"I need help. I live on a pension, and I don't have health insurance" says long term DUer

[Liberal_in_LA]

I need help. I live on a pension, and I don't have health insurance.

I don't have anybody else to depend on even for little things like running errands. I live with 2 sixteen year old cats who need certain medicine and food to maintain a decent life. They need tests right now to check and readjust their meds and such.

Everything has happened at once. My car needs a new alternator. I am marooned now.

I have to get new glasses.  My eyes are so bad that an exam and glasses cost about $500. I have put this off, but I am now unable to perform many basic tasks.

I have been treated for depression for decades. It has grown much worse, and I need to see my psychiatrist for several visits before it gets completely out of hand. I need about $1000 to pay for these unexpected expenses.

I have tried every other avenue I can think of. I thought I was going to make it through, but I was in denial or something. I should be panicking and screaming or help. I am out of energy and I just don't care. By the time I may get enough energy to care, it will probably be much worse. HELP!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=3623242

[russspeakeasy]

1. Thanks for the reminder.

[OhioChick]

2. This may help some with pet food expenses

http://www.petfoodstamps.org/aboutus/

[hollysmom]

8. excellent suggestion, I had never heard of this.

[progressoid]

3. kick

I wish I could help.

[Cicada]

4. Obamacare will provide affordable health insurance Jan 1

[Coyotl]

5. Go to Social Security and file your disability claim.

[truedelphi]

9. they live on a pension, and usually when someone says that

It means they did not pay into Social Security, but to some special pension. (Federal state and county workers all do that, as do others.)

Even if their pension is Social Security, it takes over two years to get disability approved. The routine is, you get denied twice or so before ever getting on it.

Their need seems immediate.

[Fawke Em]

16. We hired a good attorney after my step-father died and my Mom

was able to get on disability in three months.

She qualified for it, no doubt, but never applied for it because his income was enough and she didn't think about it. When he died, she only had a small pension he'd earned at a job years back.

Most of these attorney take a portion of what you receive in back-disability pay, but it's worth it if you're desperately in need of a steady income. My Mom still got plenty in the up-front settlement and received my step-father's more substantial Social Security payment.

[rl6214]

26. The attorney or advocate gets 6% of your back pay.

[rl6214]

25. That's the way it was with me, got denied twice, the went before a judge and

Got an approval on the spot. Took two years to get this done. Another month before I got back pay and five months and I got Medicare. It was tough, had to sell a lot of belongings and filed for bankruptcy in order to survive.

[alarimer]

31. Not all government employees

I've worked for the federal government and for several states and have always paid into Social Security. I think a lot of municipal employees and teachers do not.

I think it's a bad bargain. You don't pay into SS so your take home pay is higher, but then the city (like Detroit) declares bankruptcy and wants to lower its pension obligations. And the workers lose. Again.

[demosincebirth]

6. you don't say how old you are. If your pension is SS, you should be on Medicare, regardless of your

age

[Liberal_in_LA]

14. it's not for me. another duer. click the link

[suffragette]

7. The Lions might be able to help with the eyeglasses

They have long had an eyeglass program.
The best way would be to look up the local Lion club by city, then contact them or fill out their application (some clubs have these on their websites). Google using Lions Club + city name or go to the main website and enter city name:
https://directory.lionsclubs.org/


More vision resources here:
http://www.nei.nih.gov/health/financialaid.asp

[shireen]

10. this is heartbreaking

there are several people in need and i can't donate to them all. I had to pick two people (the first 2 i saw) and sent a small donation.

What is wrong with our society, with extreme excesses for the fortunate few while others are struggling to survive. I cannot wrap my head around it.

[Liberal_in_LA]

12. I picked two also. We do what we can.

[SheilaT]

11. I will say that my first thought is

Medicare. Of course, you could be under 65 and not eligible for Medicare. But there are probably services available to you. Please check into them.

Oh, and as for eye exams and glasses, I understand. That sucks. The last time I bought eyeglasses was in about 1995, and because I have a complicated prescription it was back then $400.00. I have long worn contact lenses, so that was the very last time I bought back-up glasses. If you can wear contacts, they are vastly cheaper.

[Liberal_in_LA]

15. good advice. i am not sure if she's reading this thread

[Okakura]

13. Re: getting new glasses

suffragette is correct.
You should contact the Lions Club organization for a path to new glasses
Years ago the Lion Club would collect perfectly good glasses where the Rx no longer fit the wearer. They accumulated thousands and thousands of glasses this way--then Lion Clubs in cities and towns across Amerca would display these glasses for individuals to "try-on."
After checking out these used glasses for near and far clarity, people who couldn't afford a professional eye-exam would pick up a quality pair of glasses--bifocals included.
Not sure if this activity is still carried out by the Lions organizaton--but they are the place to check out for a pathway to new eyewear.

[Liberal_in_LA]

17. good tips. no response from her in 2 days. hopefully she's using the donations she

Has recieved

[Are_grits_groceries]

18. Thanks for all of the suggestions and good wishes!

I just saw this thread.

I am 60 so I don't get Medicare. I have applied for SS disability and been turned down.

I have contacted The Lions before, but I have such screwed up eyes that getting glasses made is a chore. I have to get 2 exams. The second is to correct for a weird rotation.

I have gotten about $250 which has helped a lot. Just the gestures make me feel better.

I know that many people care but can only do so much. Helping anyone helps me too I believe. Good deeds keep moving forward once the wave has started.

DU itself helps although I am so cranky that it might not seem like it.

Thank you again. I will pass it forward when I can.

AGG

[tblue37]

20. I just made a small donation, but

I want to make sure I made the payment to the right person on Wishadoo.

Are you "tannybogus" there?

[Are_grits_groceries]

21. Yeah

It was my Grandaddy's name for the bogeyman. I forget to use my name when I should.

[Liberal_in_LA]

22. i am so glad u have recieved many donations. hopefully more to come

[UtahLib]

24. I will be donating today but

have had problems with past transactions through paypal. If that should happen, can I PM you?

[Are_grits_groceries]

29. Of course. nt

[tblue37]

19. KnR. nt

[Safetykitten]

23. Hey, where are those "Wholefoods" people that think that we got the deal covered?

Where are they on this thread?

I sincerely wish I could help this person. I really do.

But the comfortable insurance ACA gurus are not to be found.

[Yandorio]

27. My best wishes

You deserve the best.

[DearAbby]

28. We are very near the same situation

Hubby was diagnosed with cancer two years ago, He has health care, I don't...but I am holding on...and the stress level is tremendous. hanging on until Obamacare. I myself, coping with a blood pressure condition, I don't have health care yet. With our fixed income, we would probably qualify for extended medicaid...I have been holding on, self medicating.

Otherwise I go to the hospital, and rack up the bills, the collectors can not take your pension. You have to live. They will have to eat it. I hang up on them. I hate them for placing me in this position. I can relate.

I wish we could help, you have my prayers.

[Are_grits_groceries]

30. Your kind thoughts matter a lot! nt