First of all, I offer my deepest sympathy in the loss of your husband. It certainly is a shock emotionally, and then financially as well. It is despicable, but companies will prey on us. I just signed up for a FREE credit report, had to fill in all my personal information and finally on the last screen, in tiny print was the statement something like this: By clicking below you authorize us to deduct from your account $19.95 per month for monitoring your credit card activity. I went ahead and clicked on it and then called the toll-free number to cancel the monthly subscription. We'll see if they are honest enough. It seems our society is out to get people with fraud, deception, forcing people into corners. Whatever happened to honesty? What has happened to our culture, turned greedy? There is no excuse.

Do you have a church family? Could you talk to a pastor? There should be an elders affairs state agency, hopefully, that could assist? Is there a local senior citizens center? My heart goes out to you and I will pray for your finding workable solutions to your financial situation. (((HUGS)))

Hi Jan, so sorry things aren't working out for you. I know just how hard it can be. It scares me to death thinking about it.
Dish & Direct tv are rip offs, there are so many extra charges then , they charge you for 2 months up front. The only thing I can suggest about them is call them and cancel NOW. Tell them you situation and you misunderstood an can't pay that. Your only option for TV is something like netflix for about $10 a month. Also go to the library and borrow movies. I know it stinks but thats how it is.

Your friend that is living in the senior housing, is that a possibility to move in with her? I know probably not. Just thinking.
Last thought is what NewRoads said.................get with a church and see if they have any ideas that can help. You could always (maybe) take in a border also. Not the greatest idea but it would bring in some $$.

I do hope things work out for you .Keep trying and we will keep praying.
JoAnn

I am so sorry for your loss. If your area has good reception for TV signals, you maybe able to get basic channels for news, weather and shows without using cable, Dish or Diretv. You could buy an antenna and/or a converter box depending on the type of TV you are using. Costco has antenna for $50.00. My co-worker did just that and got off Directv.

Hi Jan, I am terribly sorry for this hardship you are experiencing as if loosing your husband isn't enough... The ladies here have given you some good thoughts the only thing I will add is that American Express will go to bat for you if you want to cancel your subscription just explain your circumstance, They will put the charges on hold until they investigate and maybe even get some of your money back. American Express is good like that, it's worth a try. I wish you blessings on the horizon of this long and winding road of grief.Hugs, Bernard

Jan, I am sorry you are in this position. My husband didn't leave me and our boys anything either - except debts and a broken heart. But I was still working, and was able to force myself to keep going for our boys, so I made it through the financial difficulties eventually.

As a senior citizen, there is help available in your area. The government clearing house for information for "elders" in your area is called "ElderSource" and while they are based in Jacksonville, they cover 7 counties including Volusia, and they have a toll-free number you can call:

888-242-4464

They can give you information on programs that might help you - such as housing programs, energy assistance, legal assistance, and maybe tell you how to nail AT&T for those inflated bills. Here is a link to the ElderSource website:

http://www.myeldersource.org/active/BeInformed/ElderHelpline.aspx

I did check to see what AT&T offers for seniors, and they don't have a specific program for seniors. They do have one for anyone who receives assistance, but I am not sure how helpful that would be - it is called Lifeline. I would check with the ElderSource people first.

My guess is that you are not the only senior that has been scammed by the phone and dish folks. The ElderSource people may already be working on that. Please contact them.

I didn't qualify for any assistance for anything. No widow's benefits of any kind because I was only 50, and my sons, although disabled, were too old for me to qualify for SSI. My younger son being more severely disabled eventually qualified for limited benefits, but not for the first year that we were on our own. During that first year, my homeowner's insurance went up, my car insurance went up despite there being one less driver, it cost me to remove Cliff from the car title so I could straighten out the mess with our car insurance, and I had to hire help for the things Cliff used to take care of. It seems like there is a "widow's penalty."

I hope this helps. Please keep us posted on what you find out with the ElderSource people. What you find out might help somebody else here, too.

Love and Big Hugs,
Martha

I am no expert on this but if you wanted to sell your double wide a realtor is your best bet. If they can't help you they may know who can. I learned early on you have to check and recheck everything.When you are a widow you can always say no if something doesn't feel right to you. Believe me I have done so often. I am sorry you are in this position....Hugs to you.

I am sorry about the loss of your husband. I completely understand your financial diffuculties. I was not left with life insurance either. I am lucky that I still had a job. I had to tighten my belt quite a bit to make it.
Everyone here has given you wonderful suggestions already. I don't know much else to add. I wanted to tell you that I cut off my cable and went to a roof top anteana and I get great TV reception and don't miss cable at all. Free TV. Pleanty of channels and I saved $100.00 per month that I was paying for cable.
I am so sorry you are alone too but it's great you have your cats. I have 3 little pups and they bring me so much love & company. They gave me something I had to feed and keep care of and that kept me busy.
I will be praying for you that you find the assistance and help you need to keep you safe and secure. Let us know how you are doing. We all care about each ohers plights.
Take care, Lucy

I am so sorry for the recent loss of your husband and for what you are going through.:(
The folks here have offered some wonderful suggestions.
My heart and prayers go out to you.
hugs

thats all I was left with.....and a van repo.....dish will charge your card, or withdraw it out of your checking account, if you disconnect early... I tried that... yes they advertised 19.99.... now I have a 50 dollar bill, and there is nothing on TV.

A senior housing here will not even let someone spend the night without pay...

i am so sorry for your troubles......

The cops are looking for my husband, as he has bad checks out...They closed his account without my knwledge, and my name isn't on it...Should I tell them he moved permanetly, ans give the plot no and address of the cemetary?

yes, i do have blood family, but really no family....haven't seen my kids in 3 weeks.... 15 miles is too far, and heaven forbid, picking up a phone....Truth is, they don't care!!!!

.... if you sell trailor, rent for apt would be far more expensive, that a lot rental....right?

Thanks to all of you kind people for taking the time to reply to my post.
I know you are hurting, too, or you wouldn't be in this group. I used to
be able to reach out and help others, but now I feel helpless. Thank you
for loaning me your shoulders to lean on during this stressful time.
Now I will try to answer some of the questions that you asked me in your posts.
I am going to try making the phone calls today to Dish, AT&T and also American
Express. If AmEx hadn't been mentioned here I would not have tried, as I had
a bad experience there recently. My checkbook was lost or stolen and I had to
cancel my checking account and open a new one. I notified everyone I pay online
but found AmEx charged me $25 for a returned payment. When I called they told me
I'd neglected to make the new account my "primary," so it was my fault. That
don't make refunds on anything that is not their fault - sigh....

Regarding having a church family. My husband would not go to church, so I have
only now started back. I'd always gone before I met him, but we were married for
19 years, so I've been away a long time. Two weeks ago I visited a little, local,
happy church and I will probably be planted there. But yesterday I'd promised a
friend that I would visit her Baptist church, and I did. Next Sunday I will be back
where I belong.

My friend who lives in the senior housing took me to the office to pick up the paperwork
to apply there. It is extensive and I've been working on it for a week. I should be
able to turn it in soon. The units are studios and one bedrooms. They are too small to
share.

I had given the idea of a boarder some thought. But these mobile homes are flimsy and sounds
carry every easily. I am old and set in my ways. I get up very early, sometimes 3 or 4am,
never later than 5am. I seldom stay up later than 8 or 9pm. I have two cats. I am not too
flexible about what is on my TV. There was a woman I was considering to rent a room to. But
she had a dog. I lost my dog two weeks after I lost my husband. Being around another would
break my heart, as well as traumtize my cats (who also loved our dog).

The lot rent here is $500+ per month. That is my biggest problem. The park does have a hardship
relief program. That paperwork was extensive, too, but I did complete it and turn it in last
week. Problem is, I hear that that "relief" is very minimal, not enough to make a dent in the
rent.

Yes, I have been to Social Security. My husband didn't draw much more than I do. My "bump" due to
his death turned out to be $80. I am still very much under the poverty level.

I like the idea of getting off Dish and cable. I used to have Netflix and used it all the time.
When I was numb after my husband died, I just watched every old episode of Upstairs Downstairs for
weeks. I will get this awful situation figured out. I live in fear of losing my Internet access.
If I did, I wouldn't have you people to lean on!

You didn't ask, but I know I posted it somewhere else on this site. I was left with a car on which the
owed balance was $9000! Of course I couldn't make the $365/mo payments. It was an '09 Mitsubishi. I
took my problem to the dealer and they took it in without making me pay anything. Then they let me lease
an electric car for $129/mo. I love it. And I am especiall happy when I pass my gas station and
automatically look down to check my gas guage! It plugs in to the house electric and I haven't noticed
an increase in my electric bill. I don't drive far, just around town; and I only need to charge it twice
a week so far.

Later today (it is still too early) I will look into that Eldersource that Martha mentioned. Again thank
you all so very much for taking the time to offer your suggestions. You are putting stars in your crowns!
(((HUGS))) Jan

Have you applied for assistance in the form of food stamps? I know it is more paperwork, but may be someone could help you complete it. My daughter once went to the county for help. Have you tried calling United Way? You just might need to get in touch with the right people to help you. Hope things get better for you.

So sad but I've read that this is the plight of many widows. Men fair better.

Is it possible for you to ask your friend about the possibility of becoming room-mates?

As to the TV services, all advertised prices on television are to lure you in. They do it by telling you about low introductory rates that don't take into account fees, taxes, and the channels you've asked for.

Here's a solution that is free. I purchased a DVD antenna for about thirty dollars. I now get all network channels free, plus a few extra. If you have a computer stream your shows for less than ten dollars a month using netflix. They've got plenty of movies and TV shows to watch. If you purchase a ROKU box you can stream to your TV. You need only have high-speed internet. If that's also a problem, head to the library and get your DVDs from there. Also consider redbox.

Now, the HD indoor antenna I have allows me to see HD channels that look as good as cable, but I can't get CBS. NBC is strong and ABC depends on the weather. It all depends on how close you are to the network antenna. I understand that an outdoor antenna will solve everything. I haven't tried that. But basically, it's free and we used this non-cable method for many decades and were happy.

Good luck. You're in my prayers.

I have no advice as like many my income was cut in half, not because of Social Security, but because I am not old enough to collect yet and there is no program to replace a spouses income, you just have to somehow get thru. I am luckier than most as my pay almost covers all the bills and the life insurance should not run out until I am old enough to retire and collect on his SS and my retirement.

Wishing all the best and praying that you get some financial freedom.

Janni, I am 79 years old and have been a widow for over 4 years. Your story sounds very familiar. I pay $209.00 a month for Comcast, which includes everything except my cell phone. That is alot of money to me, plus all the other expenses -- insurance, etc. I had to go on medication so I could sleep at night. So I know what you are going through. Your friends here have alot of great ideas for you! I wish I could help you more, but I live in Washington State and do not know the rules and regulations in your state. You would think with all the retired folks living in your state they would be more kind to their Seniors!