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I am in a major bind. I am unable to work due to medical issues and for the first time ever had to apply for income assistance. My problem is that after my rent I have about $65 for food, gas, medication and bills. My medication is about $550/month alone. I have contacted pharmacare and nothing I take is covered under pharmacare, I have tried generic brands and have had adverse side effects. I have called my social worker and she could not help me. I have applied for disability ( not like it would make a difference) and can take about a year to get approved. I just don't know how I can live on it. Where I live is the cheapest place I found.

Was it related to work? EI sick? Wcb? Have you looked into an insurance plan for yourself for medical? May be cheaper then your meds.

Won't pharmacare cover it if your doctor states that no generic brand will work? I think I heard that somewhere. Might be worth asking your doctor about or looking in to.

You can call pharmacare and get them to do an adjustment on your deductible. As it is based on what you made a year or two previous. You probably make less now. So you can get it lower. Also get your doctor to get EDS coverage on your Meds so they will be approved by pharmacare. You can get more for disability EIA than regular EIA - see if your doctor will fill our forms. Sign up for mb housing even though it's long list. Keep looking for cheaper places. Also if you are able to volunteer do it as you can get more EIA. Is your medical issues long term or short term or unknown?

I just wanted to add that is $65 a month. I had a career and was very happy and good at it, I lost my job due to medical reasons got another one(same field) when I was doing better and had to stop to a new nurological condition that prevented me to have a life. Had savings and had to use them all up before getting assistants, had credit cards almost done but they are now almost full from having to buy my medication. I don't have any private medical care as it is too expensive and does not cover my medication for 1 month (blue cross, cover only up to $200/year for $40/month) and I am not a freeloader have been working for over 16 years without any downtime or no gaps in employment. Just thought I would let you have the full story before calling me lazy...

Nope.

My doctor has already filled paperwork it is getting it approved that takes this long. I will not find a cheaper place as it is with my parents and that with rent assist. I am getting my deductible lowered it is the rest of the medication ($500/month worth) that is not covered by pharmacare. Alot of people do not know but it does not cover everything

i was going to say get a roommate but if you are living with your parents that may not work but i would ask if they are able to not charge you rent or include food?  
 
is there anything else you can do to get even a bit of income, my aunt house sits and dog walks and she is in a similar situation  
 
can you apply for CPP disability? (not sure what disability you applied for) my dad received CPP disability and they paid for piles of meds as well as gas supplement for appointments, gst refunds on receipts and much much more, it took a bit but he harassed them until he found an advocate that helped things  
 
also ask the drs and nurses if they know of any other programs or solutions for you, if you are disabled many will help you find resources  
 
also hit the food banks and see if any service clubs offer help too  
 
good luck

They let me live at home for almost 2 years without paying rent but it was hard on them due to high house costs (taxes..) I do eat some meals with them I just can't raid their pantry all the time as it will just raise more bills for them. The place I was living before was more expensive then where I am now and it was only a small bedroom, living in Brandon is crazy expensive. I know if I start bringing in money I will get less and less from income assist. When I applied for it they even took the $90 I got for my bday and Christmas as income (money I had on me. I asked my social worker about food and she didn't know anything. I am getting incredibly frustrated about this. First they tell me to get rid of my savings and then starve me. What really sucks is that I will most likely lose the car that I have with less than a year left on payments and I need my car to go to the doctors in Winnipeg!! If I sell it I will still have money owing and no way to get around (unable to walk because of damaged feet. Have been told buy an orthopedic surgeon that I need surgery right away but need to lose weight before) AGHHHH!!!

Waitn' for the weekend said "They let me live at home for almost 2 years without paying rent but it was hard on them due to high house costs (taxes..) I do eat some meals with them I just can't raid their pantry all the time as it will just raise more bills for them. The place I was living before was more expensive then where I am now and it was only a small bedroom, living in Brandon is crazy expensive. I know if I start bringing in money I will get less and less from income assist. When I applied for it they even took the $90 I got for my bday and Christmas as income (money I had on me. I asked my social worker about food and she didn't know anything. I am getting incredibly frustrated about this. First they tell me to get rid of my savings and then starve me. What really sucks is that I will most likely lose the car that I have with less than a year left on payments and I need my car to go to the doctors in Winnipeg!! If I sell it I will still have money owing and no way to get around (unable to walk because of damaged feet. Have been told buy an orthopedic surgeon that I need surgery right away but need to lose weight before) AGHHHH!!! "

So, you're living with your parents, they charge you rent, take your social assistance cheques and leave you with $65 a month for medications?  
 
Holy.

BudLimeLover said "    Waitn' for the weekend said "They let me live at home for almost 2 years without paying rent but it was hard on them due to high house costs (taxes..) I do eat some meals with them I just can't raid their pantry all the time as it will just raise more bills for them. The place I was living before was more expensive then where I am now and it was only a small bedroom, living in Brandon is crazy expensive. I know if I start bringing in money I will get less and less from income assist. When I applied for it they even took the $90 I got for my bday and Christmas as income (money I had on me. I asked my social worker about food and she didn't know anything. I am getting incredibly frustrated about this. First they tell me to get rid of my savings and then starve me. What really sucks is that I will most likely lose the car that I have with less than a year left on payments and I need my car to go to the doctors in Winnipeg!! If I sell it I will still have money owing and no way to get around (unable to walk because of damaged feet. Have been told buy an orthopedic surgeon that I need surgery right away but need to lose weight before) AGHHHH!!! " So, you're living with your parents, they charge you rent, take your social assistance cheques and leave you with $65 a month for medications?     Holy. "

Its not like that. It is just helping with costs. If I lived where I was before I wouldn't have any money at all, I would be -50 if I was there. I can't let my parents bear all costs! Just because they are my parents doesn't mean I can be a freeloader/ They help me out a lot, They will ask for less if I need it, I am an adult not a child! They also help with my gas costs when I have a doctors appt. in Winnipeg

Can you sign your car over to your parents? you still make the payments, but its' in their name so you aren't penalized for owning it. There's no taxes to be paid through insurance when you gift a vehicle to a family member. I can't imagine your frustration, it sounds like you are in an awful situation. I hope you get help soon!

Waitn' for the weekend said "I am in a major bind. I am unable to work due to medical issues and for the first time ever had to apply for income assistance. My problem is that after my rent I have about $65 for food, gas, medication and bills. My medication is about $550/month alone. I have contacted pharmacare and nothing I take is covered under pharmacare, I have tried generic brands and have had adverse side effects. I have called my social worker and she could not help me. I have applied for disability ( not like it would make a difference) and can take about a year to get approved. I just don't know how I can live on it. Where I live is the cheapest place I found. "

If you are accepted for EIA, they will pay for your prescriptions. You just have to walk in and sign for them.  
If you are unable to work for medical reasons they should grant you disability. I know many of people who shouldn't be on it but managed to slip through the cracks, so you shouldn't have an issue.

i respect that you believe you should stand on your own as you are an adult, i am also not sure of your parents financial situation but if it were me I would honestly feed you so you had money to pay for other necessities, even renting out the suite you are in and moving yopu into my space if i had too  
 
also if i were you, and i know its not totally honest, but I would NOT tell EIA about birthday money or house sitting/baby sitting jobs ect, Im not sure what the claw back rate is now but I do believe its low and you are trying to help yourself with what you can while you wait for disability  
 
it does seem like lots who shouldnt get disability do and others who should have to fight but dont give up hopefully it will come sooner rather then latter, do also push them for help with meds  
 
i also wonder if your car payments are in your calculations? i know you may need the car and in hind sight you should have paid the car off with the cash you had and apply for EIA sooner but you may have to sell the car and then get EIA to pay a rental, bus, or other paid service to get you to appointments  
 
also just keep phoning and phoning everyone and anyone until you find something that will work, someone might just get sick of you bugging them and help you lol

traveller said "i respect that you believe you should stand on your own as you are an adult, i am also not sure of your parents financial situation but if it were me I would honestly feed you so you had money to pay for other necessities, even renting out the suite you are in and moving yopu into my space if i had too     also if i were you, and i know its not totally honest, but I would NOT tell EIA about birthday money or house sitting/baby sitting jobs ect, Im not sure what the claw back rate is now but I do believe its low and you are trying to help yourself with what you can while you wait for disability     it does seem like lots who shouldnt get disability do and others who should have to fight but dont give up hopefully it will come sooner rather then latter, do also push them for help with meds     i also wonder if your car payments are in your calculations? i know you may need the car and in hind sight you should have paid the car off with the cash you had and apply for EIA sooner but you may have to sell the car and then get EIA to pay a rental, bus, or other paid service to get you to appointments     also just keep phoning and phoning everyone and anyone until you find something that will work, someone might just get sick of you bugging them and help you lol "

They ask for your bills for the past 3 months and pointed out car payments and they asked about how much I owe on it and how much it is worth and of course as we all know vehicles are always worth less than what you paid for them. I just don't want to lie to the government and they say gifts under $100 do not get counted as assests as I would not like to get into trouble. With my meds. I advised my social worker aboutthem ( I brought them to her) and she said that she didn't need to see them. I also advised her that certain transactions were meds. Maybe I just got one that was not sure of what can be done.  
All I know that is was easier to be able to get a subsidised rate for the YMCA.

try going to the soup kitchen (for a daily meal) and the food bank (for a grocery hamper). That might help with eating.  
 
Could you place a room/board ad and get accommodation in return for something they might need. Not sure what else to say, sorry for your troubles.

Brendennis said "try going to the soup kitchen (for a daily meal) and the food bank (for a grocery hamper). That might help with eating.     Could you place a room/board ad and get accommodation in return for something they might need. Not sure what else to say, sorry for your troubles. "

Living with parents. Unable to rent out there house lol

and I don't really have any advise because I have been through a similar situation. My health was always good but my partner became ill. A loophole in her work benefits made her ineligible for those, we ran through the medical EI, everything. We had a respectable reserve fund too but it ran out. I ended up working a 2nd job which led to our relationship ending too, but I look back now and wonder how much worse her life would have been if she was alone, because there is just not enough programs for people that go through hell that don't ask for it. On paper we had what the experts recommend and it still fell short. Wishing you the best!

This is what really makes me mad. It seems that able bodied people that are just lazy and abuse the system get all the benefits, and because of them the ones tha really need it get screwed.

Contact your case worker and get them to cover your medications  
They do that for people,e on social assistance  
Be adamant - you may have to fight for what you want

If your medication isn't covered by Pharmacare, even EDS Part 3, then EIA probably won't cover it. They don't cover every medication, only those on the provincial pharmacare formulary.

Ask your pharmacy about this program and if any of your medication costs could be aided. Note: Dr would need to specify "no substitution" on the prescription.

Join InnoviCares....(sp)it is free to join and when you are a member....if the drug is listed they will cover the cost of the upgrade from generic to brand name.....not all pharmacies take part in the program...Walmart does.....you can go to the Innovi website and sign up...

UofAalum said "Ask your pharmacy about this program and if any of your medication costs could be aided. Note: Dr would need to specify "no substitution" on the prescription. "

I was lucky enough to get that for my antidepressants. It dropped the cost for that med $70/month but even with that it is still over $500/month but thank you all for your support and care. I am trying to get rid of a bunch of weight so I can have surgery on my feet. Maybe after that i can return to my career, I know it would probably sound weird but I can't wait until I am able to get back to work.

I believe once you are on income assistance all your medications are paid for. Getting disability income assistance will get you more money also. Get forms from your worker for special diet and then get your doctor to fill them out. this will get you another 50 bucks.

And I found out that most of them are still not covered. The most expensive ones of course

Waitn' for the weekend said "And I found out that most of them are still not covered. The most expensive ones of course "

i was wondering how things were going for you, great you get some covered, but sucks at the other ones, what else has changed for you?

i'm sending you a pm

You should be able to go to your Dr and get a letter stating the medication (the expensive one that is not covered) is required. We have had to do that and have had no problem getting the letter. I do believe you need a new letter each year.