Re: Migrating to NZ
Re: Migrating to NZ Well new zealand is a nice quiet country.I wouldn't try to come here right now, you need to pay 5000 dollars for quarenteen for starters.There is a blind educational union which is good.But if you want a job, may as well jump in a lake.I mean there are jobs but you need to be in the right place at the right time.The country is a nice place to live with accessibility and at least 2 organisations I know of but its all service based.The disability system is generally good apart from the few people wanting you to be healed sounding like they are stoned that can happen from time to time but well its ok.If its work you want unless you want to work in a disabled centre or something weird I wouldn't bother.You wouldn't be able to afford coming here even if the borders were open which they arn't so you can't. URL: https://forum.audiogames.net/post/623147/#p623147 -- Audiogames-reflector mailing list Audiogames-reflector@sabahattin-gucukoglu.com https://sabahattin-gucukoglu.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/audiogames-reflector
Re: Migrating to NZ
Re: Migrating to NZ Well, that probably is true for most disabilities, blindness should be alot simpler since it is severe and more obvious. URL: https://forum.audiogames.net/post/623126/#p623126 -- Audiogames-reflector mailing list Audiogames-reflector@sabahattin-gucukoglu.com https://sabahattin-gucukoglu.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/audiogames-reflector
Re: Migrating to NZ
Re: Migrating to NZ Ah, I've also heard it takes forever just to qualify for disability money in the US and then it's usually rejected so you must fight it, was that true for you? URL: https://forum.audiogames.net/post/623090/#p623090 -- Audiogames-reflector mailing list Audiogames-reflector@sabahattin-gucukoglu.com https://sabahattin-gucukoglu.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/audiogames-reflector
Re: Migrating to NZ
Re: Migrating to NZ Well, more than anything I think this is because it is a program you don't have to have worked before to qualify. The disability program people who have worked can get, once someone qualifies has alot less of those requirements. URL: https://forum.audiogames.net/post/623078/#p623078 -- Audiogames-reflector mailing list Audiogames-reflector@sabahattin-gucukoglu.com https://sabahattin-gucukoglu.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/audiogames-reflector
Re: Migrating to NZ
Re: Migrating to NZ @haily_merry, I'd deffinetly recommend visiting NZ and seeing what you think.@ghost wow... They really like taking money away from you, huh? No wonder Americans got bitchy with me about not working when I was on alter aeon, I still say they could have done a bit of research into what a person from the UK gets but yeah, I'd probably want to work too if there's cuts here and there for stupid reasons. URL: https://forum.audiogames.net/post/623042/#p623042 -- Audiogames-reflector mailing list Audiogames-reflector@sabahattin-gucukoglu.com https://sabahattin-gucukoglu.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/audiogames-reflector
Re: Migrating to NZ
Re: Migrating to NZ NHS. National health service. Clue's in the name, really. I'm currently based in Worcester for the time being because of school, which isn't actually too bad, and I believe even has a labour MP for what that's worth, but like, in the end it doesn't matter. This country only has a select view gender identity clinics, based in London, Leads and somewhere else I'm forgetting, I'll have to go through one of those. No ifs, ands, or buts about it. Well, unless I start diving into the relm of self medicating, which is a hole other minefield. URL: https://forum.audiogames.net/post/622899/#p622899 -- Audiogames-reflector mailing list Audiogames-reflector@sabahattin-gucukoglu.com https://sabahattin-gucukoglu.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/audiogames-reflector
Re: Migrating to NZ
Re: Migrating to NZ I still would consider staying where I am. Couldn't you find a friendlier city, and a friendlier job place? You could telework mostly or partially too if you face hostilities. URL: https://forum.audiogames.net/post/622893/#p622893 -- Audiogames-reflector mailing list Audiogames-reflector@sabahattin-gucukoglu.com https://sabahattin-gucukoglu.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/audiogames-reflector
Re: Migrating to NZ
Re: Migrating to NZ Hi,You hguys do bring up some extremely valid points. Honestly, were it not for the transphobia, I'd have no problem trying to make it work here, I'd have an easier time of it, that's for certain. But like, if I'm having to wait years just to receive basic treatment, that feels, pretty unacceptable to me. Never mind that none of our political parties have shown any interest in helping.I still do want to visit NZ, if only to get a feel for the place. I can get a visitors visa, that'll cover me for up to 6 months. All of this is mostly hypothetical at this point, I'm seriously open to any suggestions you guys have. URL: https://forum.audiogames.net/post/622887/#p622887 -- Audiogames-reflector mailing list Audiogames-reflector@sabahattin-gucukoglu.com https://sabahattin-gucukoglu.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/audiogames-reflector
Re: Migrating to NZ
Re: Migrating to NZ well Brad, that is exactly how it is. The money you can't pay that your friend helps you with counts as income assistance by someone even if you literally didn't have income to pay it. That causes an benefit cut, which would make you need assistance, which would make more income cut.edit: here is the offitial source with detailed exampleshttps://www.ssa.gov/ssi/text-living-ussi.htm URL: https://forum.audiogames.net/post/622836/#p622836 -- Audiogames-reflector mailing list Audiogames-reflector@sabahattin-gucukoglu.com https://sabahattin-gucukoglu.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/audiogames-reflector
Re: Migrating to NZ
Re: Migrating to NZ well Brad, that is exactly how it is. The money you can't pay that your friend helps you with counts as income assistance by someone even if you literally didn't have income to pay it. That causes an benefit cut, which would make you need assistance, which would make more income cut. URL: https://forum.audiogames.net/post/622836/#p622836 -- Audiogames-reflector mailing list Audiogames-reflector@sabahattin-gucukoglu.com https://sabahattin-gucukoglu.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/audiogames-reflector
Re: Migrating to NZ
Re: Migrating to NZ well Brad, that is exactly how it is. The money you can't pay that your friend helps you with counts as income assistance by someone even if you literally didn't have income to pay it. That causes an income cut, which would make you need assistance, which would make more income cut. URL: https://forum.audiogames.net/post/622836/#p622836 -- Audiogames-reflector mailing list Audiogames-reflector@sabahattin-gucukoglu.com https://sabahattin-gucukoglu.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/audiogames-reflector
Re: Migrating to NZ
Re: Migrating to NZ @ghost, can you give me an example? I'm not sure I'm following.Are you saying that if you share a place with someone and your rent each is $500 and you can't pay that they take it out of your income? But that makes no sense, how can they take money you don't have? URL: https://forum.audiogames.net/post/622828/#p622828 -- Audiogames-reflector mailing list Audiogames-reflector@sabahattin-gucukoglu.com https://sabahattin-gucukoglu.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/audiogames-reflector
Re: Migrating to NZ
Re: Migrating to NZ those afordable units are a tiny tiny fraction of the people who need them. And if you stay with someone, and don't contribute your share to the bills, even when the share you have esceeds your income, the part you don't contribute counts as income, and is used to reduce your payment even more. URL: https://forum.audiogames.net/post/622819/#p622819 -- Audiogames-reflector mailing list Audiogames-reflector@sabahattin-gucukoglu.com https://sabahattin-gucukoglu.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/audiogames-reflector
Re: Migrating to NZ
Re: Migrating to NZ @jay jay, it is but I intend on being away from this place a lot more than I am replying. If things change I'll change the signiture but I'll leave it for now.@ghost ah, here it's around £900 and something, that's PIP and ESA together. But on the other hand don't you guys have housing that's for low income people? We don't have that here. You either buy/rent your own place, stay with your parents, get a shared place or are homeless. Oh, there's one or two places for the blind but they're packed already. URL: https://forum.audiogames.net/post/622816/#p622816 -- Audiogames-reflector mailing list Audiogames-reflector@sabahattin-gucukoglu.com https://sabahattin-gucukoglu.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/audiogames-reflector
Re: Migrating to NZ
Re: Migrating to NZ 7, well, usually a job offers more money and that's why blind people try to get them. Though you are right about extremely low pay or minimum wage jobs. But in the US the disability money if you haven't worked basicly is a joke and there is an enormous list of things that reduce it even more. URL: https://forum.audiogames.net/post/622812/#p622812 -- Audiogames-reflector mailing list Audiogames-reflector@sabahattin-gucukoglu.com https://sabahattin-gucukoglu.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/audiogames-reflector
Re: Migrating to NZ
Re: Migrating to NZ @Brad your signature is controdictary URL: https://forum.audiogames.net/post/622809/#p622809 -- Audiogames-reflector mailing list Audiogames-reflector@sabahattin-gucukoglu.com https://sabahattin-gucukoglu.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/audiogames-reflector
Re: Migrating to NZ
Re: Migrating to NZ @Jayde, no, none of that crossed my mind as I was just giving advice from what I'd heard.I think it might even be higher than that.From what my friend has told me NZ is quite behind when it comes to getting things, his internet was still DileUp in 2005 or something crazy like that so if the OP does move, she needs to be aware of these things.It's not like that anymore but it's still not the best around.@ghost, the UK does have good things when it comes to blind people, fredom passes, a train pass I can't remember the name of, but when it comes to blind people trying to get a job we're still looked at as if it's crazy we even got out of the house. This is why I personally am happy on disability money and doubt that will change any time soon. I'd love to work fishing things out of the rivers or having an outside job but people will probably hold me back from getting that so I can't be bothered actualy trying because I don't want to go through a year or so of doing something just to be told no.Quite a few blind people disagree with me here but the way I see it is if I'd end up getting more from the government, why would I want a job? I'm certenly not doing it to make others feel good. I can volunteer and will stick to that. URL: https://forum.audiogames.net/post/622805/#p622805 -- Audiogames-reflector mailing list Audiogames-reflector@sabahattin-gucukoglu.com https://sabahattin-gucukoglu.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/audiogames-reflector
Re: Migrating to NZ
Re: Migrating to NZ 5, you remind me about websites that list best places to live in the US etc, they always list places according to how little income tax you pay, without taking into consideration that in a state with no income tax, the billionaires or richest aren't contributing and all the tax comes out of the pockets of the poorest and middle class people primarily as inflated property or sales taxes, and you can have a much higher tax burdin than what you would've had if you had had an income tax. And you pay for no taxes with crappy infrastructure, nonexistant or poorly serviced public services etc. As for moving, I really don't think it would be necesary, or even possible. From my observation, the UK seems to have a good structure in place for disabilities, and as a blind person, migration possibilities are nonexistant unles you get a job. Most countries weill see you as a burdin and automatically refuse. URL: https://forum.audiogames.net/post/622796/#p622796 -- Audiogames-reflector mailing list Audiogames-reflector@sabahattin-gucukoglu.com https://sabahattin-gucukoglu.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/audiogames-reflector
Re: Migrating to NZ
Re: Migrating to NZ 5, you remind me about websites that list best places to live in the US etc, they always list places according to how little tax you pay, without taking into consideration that in a state with no income tax, the billionaires or richest aren't contributing and all the tax comes out of the pockets of the poorest and middle class people primarily. As for moving, I really don't think it would be necesary, or even possible. From my observation, the UK seems to have a good structure in place for disabilities, and as a blind person, migration possibilities are nonexistant unles you get a job. Most countries weill see you as a burdin and automatically refuse. URL: https://forum.audiogames.net/post/622796/#p622796 -- Audiogames-reflector mailing list Audiogames-reflector@sabahattin-gucukoglu.com https://sabahattin-gucukoglu.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/audiogames-reflector
Re: Migrating to NZ
Re: Migrating to NZ It sounds to me as if Haily has done at least -some of the research necessary.Brad, have you considered that most places with higher taxes also usually have better infrastructure supported by those taxes? 10% isn't great, I won't lie, but it's not backbreaking. Trust me on this. In Canada, we have had higher taxes than this, and have gotten along just fine, thank you. URL: https://forum.audiogames.net/post/622787/#p622787 -- Audiogames-reflector mailing list Audiogames-reflector@sabahattin-gucukoglu.com https://sabahattin-gucukoglu.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/audiogames-reflector
Re: Migrating to NZ
Re: Migrating to NZ Hi.@haily_merry, I have a friend who lives in NZ, I'm not sure where though, and his internet isn't that good.I can also tell you that taxes are very high there. I think there's a 10 percent tax on everything but could be wrong. Either way; they're high.If I were you; I'd really examine why you want to move there. Remember; just cause you move to a place does not mean all your problems will go away so make sure you know what you're doing and are completely sure. URL: https://forum.audiogames.net/post/622771/#p622771 -- Audiogames-reflector mailing list Audiogames-reflector@sabahattin-gucukoglu.com https://sabahattin-gucukoglu.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/audiogames-reflector
Re: Migrating to NZ
Re: Migrating to NZ Hi,Thanks for your response. While our situations are obviously quite different, I appreciate your insight into these matters.My problem is pretty much this. Finding a trans friendly place is only half the battle. The other half lies with dealing with the NHS, and a government who have frequently been doing their best to erode our rights. See the bill preventing under 16s from accessing hormone blockers for just 1 example of this. As far as I'm aware, even if I had the money to go private, which I don't, there are still certain national guidelines in place, though I may at least be able to get around the waiting list problem that way. Still, even if I started a gofundme or something, I'd have 1 hell of a time actually getting the support I need, particularly since I honestly have no idea how much it may end up costing when we start factoring in GRS and such like.New Zealand's support for transgender people is, kind of a little bit all over the place. It seems to be mostly regional, but they at least don't have the influence of people like JK Rowling. The partner I mentioned earlier is also trans, and while she has had issues, those have mostly been caused by her abusive grandmother threatening legal action at every turn. That, is at least 1 thing I don't think could happen in this country, but still.I could also, provided that I could get citizenship, apply for extra benefits due to my blindness, and possibly I might be able to factor in my other issues there, too, and then there's social housing. So, theoretically I'd be alright on that front, too.In terms of development, in many ways they're actually ahead of the UK, even. They have gigabit fibre just about everywhere, and are also ripping out their DSL lines, in this country you're pretty lucky if you can even manage to get a 100MBPS connection for any kind of reasonable price, since virgin media pretty much own the entire market above 67 MBPS. They also have a blindness organisation that *isn't* shit on a stick, hello RNIB, I'm looking at you. Very pointedly. URL: https://forum.audiogames.net/post/622704/#p622704 -- Audiogames-reflector mailing list Audiogames-reflector@sabahattin-gucukoglu.com https://sabahattin-gucukoglu.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/audiogames-reflector
Re: Migrating to NZ
Re: Migrating to NZ Well, I'm not from Britain, and of course can't know better than you what the situation is like there, but I'm sure you will find places in Britain that are transgender-friendly. Do you also have any basis to prove that New Zealanders are friendly to these issues, and most importantly, I feel, do you know if the support in general for people with visual impairments in New Zealand is better than in Britain? I might of course not be able to sympathise with you enough, since I personally do not have to cope with these issues; however, knowing that Britain is a highly developed country, though not implying by any means that New Zealand isn't, I would think in advance before making a decision to leave.Personally, as I have stated in my previous posts, I came from Albania to Germany through an Erasmus scholarship and then fought like a vicious evil dog to find a way to stay here for long. I sent so many applications to different companies; in fact, there were whole days spent only sending applications and looking for different jobs or Apprenticeships. Some people from the International Office of the university where I'm studying, upon seeing that I was eternally persistent, decided to support me into including me in integration courses and offering me other services that I needed. This move from my home country, my family and friends, I made only for independence, freedom, and more career opportunities. Albania is a highly run-down, corrupt to the core country that doesn't have the least support for people with visual impairments. I couldn't accept the fact that all my efforts and energy that I had spent studying and doing other things to integrate myself into society would turn into dust after I would leave those institutions called school or university. It's totally different when you're at school and when you meet reality and at one point, I felt it was the time to make a move. Well, the chance came, and I didn't want to lose it, despite the persistent calls of my family not to go abroad since I didn't have any skills then to live independently. Back in Albania I had a really loving and happy family that was equally supportive to every member. We were also financially safe. My brother is an electrical engeneer and he has two well-paid jobs. Along with my father, they install electrical systems in different buildings. It's a quite challenging job for both, but it brings good money in the end of the day. They didn't have a registered business or firm, so no taxes or anything. My brother works also for the state as a manager at an electrical substation and with two jobs, we had a really good income every month. I was also at university at the time I left for Germany, and we have an increased disability allowance when taking a study programme so that we can be better supported. We also didn't have to pay anything for housing since we bought our house in 2001. With that income, we were really making a good life. But things had to move on and I felt my home country was not a place I deserved to be, since despite the good support I had from my family, the support I would have in the outside world would be strictly limited. It would take so much time for me to find a job, I would not really have so many opportunities to use my full potential in diffrent activities, and in the end I would feel down and frustrated, and with many what ifs.However, I don't think you are now in the same state and circumstances that I was when leaving the country, and this is the primary reason why I am saying consider the chances you have in Britain before deciding to leave. URL: https://forum.audiogames.net/post/622693/#p622693 -- Audiogames-reflector mailing list Audiogames-reflector@sabahattin-gucukoglu.com https://sabahattin-gucukoglu.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/audiogames-reflector
Re: Migrating to NZ
Re: Migrating to NZ Well, I'm not from Britain, and of course can't know better than you what the situation is like there, but I'm sure you will find places in Britain that are transgender-friendly. Do you also have any basis to prove that New Zealanders are friendly to these issues, and most importantly, I feel, do you know if the support in general for people with visual impairments in New Zealand is better than in Britain? I might of course not be able to sympathise with you enough, since I personally do not have to cope with these issues; however, knowing that Britain is a highly developed country, though not implying that New Zealand isn't, I would think in advance before making a decision to leave.Personally, as I have stated in my previous posts, I came from Albania to Germany through an Erasmus scholarship and then fought like a vicious evil dog to find a way to stay here for long. I sent so many applications to different companies; in fact, there were whole days spent only sending applications and looking for different jobs or Apprenticeships. Some people from the International Office of the university where I'm studying, upon seeing that I was eternally persistent, decided to support me into including me in integration courses and offering me other services that I needed. This move from my home country, my family and friends, I made only for independence, freedom, and more career opportunities. Albania is a highly run-down, corrupt to the core country that doesn't have the least support for people with visual impairments. I couldn't accept the fact that all my efforts and energy that I had spent studying and doing other things to integrate myself into society would turn into dust after I would leave those institutions called school or university. It's totally different when you're at school and when you meet reality and at one point, I felt it was the time to make a move. Well, the chance came, and I didn't want to lose it, despite the persistent calls of my family not to go abroad since I didn't have any skills then to live independently. Back in Albania I had a really loving and happy family that was equally supportive to every member. We were also financially safe. My brother is an electrical engeneer and he has two well-paid jobs. Along with my father, they install electrical systems in different buildings. It's a quite challenging job for both, but it brings good money in the end of the day. They didn't have a registered business or firm, so no taxes or anything. My brother works also for the state as a manager at an electrical substation and with two jobs, we had a really good income every month. I was also at university at the time I left for Germany, and we have an increased disability allowance when taking a study programme so that we can be better supported. We also didn't have to pay anything for housing since we bought our house in 2001. With that income, we were really making a good life. But things had to move on and I felt my home country was not a place I deserved to be, since despite the good support I had from my family, the support I would have in the outside world would be strictly limited. It would take so much time for me to find a job, I would not really have so many opportunities to use my full potential in diffrent activities, and in the end I would feel down and frustrated, and with many what ifs.However, I don't think you are now in the same state and circumstances that I was when leaving the country, and this is the primary reason why I am saying consider the chances you have in Britain before deciding to leave. URL: https://forum.audiogames.net/post/622693/#p622693 -- Audiogames-reflector mailing list Audiogames-reflector@sabahattin-gucukoglu.com https://sabahattin-gucukoglu.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/audiogames-reflector
