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A page in the diary "Life's journey to recovery"
Written by Turquoise 15 March 2010 11:24

Still remains as usual, asked by HR what they can do to help me. Am financially strapped. What the idea of asking me to sell my 4room flat to downgrade to smaller, think we never thought of it. Duhz! Think as if so easy, nowadays buying resale flat pose risk as the previous owner could have own loan sharks, how are we going to find out it's ok to buy. Moreover, resales flats not cheap at all. Even new ones, are extremely small & expensive. Even if were to sell, we had to move stuffs & it will take tolls on my mother & myself. I feddup & raised voice, IT"S NOT THAT AS EASY AS U SEE IT TO BE! I broke down in tears.

Later she ask rent out, we did wanna rent out but no one wants. Say our house run down, not nice. Keep asking me to come early by mrt which is out of question, extremely crowded in the morning already at 6 a.m. coz mrt go to Joo Koon before Boon Lay. Said is easier than done. Unless, u dun mind me coming to work late lor by bus but 198 alone will take 2 hrs.

Mentioned they kept trying to ask for other assistance but PA dun qualify..I told I knw oredi when yrs back, our lakeside family snr social worker helped us apply for it. Whatever, they think it's so easy, end up saying u have to help urself. Said equals to no say. Asked me left how much savings in bank..$2K, how u wanna help me? Never say..Then she said she'll find out if sell house, how it will affect msw n other financial assistance!

Told me she contacted Dr Lee HY personally via email about my medical report to see how they can help me.

Ya, I know being concerned abt me getting well but outsiders u dunno it's not as easy as ABC to recover. Sighz..later afternoon gg with snr mgr to see HR mgr. My concern now is financial, what can they help me? It's not the 1st time we talk about oredi! Am tired of it & I have to show a smiley face somemore.

Wanted to pop lotsa pills, all different - will it be fatal enuf? Or drink dettol?

Comments from the community

It's not easy but it's your life.
If others are trying to help you, that's a blessing.
It is not their duty.
Many Singaporeans have to get on crowded MRT trains every day to go to work to earn a living. They wake up however early is necessary because they have to, not because they want to. They go in when they are sick. They go in when they feel sad.

I find it quite amazing that your HR Manager is so helpful to see whether these is a way by which they can help.
Perhaps they can't, but their openness to the idea is heartwarming.

I wish you all the best.

Written by hypomaniac, 15 March 2010 17:49

Hi Turquoise

Indeed your HR does sound helpful, even though she might not be really be able to help.

Your sharing here has helped me to understand your various worries at a deeper level.

Let me summarise what options you have considered so far:

1) Selling a flat is not an easy option for you with the various reasons you listed. And the most important one seems to be worrying that it would stress your mother and yourself unnecessarily.

2) Renting seems to be out cos of its apparent lack of appeal to prospective tenants according to you.

3) Your family doesn't qualify for Public Assistance when your social worker applied for you years back.

Changes to Public assistance scheme according to Channel NewsAsia website (http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1042742/1/.html):

From July this year, needy Singaporeans whose CPF payouts under the Minimum Sum Scheme or CPF LIFE are less than the prevailing Public Allowance rate can be considered for the scheme.

They must meet all the other criteria.

These include not being able to work, having no assets and receiving little or no family support.

Please don't give up just yet. It seems your senior management is willing to listen to you and discuss with you other options in which they can help you with your financial situation.

Your utter frustration at how things are is perfectly normal. I would feel this way too if I were in your shoes.

Keep on searching. Keep on asking. Try your nearby CDC and the national one-stop helpline ComCare if you havent' done so.

ComCare
Tel: 1800 222-0000

The ComCare Fund is a commitment from the Government to do more for needy Singaporeans, to ensure that no one will be left behind. ComCare means: 1. More help for the needy. 2. Greater decentralisation and more helping hands. 3. More flexibility in giving help where it is needed. 4. Simplified and streamlined assistance.

Continue to update us on the range of people and organisations you have approached for help and what you are thinking and feeling at any time.

We will be here to listen.

Take care, Turquoise. =)

Written by nw4m, 15 March 2010 22:02

As a matter of fact, MPS has helped me a lot! Deeply appreciated what they've done for me but I dun wish HR to be so insistent in her way that later ended up messing things up. Wait, like "jump into the yellow river oso unable to wash clean". Ppl who helped us a lot may perceived that like I dunno talk to HR abt what that they need to step in like that. Becoz everywhere social workers oso helped us too. Dun wish to like make matter worse for HR to call to family service ctr n my msw. Otherwise they might think they din help us enuf. This is my worrying part. Anyway, my snr mgr who accompanied me oso find this HR mgr oso dominating.

I'll be most happy to be leave alone when not being asked over the same things over n over again. Am really tired of it n stressed by it. Thou company is nice is lke letting me go for my appts, flexi in the case.

Written by Turquoise, 15 March 2010 23:21

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