Re: Terrified about how I can live in poverty!

[Guest guest]

Maxine,

I'm so sorry to hear of the stress you're going through. I know that

doesn't help your RA & other health problems.

I don't know how anyone could make it on $740 a month, even if their

home is paid for. Do you qualify for food stamps or commodities? Do

you have a friend or relative who can move into your home to help by

paying half of the expenses?

The thing that gets me is that our government can send billions of

dollars to the very countries who hate us. Yet the people here who

are working or have worked to pay taxes are told they don't 'qualify'

for some type of assistance. Then there are all these companies who

threaten to file bankrupcy if the government doesn't bail them

out...what about " Joe Taxpayer " ? " Joe Taxpayer " never gets a break.

Maxine, let us know how things turn out with your SSDI claim.

Sending hugs & best wishes,

Barbara

[Guest guest]

Good Luck Maxine!

When I applied I was immediately approved! So it CAN be done! I know

how you feel!!!!!!!!!

Carla

-----Original Message-----

From: Maxine <maxfriend1@...> [mailto:maxfriend1@...]

Sent: Monday, December 16, 2002 10:04 PM

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Subject: Terrified about how I can live in

poverty!

Hello All, I have applied for SSDI and I am totally aware that I

might not be approved the first time around. I have 7 months of

savings to live on. How does one make it on less that $740/month and

beyond if not approved? I worked 20 years with people at poverty

level so I am well-informed about the consequences...and now that I

have RA, heart disease and bipolar disorder, I am terrified. I need

all the hints I can get, please. Thanks so much and hope you are

doing well. Maxine

[Guest guest]

Hello Carla,

Thanks so much for the encouragement. I am so happy for you. Do

you have some specific info you can share? In other words, what do

you think won your case? And how fast was immediately? Are you

working part-time and what kind of work do you do, if so? Thanks,

Maxine

> Good Luck Maxine!

> When I applied I was immediately approved! So it CAN be done! I

know

> how you feel!!!!!!!!!

> Carla

>

>

>

>

> -----Original Message-----

> From: Maxine <maxfriend1@a...> [mailto:maxfriend1@a...]

> Sent: Monday, December 16, 2002 10:04 PM

> Rheumatoid Arthritis

> Subject: Terrified about how I can live in

> poverty!

>

> Hello All, I have applied for SSDI and I am totally aware that I

> might not be approved the first time around. I have 7 months of

> savings to live on. How does one make it on less that $740/month

and

> beyond if not approved? I worked 20 years with people at poverty

> level so I am well-informed about the consequences...and now that I

> have RA, heart disease and bipolar disorder, I am terrified. I

need

> all the hints I can get, please. Thanks so much and hope you are

> doing well. Maxine

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hello Barbara,

Thank you so much for your lovely, thoughtful words, hugs and

best wishes. It feels real good!! I will keep you informed.

I am already living with a friend who is absorbing over $600

worth of expenses. I have worked up a " proposal " to ask my sisters

for financial assistance if I am turned down by SSDI. I have a very

barebones budget worked out to show them. This will be very

difficult because they have large families. Yet, they will be quite

emotionally distraught knowing that I need help with paying for meds

and basic necessities. I called a few social service agencies today

about the SHARE food program. I will seek out help with prescription

assistance, too, because I am on tons of meds for 3 major diagnoses.

I feel quite resourceful since I used to be a social worker in the

poverty field, so I am able to help myself that way. The only thing

is now I don't feel that great, so doing the work for myself is very

tiring.

I totally agree with you about our misguided government system.

I have always recognized this distortion and I sought out answers.

One answer came from a policymaker, " Our government does not write

laws for prevention. It only makes laws based on crisis. " Well, it

helped for me to know something about how the " game " is played, as

disgusting as it is. I was just laid off from a government agency

because of RA and heart disease.....I can only work part-time now and

they need someone full-time. I checked in with ADA and EEOC and

found out that part-time is not supposed to be an accommodation.

Anyway, they are so understaffed and they do everything based on

crisis. Very sad!

Time to go, hands are aching. Thanks again for responding.

Many regards, Maxine

> Maxine,

>

> I'm so sorry to hear of the stress you're going through. I know

that

> doesn't help your RA & other health problems.

>

> I don't know how anyone could make it on $740 a month, even if

their

> home is paid for. Do you qualify for food stamps or commodities?

Do

> you have a friend or relative who can move into your home to help

by

> paying half of the expenses?

>

> The thing that gets me is that our government can send billions of

> dollars to the very countries who hate us. Yet the people here who

> are working or have worked to pay taxes are told they

don't 'qualify'

> for some type of assistance. Then there are all these companies

who

> threaten to file bankrupcy if the government doesn't bail them

> out...what about " Joe Taxpayer " ? " Joe Taxpayer " never gets a break.

>

> Maxine, let us know how things turn out with your SSDI claim.

>

> Sending hugs & best wishes,

>

> Barbara