MovieChat Forums > Ruby (2008) Discussion > Question

Question

posted 13 years ago by Gareth_Is_A_Benny
6 replies | jump to latest

How is it that Ruby is considered too "disabled" to get a job and not live off the government, yet she is able to work out with personal trainers, fly across the country, go shopping with her friends, etc? I personally have a big problem with this. Last year, I had a huge medical scare where I went into heart failure (it wasn't weight-related, but still...I know how it is to be physically limited) and was diagnosed with auto-immune complications on top of that. I was told that I should get on disability and I refused. I knew that if I took care of myself, I could work. It took me a few months to recover and find a new job that I could perform without making my medical conditions worse, but I did it. I refused to let conditions out of my control decide whether or not I could be independent and provide for myself. Is it hard sometimes? Yes, but I'm proud that I am supporting myself.

Ruby, on the other hand, COULD have a job and doesn't. It seems to me like she is just lazy and uses the weight as an excuse not to work. Sorry Ruby, but if you can exercise and travel and all that, I think you could get a job and become an independent adult that doesn't rely on disability. I know she had that job at a salon, but that lasted for what...one episode? It's never been mentioned since, and I think if Ruby had a job, it would be at least mentioned on the show, even if it wasn't filmed.

I think Ruby doesn't want to earn her keep; she just wants others to take care of her. It infuriates me because there are people who truly NEED disability, who physically can't leave their homes or get out of bed, and here Ruby is, choosing to live a very comfortable (and at times extravagant) lifestyle on the government's dime.

Sorry, I had to rant because it annoys me. I don't know why I keep watching this show. At first, I rooted for Ruby because I thought she wanted to change. Now I think she just likes being catered to, and that's why the weight hasn't come off.

*Note: I'm not against disability and I certainly don't judge those who truly need it. I just feel like people who use disability as a crutch when they CAN work and contribute to society should be ashamed. Also, if I'm wrong and Ruby does have a job (even part-time) and I've missed it, then I take back what I said. Good for her if she actually is earning her own money.

There. Rant over.

"It's easy to be miserable. Being happy is tougher - and cooler."
Thom Yorke

[–] 13 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Poochini_Barkey_Bark 13 years ago

In my state, we do have a federally funded program to assist people in getting off of disability. It has been in place less than a year.

It may be tied to the stimulus somehow, I'm not sure about that.

My friend is the one that runs this program. I am in the south, and our governor is on the warpath about not wanting to take federal dollars for programs. Which I don't get, since we pay federal taxes in.

Anyway, we stand to lose the program if the governor gets her way.

There are definitely those that truly need disability. And there are always going to be those that abuse it. Just of part of things, I guess.

[–] lilypad183 13 years ago

i hope she's not getting disability now since she's being paid by the show plus whatever perks come her way.

[–] Poochini_Barkey_Bark 13 years ago

I also noticed her name in the ending credits this past week. As an executive producer, or something like that.

No WAY should be getting any disability. I'm sure she isn't.

[–] BugisStreetAnnie 8 years ago

I also noticed her name in the ending credits this past week. As an executive producer, or something like that.

No WAY should be getting any disability. I'm sure she isn't.

I know this is an old post but I believe, if I'm not mistaken, they can't earn over $1,000 a month on disability or they can lose their benefits. I have a feeling, as you say, she wasn't getting benefits when this show was in production. I'm not sure about now. She could have gotten back on disability at this point.

Do I drink because my dreams don't come true, or don't my dreams come true because I drink?

[–] BugisStreetAnnie 8 years ago

You made some excellent points. I had heard that she had actually gotten on disability about 10 years prior to her show.

They did an update on her, on Oprah's "Where Are They Now" (although I think the program is a few years old) the other day. She said that she gained a lot of the weight back after the show was cancelled and then her brother died. Strangely though, she never said if she now has a job or career, or if she was still living off of disability benefits. I agree with you. It was very strange that she could exercise the way she was on a stair-master, walking several miles, but yet is unable to work. I would be willing to bet that she now claims to have a 'mental disability' and that is how she could still be receiving benefits, if she is, and travel and be physically active, but not work. I have a cousin who does this. She claims her mental illness doesn't cause her to stop living her life and traveling many miles to meet family, hang out and have fun, it only affects her from working because she gets too depressed and dysfunctional to do that.

I know that people have also had this same complaint with those on the TLC show "My 600-lb Life." Many of them seem like Ruby; all receiving disability and don't really have a desire to get off of it, and many times they whine about their lot in life, but some of them do very little about it.

I also wonder if they are receiving money for their participation on the show, yet still able to receive their disability benefits. I thought Social Security would cut you off if you take in too much money a month. I'm not sure how they are getting around that.