Job Discussion Forums

Seska · Joined: 22 Jul 2008 Posts: 40

Is this possible? I volunteer teaching English at a local "get together". I have a friend there that is disabled. I told her about my plans to teach English in China, and now she's interested. She's on Social Security Disability (She will not tell me what it is, and I won't pry.) she makes $830 a month. How well will she get by on a teaching position in China?

I did research on recieving disability while living in a foreign country, and they will pay her the full benefits if she lives in China. (Just not North Korea or Cuba). I just have not been able to correctly figure out her cost of living. Interestingly, she wants to teach in a completely different part of China than me (North-east China). She has about the same qualifications I do, except she has a TESOL. (I do not.)

So my question is, with the current cost of living and $830USD a month, with a good teaching job, how well will she be able to get on there?

(If she plans to go, she will also help pay for my airfare, so I do have some greedy intentions in mind. I do intend to pay her back though, I don't live life with debts.)

North China Laowei · Joined: 08 Apr 2008 Posts: 419

Just remember that your friend will be required to pass a medical examination in China and depending upon the province, it can range from benign to totally invasive, so to speak. If the Chinese were even to catch wind that she is "disabled", first you might find that she would have a difficult time obtaining a Z visa, and if she obtained the Z visa, and then the employer discovered that she were disabled, then her tenure might be rather abbreviated.

All of that being said, I have seen both side of that coin here in China -- one wonderful, wonderful, wonderful teacher from Florida, a lady, with more experience than most, but she hobbled due to a leg ailment. She was in totally good health otherwise and she passed the medical but this charming Guangzhou university canned her for "being disabled". As bluntly as that and put her on the street, yes, on the street, with two days notice..

Then, they hired, in her place, a well-educated gentleman from North America, and everything looked good on paper. He arrived and voila he was truly handicapped. By that point, the school was short at least 10-15 teachers, that many having run away in a relatively short period of time, or having been fired, etc., etc. They kept him "necessity being the mother of invention" so to speak but he was told that his contract would not be renewed. Well, the new visa rules went into place, and another 10 teachers quit or ran away (truly a Guangzhou revolving door), and guess what? His contract was renewed.

So the bottom line is this...like all things in China, it's a roll of the dice. But the season is right because of the shortage of teachers. I hope only that she is degreed and can demonstrate some kind of two years of teaching experience on her resume.

All the best.

NCL

Seska · Joined: 22 Jul 2008 Posts: 40

I think it might be bi-polar or PTSD.

Does anyone have any links I can Email her for things she'll need to know/do when recieving US Social Security while in China that I may be able to have?

I already have compiled the basic links from gleaning the Social Security site, I was more hoping that someone whose retired on Social Security, or has a mental disability (Which is most likely her problem, she has alot of mood swings, either extremely happy, or extremely depressed.) might be able to shed some light on this.

North China Laowei · Joined: 08 Apr 2008 Posts: 419

Seska · Joined: 22 Jul 2008 Posts: 40

bradlarsen · Joined: 15 Jan 2005 Posts: 74

lf_aristotle69 · Joined: 06 May 2006 Posts: 546 Location: HangZhou, China

Yeah, I agree Brad.

I was hoping I would be fodder for Mel Brooks... but, methinks I have worked it out...

Seska... Sacha... Seska... Sacha...

Borat (or a new incarnation) is obviously coming to China to learn 'Happy take money everyday make rich self glorious future motherland' methods from the Chinese.

LFA

China.Pete · Joined: 27 Apr 2006 Posts: 547

I would be surprised if the medical exam screened for medications taken. Sensibly, the exam for teachers, like that for local service employees, is focused on communicable diseases. Nonetheless, I would be very concerned about someone being too disabled to work in America who was considering coming to live in China. Would they be able to refill their prescriptions here (not every Western medication is available), how would their condition/dosage be monitored, and where would they find treatment in the event of emergency? There's a reason why they don't want sick people coming to China -- it's for our own protection!

Orrin · Joined: 02 Apr 2005 Posts: 206 Location: Zhuhai, China

One thing you must understand is that Chinese banks do not have �routing numbers� on their accounts. That means that �direct deposit�, such as you might have in the US is impossible! To receive your benefits, you will have to instruct whatever agency is paying to mail a government check to a reliable address in China. You will then have to personally take the check to a local bank (preferably Bank of China) and deposit it into your RMB account. I know that�s a big hassle; but that�s the way it works for now.

North China Laowei · Joined: 08 Apr 2008 Posts: 419

Ahchoo · Joined: 22 Mar 2007 Posts: 606 Location: Earth

I really don't think China's any kind of place for anyone with a mental disorder. Even for people without such conditions the complexities of everyday life alone can get VERY frustrating, especially in the beginning.
Why not have her disability paid into her bank at home and live on her salary here?

william wallace · Joined: 14 May 2003 Posts: 2869 Location: in between

As in Korea and Japan, there have been a few FTs with mental disabilities teaching in Beijing,that I've known or known of;in a few cases they had gone off their meds and one was physically put on a plane,another was briefly homeless after loosing housing and job...the others? Probably couldn't tell,as there were no incidents.

lf_aristotle69 · Joined: 06 May 2006 Posts: 546 Location: HangZhou, China

I have part of my salary paid from Australia into my HangZhou Bank of China account.

They needed me to tell them the Account #, Branch where the account was opened and the SWIFT number. Except for NingBo city, I think all of the BOC branches in ZheJiang province have a single SWIFT number.

It's possible I'm wrong and it's paid into my HZ account by a ShangHai partner, but I really think it's paid directly from Australia.

LFA

Seska · Joined: 22 Jul 2008 Posts: 40

Talked her into going on a one year vacation to Panama, or Malta. Both let her keep her benefits, and direct deposits go straight there. So, she'll get to experience another country, but, it'll be more to her benefit.

As for me, my crazy buttocks is still reaching for China.

Orrin · Joined: 02 Apr 2005 Posts: 206 Location: Zhuhai, China

@North China Laowei,

What works in Greece doesn�t work in China. I know several FTs here who are either retired US military, or government workers. For them to get access to their money they must use their ATM card from a US bank. Unless one has an open US bank account with an ATM card, they cannot have funds deposited DIRECTLY into their China bank accounts. I have checked this out with the US consulate in Guangzhou. Indeed one can use their ATM card to access their money in a US bank, but there is a hefty service charge every time it is done.