Financial Challenges Support Group
This community is for people who are struggling to meet financial obligations of any kind. Financial challenges include everything from the day-to-day challenges of making ends meet to managing credit card debt to bankruptcy. Get support from others who are going through similar obstacles on the road back to financial stability.
Well, I got great news today (not!). Besides not being able to pay my property taxes and the county saying they will auction my house off if I can't pay them. Well, today I found out that my unemployment will be ending in 4 weeks, and my COBRA is due to expire Dec. 31. Social services says I can't apply for any help until everything has expired, but then it takes so long to go through the red tape. I want to apply for disability (I have breast cancer (luckily in remission, but still on medication), lupus, fibromyangia, DDD, LCH, and had a brain injury from a fall last spring. The only reason I haven't filed sooner is because I wouldn't be able to get unemployment, which paid more that disability. And I really have been looking for work (unsuccessfully for 1 1/2 yrs. so far). I think my age, 60 yrs. old, is against me too. But now I need to apply for all the services I am entitled to. I live by myself and don't know how I will survive until the other programs kick in. I spoke to a disability lawyer, and he said there is really nothing to cover the inbetween time. Does anyone have any ideas? I think I am going to try to give piano lessons, but the won't give me enough to pay my bills. Sorry for this being so long-I just figured you guys would know how I feel-most other people who don't have to worry about these things don't want to hear someone complaining like this Thanks for listening. Kathy
Peace and Love
Sorry to hear that you are going through so much lately. I was wondering if there were any apartments for those on a fixed income or soon to be fixed income that you could look into in your area before your unemployment runs out. In my area there are many apts for just seniors and/or those that are on fixed income. Some even allow animals if they are under 25 lbs. Although its rare to find in my state too, some even take Section 8
The reason I mention an apartment is because since you can't apply for SS until your employment runs out, w/o a permanent home address it might be hard to try to get SS. Also, not sure about your state, but here the SS disability process has a waiting period of 6 mos. to a 1yr that is if you are approved the 1st time you apply. Out here if you have to re-apply the appeals process might take another six more months to a 1yr. depending on how much more paper work you have to file or re-file.
I agree w/ you too that the pay for SS isn't great either. In my state its only $670 something if you haven't worked w/ in the past 10 yrs. and about 900 to a little over a 1000 a month if you have, depending on how many work credits you have.
Also, are there any orgs in your area that provide assistance to people w/ fibromyalgia or lupus? Maybe they could have a program that could help you.
In addition, if there is a Senior Center in your area you could try their bulletin boards to see if they have any programs that might be able to help you. Out here some Senior Centers have bulletin boards that list housing options for Seniors and sometimes job options, its also a great way to connect w/ others going through the same thing.
Lastly, I think giving piano lessons is a great idea since it will help you a little. Also, if your house does goes up for auction do you know how long you will be able to stay there? For example, are you allowed to stay for 45 days after the auction or would have to have already moved out before the auction? The reason I ask was because I was just wondering if the auction would bide you time for a few days or a few weeks so that you could downsize what you could to find a new place to go to.
I'm really sorry to hear that this is happening to you. I pray that things turn around for you soon :)