eye care professional exceeds your budget, I would suggest that you check and see if The St Vincent de Paul Society can be found in your area. If you explain your circumstances to them, they may be able to help you defer the cost of an eye examination.

 

[jilly4ski]

Reading again, if what you need is an eye exam and glasses, WalMart is very affordable - then ask the Lions, Knights or SSVDP to cover what you cannot.

Or even a lot of department stores when they have a sale on (or Americas Best etc.) You can often get a free exam and 2 pairs of glasses for under $100. (Well I can’t as I have to have special lenses, I am so visually impaired, that without the special lenses none of the cheap frames can hold my lens). You just have to look around and shop for the best price and sales. Last time I needed an exam, I went to JCP optical didn’t get glasses, but got a free exam and then paid for contacts.

 

[hannajomar]

God bless you for being honest. Because you are going to do the right thing, someone else who actually qualifies will be able to be helped. I was just thinking about this exact issue on my ride home tonight. I’m no expert and have no credentials to say this, but if I was in your place, I would probably receive Holy Communion if I was unable to go to confession beforehand.

 

[LittleSoldier]

Reading again, if what you need is an eye exam and glasses, WalMart is very affordable - then ask the Lions, Knights or SSVDP to cover what you cannot.

Please be careful about buying glasses from WalMart. I bought a pair of glasses there. A crack showed up in one of the “corners” and grew. In the meantime pits started showing up all over the lenses, even though they allegedly had a no-scratch coating. I took them back and the lenses were replaced. These didn’t crack but pitted immediately, even though they also had a no-scratch coating.

They were the worst glasses I have ever had.

I have no money for new glasses, my good pair’s frame literally peeled off the lenses, and now I’m stuck wearing an older pair that are also falling apart. I can’t afford an exam so I guess the fact that I can’t afford glasses doesn’t matter. When the pair I’m wearing now break I will have to stop driving. I also can’t be monitored as to glaucoma problems (I’m diabetic) and my doctor keeps harassing me about getting my eyes checked. She can probably afford to have it done. I can’t and they won’t do it for free. My doctor does not understand why my not having any money makes any difference.

Sorry - off topic a bit there. Just, please, be careful about WalMart. From my experience and from another’s, I can’t recommend them. Costco has a good reputation and evidently they have excellent prices. If one is a member of Costco that might be a good place to check out.

 

[LittleSoldier]

There are groups who will help you and NOT require you to lie.

The Lion’s Club works with eye/glasses needs.

The Knights of Columbus helps those in need.

The St Vincent de Paul Society.

Your Diocese may have other resources.

May St Lucy interceede for you.

Thank you for the list. I need glasses badly and I am trying to find some help. My vision insurance (and dental) was dropped when I was injured at work. Injured workers are often left to survive on their own with no help.

My parish has been no help at all. I can’t even get enrolled for the Brown Scapular there because our one and only priest doesn’t know how to do it and won’t schedule an appointment for me.

Please forgive my venting. I’m frustrated, depressed, and very, very frightened of what may happen to me. I think I’m going to end up living on the street and it seems like there is nothing I can do about it.

 

[jilly4ski]

Please be careful about buying glasses from WalMart. I bought a pair of glasses there. A crack showed up in one of the “corners” and grew. In the meantime pits started showing up all over the lenses, even though they allegedly had a no-scratch coating. I took them back and the lenses were replaced. These didn’t crack but pitted immediately, even though they also had a no-scratch coating.

They were the worst glasses I have ever had.

I have no money for new glasses, my good pair’s frame literally peeled off the lenses, and now I’m stuck wearing an older pair that are also falling apart. I can’t afford an exam so I guess the fact that I can’t afford glasses doesn’t matter. When the pair I’m wearing now break I will have to stop driving. I also can’t be monitored as to glaucoma problems (I’m diabetic) and my doctor keeps harassing me about getting my eyes checked. She can probably afford to have it done. I can’t and they won’t do it for free. My doctor does not understand why my not having any money makes any difference.

Sorry - off topic a bit there. Just, please, be careful about WalMart. From my experience and from another’s, I can’t recommend them. Costco has a good reputation and evidently they have excellent prices. If one is a member of Costco that might be a good place to check out.

Actually I would suggest never getting the no scratch coating, because it is prone to pitting and flaking especially as the lense ages. It really doesn’t have much to do with the quality of the glasses themselves. (though I suppose the cheaper no scratch coating would be more prone to that). My parents had some bad experiences with this in the mid 90s.

 

[LittleSoldier]

Actually I would suggest never getting the no scratch coating, because it is prone to pitting and flaking especially as the lense ages. It really doesn’t have much to do with the quality of the glasses themselves. (though I suppose the cheaper no scratch coating would be more prone to that). My parents had some bad experiences with this in the mid 90s.

It’s hard where I live because I’m very near the beach and we have a lot of very tiny bits of sand which blow eastward. They damage our cars and our eyeglasses. We even had a store with an outside cash register that was in the Garden Department. It was somewhat protected but it still had to be removed because sand got into the thing where people swipe their credit cards and store cards. The sand also ruined some of the cards that were swiped.

The sand is so fine that people don’t even see it.

I don’t know what else to do except to have a no-scratch coating put on my eyeglasses. I guess I could get away without the progressives and then use those flip-over sunglasses (which would also save a bit of money but would make the glasses heavier).

Thanks for letting me know. When I manage to get to an optometrist I will ask her.

 

[jmcrae]

Today, I had an appointment with a counselor from the Department of Services for the Blind. I am not blind, but my vision is bad. Enough so that I can’t drive.

If you can’t drive and glasses won’t help, then from a legal point of view, aren’t you legally blind? Or are you just saying that you can’t drive without your glasses?

I can’t drive without my glasses, but when I have them on, I’m fine.

 

[Castello]

Progressives? Those are very expensive. Talk to the Lion’s Club, they will help you get basic glasses.

 

[jilly4ski]

Progressives? Those are very expensive. Talk to the Lion’s Club, they will help you get basic glasses.

Are those the ones that change from regular into sunglasses.
I agree, it is probably way cheaper to just get 2 glasses from a department store when they have the 2 for $100 and a free eye exam, and get a normal pair and a sunglasses pair.

I unfortunately have to get expensive lenses. My prescription is so bad that I have to get the polycarbonate lenses in order to get them to fit in a normal sized frame. Right now my glasses are broken, so I am relying completely on my contacts. It is annoying. I also an very unsatisfied with the brand of contacts I am wearing now.

Beware, if you go to more commercial places, that they will try to sell you stuff you don’t actually need. The sales people were actually good and trying to save us money, but the optometrist was trying to sell me lasik, different contacts so my eye lids wouldn’t be droopy. etc. It was really annoying.

 

[CTuck]

If you can’t drive and glasses won’t help, then from a legal point of view, aren’t you legally blind? Or are you just saying that you can’t drive without your glasses?

I can’t drive without my glasses, but when I have them on, I’m fine.

I’m not legally blind according to my state’s definition, but I’m outside the parameters for legally obtaining a driver’s license. My state defines legal blindness as follows:

Legal Blindness

Any visual condition resulting in:

„X a visual acuity for distance vision in the best eye with the best correction of 20/200 or less, or

„X the widest diameter of visual field subtending an angle of less than 20 degrees.

I think the last time I was examined I got bumped up to somewhere around 20/70 with a good set of prescription glasses. I get around very well, much more so than what I think it might sound like to others. Just from the experience of speaking about it over the years, I think most people do assume legal blindness. But it’s curious to me, and I am in no way complaining but just making an observation, some of the people I’ve known who legally drive, but needing glasses do so, actually see worse than I do if we were to both not to be wearing any. I’m fairly sure it’s the difference between our impairments, not to any fault on the part of my doctor.

 

[CTuck]

What made my situation morally uncomfortable is that I do get around well. The DSB wants more of a reson other than being poor, which is fine. There are people who are blind and need that service more than I do.

 

[LittleSoldier]

Are those the ones that change from regular into sunglasses.
I agree, it is probably way cheaper to just get 2 glasses from a department store when they have the 2 for $100 and a free eye exam, and get a normal pair and a sunglasses pair.

I’ve never seen a two-for-one special that included bifocals. I’m not saying they don’t exist - I just have never seen them.

I unfortunately have to get expensive lenses. My prescription is so bad that I have to get the polycarbonate lenses in order to get them to fit in a normal sized frame. Right now my glasses are broken, so I am relying completely on my contacts. It is annoying. I also an very unsatisfied with the brand of contacts I am wearing now.

I need crystals in the lenses and I don’t know if any program would cover those. I can’t wear contacts at all.

Beware, if you go to more commercial places, that they will try to sell you stuff you don’t actually need. The sales people were actually good and trying to save us money, but the optometrist was trying to sell me lasik, different contacts so my eye lids wouldn’t be droopy. etc. It was really annoying.

Thanks for the warning. I’ll be careful. I have a lot of research to do.

 

[jilly4ski]

I’ve never seen a two-for-one special that included bifocals. I’m not saying they don’t exist - I just have never seen them.
I need crystals in the lenses and I don’t know if any program would cover those. I can’t wear contacts at all.

Thanks for the warning. I’ll be careful. I have a lot of research to do.

Here is the JC Penny optical ad. Looks like you could get 2 frames (the ones under $120) and no-line bifocals for ~$170. (If you need special lenses this will be extra, and it doesn’t look like the eye exam is included this time).

jcpenneyoptical.com/coupons.html

It looks like Sears is similar except the specify plastic lenses. You could also try Pearl Vision, Americas Best, Empire Vision, Vision World, and other eye places. Call price their stuff and look for deals.

 

[LittleSoldier]

Here is the JC Penny optical ad. Looks like you could get 2 frames (the ones under $120) and no-line bifocals for ~$170. (If you need special lenses this will be extra, and it doesn’t look like the eye exam is included this time).

jcpenneyoptical.com/coupons.html

It looks like Sears is similar except the specify plastic lenses. You could also try Pearl Vision, Americas Best, Empire Vision, Vision World, and other eye places. Call price their stuff and look for deals.

Thank you! I might be eligible for a special program for a free eye exam because I’m low-income, very under insured, and diabetic (although what is considered low-income is often absolute poverty). I could afford those glasses and they are no-line bifocals which is what I am used to.

Wow, thanks everyone for your help! I’ve been so worried about this because my vision is awfully bad. The crystals I need don’t cost very much so I could pay for those separately.