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StarzGuy

(254 posts)

63. Just One Major Illness Away

Reply to madamesilverspurs (Original post)

Wed Dec 2, 2015, 12:34 AM

Dec 2015

I never thought that I would become disabled that I could no longer work. I had a home, a new truck and an RV. Then I became ill to the point where work wasn't an option anymore.

I lost my home and used what little money I had to pay off my RV. I ended up living in the RV for several years at the lot rental rate of $600/month. I ended up on disability and a small pension. The cost of the RV park was more than my house payment, what a rip off. And, of course, the rate kept creeping up.

5 years later I am in an apartment at $650/month. I had difficulty coming up with all the deposits but my landlord allowed me to pay for some of the deposits over time. It took 6 months to completely giving all the deposit monies I owed. I also have to pay for my own utilities, electricity, water/sewer, gas...each with their own deposit requirements.

What little increase I get doesn't even begin to cover my cost increases for just about everything. Now, those of us on SSDI will not be getting even the meager increase next year because some cost index shows low inflation. I'm 61 now and will be on SSDI until I reach 655 then I get switched over to traditional social security. I also have Medicare and even it has a yearly deductible I'm responsible to pay, which I can't because I can't even get through the month without food help from St Mary's Food Bank.

Now I understand that my disability payments will be cut 20% unless congress acts next year. That will mean I will lose my apartment and probably back into my RV, which needs some serious repairs and thus isn't usable and I don't have the money to get it fixed.

Is it no wonder why people commit suicide?

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Highlight:

Why Poor People Stay Poor [View all] madamesilverspurs Dec 2015 OP

I often see how the media often act like the poor don't exist, with everything geared toward... AZ Progressive Dec 2015 #1

Its not just "The Media". bvar22 Dec 2015 #103

There are incredible layers to all this nadinbrzezinski Dec 2015 #2

Poverty? SmittynMo Dec 2015 #18

Well, I am talking of media in general nadinbrzezinski Dec 2015 #19

Only one candidate has integrity and compassion. Enthusiast Dec 2015 #120

thank you w0nderer Dec 2015 #36

PM going your way nadinbrzezinski Dec 2015 #42

got it w0nderer Dec 2015 #57

I'd say its because the deck is stacked greater and greater against you... GummyBearz Dec 2015 #3

+10000000000 2naSalit Dec 2015 #15

if you feel like it w0nderer Dec 2015 #38

so so true w0nderer Dec 2015 #37

It's also very expensive to be poor. KentuckyWoman Dec 2015 #46

if you are w0nderer Dec 2015 #58

WHY are basic groceries higher in poor neighborhoods? KamaAina Dec 2015 #104

The cost is not just in money werknotgoin2takeit Dec 2015 #106

You are exactly right KentuckyWoman Dec 2015 #114

poverty is the hardest job in America annabanana Dec 2015 #127

as well as the atrocious Marty McGraw Dec 2015 #124

I grew up in poverty, chervilant Dec 2015 #68

i'm sure both w0nderer Dec 2015 #72

Hang in there! Things will get better. closeupready Dec 2015 #102

K & R historylovr Dec 2015 #4

:-) w0nderer Dec 2015 #39

Money provides options. Throd Dec 2015 #5

this is so true w0nderer Dec 2015 #11

Exactly. SusanCalvin Dec 2015 #22

hope you are never here sister! n/t w0nderer Dec 2015 #28

Thanks, and I wish nobody was. nt SusanCalvin Dec 2015 #30

Yes indeed. I've said it before, and I'll say it again: Orrex Dec 2015 #98

The excerpt doesn't even go into some of the more insidious problems. jeff47 Dec 2015 #6

i do budget w0nderer Dec 2015 #12

Holy cow. 7 days a week and not even 30 grand yeoman6987 Dec 2015 #29

place before last before last! w0nderer Dec 2015 #31

You are awesome! I wish you the best. yeoman6987 Dec 2015 #32

same :-) w0nderer Dec 2015 #34

So many variables, Wellstone ruled Dec 2015 #7

+1 ErikJ Dec 2015 #23

truth, but more often w0nderer Dec 2015 #41

Grew up with and among the so called trapped. Wellstone ruled Dec 2015 #50

glad to hear it n/t w0nderer Dec 2015 #52

k&r Liberal_in_LA Dec 2015 #8

Running LEAD....KICK and recommend! w0nderer Dec 2015 #9

K&R LiberalArkie Dec 2015 #10

YES!!! - How to have $1,000,000 when you retire - and I'd add: advice concerning layoffs - LiberalElite Dec 2015 #13

Thank you. nt SusanCalvin Dec 2015 #24

rocks!! w0nderer Dec 2015 #44

I'll try to find it. eom LiberalElite Dec 2015 #49

thanks :-) w0nderer Dec 2015 #59

K&R 2naSalit Dec 2015 #14

I hate thatgemguy Dec 2015 #16

It's expensive to be poor Electric Monk Dec 2015 #17

My first thought too hibbing Dec 2015 #40

K&R. A must read. "It actually costs money to save money" riderinthestorm Dec 2015 #20

things are more expensive when you are poor Marrah_G Dec 2015 #21

let me invite you w0nderer Dec 2015 #45

Thank you- I didn't know we had one Marrah_G Dec 2015 #80

:-) w0nderer Dec 2015 #81

I didn't know we had one either nxylas Dec 2015 #118

Years ago when I was a smart ass I walked into a bank that jwirr Dec 2015 #25

rotflmao w0nderer Dec 2015 #47

I know they do not get the point until it is placed directly jwirr Dec 2015 #100

I'd say most are trying to live beyond their means, poor at saving ErikJ Dec 2015 #26

It's hard to save when you don't have anything left over at the end of the month. ForgoTheConsequence Dec 2015 #27

Pure conservative horseshit Facility Inspector Dec 2015 #35

really? w0nderer Dec 2015 #51

Obviously you should only own a burlap sack and two soup cans. ForgoTheConsequence Dec 2015 #53

got the soup cans w0nderer Dec 2015 #131

No one likes a braggar! tazkcmo Dec 2015 #108

appologies w0nderer Dec 2015 #130

This was alerted -- but we saved your ass. immoderate Dec 2015 #55

Thanks for posting that. It shows what we are dealing with even on a "politically liberal" message rhett o rick Dec 2015 #126

Bashing the poor is a favorite CONSERVATIVE activity. DLevine Dec 2015 #129

Ah yes, some wonderful RW pure anti poor propaganda nadinbrzezinski Dec 2015 #56

Not really, I was very poor on food stamps once ErikJ Dec 2015 #73

You friends from your description would not be poor nadinbrzezinski Dec 2015 #76

lol. One of their friends they live with is me ErikJ Dec 2015 #77

Well he is poor nadinbrzezinski Dec 2015 #85

"I've been relatively poor most of my life, $20K-$30k/yr" tazkcmo Dec 2015 #109

I was making barely anything for many years while on food stamps ErikJ Dec 2015 #115

"Madison Ave pimps that you have to have. " tazkcmo Dec 2015 #116

I have gotten lots of things from the curb too ErikJ Dec 2015 #122

here's $1000 w0nderer Dec 2015 #60

lol. With my lifestyle, very easily. ErikJ Dec 2015 #75

and he started with nothing w0nderer Dec 2015 #78

Well he now lives on SS ErikJ Dec 2015 #79

hey i spent 100 000 buying a house and 150 k on a yacht but hey w0nderer Dec 2015 #82

Silverspoons? ErikJ Dec 2015 #84

ok so as he and you claim he claims w0nderer Dec 2015 #86

Free campgrounds?!? Stardust Dec 2015 #91

Yes they exist. ErikJ Dec 2015 #92

That's possibly the silliest suggestion I've ever read Orrex Dec 2015 #101

I suggest a 24 hour marathon..... daleanime Dec 2015 #61

Meh... nt Live and Learn Dec 2015 #66

I'd say chervilant Dec 2015 #70

No, Erik, that's not it. I'll admit there is a function of that in there, but what you may... Shandris Dec 2015 #87

Are you fucking kidding?! Arugula Latte Dec 2015 #88

bullshit treestar Dec 2015 #93

RW talking points. Sad to see this on DU. nt DLevine Dec 2015 #95

I'd say that most of that is victim-blaming garbage Orrex Dec 2015 #97

I'd say tazkcmo Dec 2015 #107

the people who live beyond their means tend to be middle class and higher JI7 Dec 2015 #117

Living beyond your means happens even with the poorest. ErikJ Dec 2015 #119

how was he asks to buy it ? JI7 Dec 2015 #121

This message was self-deleted by its author Go Vols Dec 2015 #33

What? ForgoTheConsequence Dec 2015 #54

scuse the shit outta you? w0nderer Dec 2015 #62

Great article. Thanks. n/t pnwmom Dec 2015 #43

come join us in working poor group w0nderer Dec 2015 #64

Is it open to supporters? pnwmom Dec 2015 #69

put it this way pnwmom w0nderer Dec 2015 #71

K&R nt Live and Learn Dec 2015 #48

:-) w0nderer Dec 2015 #65

Just One Major Illness Away StarzGuy Dec 2015 #63

it's no wonder but i'd rather see you in w0nderer Dec 2015 #67

StarzGuy tazkcmo Dec 2015 #113

How do feel about 60 Minutes and their assertion that every recipient of disability was a fraud? Enthusiast Dec 2015 #123

I get a kick madamesilverspurs Dec 2015 #74

The rich get richer ... slipslidingaway Dec 2015 #83

My father understood this well. Scruffy1 Dec 2015 #89

"Precarious employment" is the new fangled term inanna Dec 2015 #90

To make money off the poor, you have to keep them poor. spinbaby Dec 2015 #94

Good quote!! nt 2naSalit Dec 2015 #96

B-b-but whadabout bootstrappin', rags-to-riches *insert anecdote here* YoungDemCA Dec 2015 #99

Barbara Ehrenreich nailed this topic in "Nickel and Dimed" KamaAina Dec 2015 #105

What annoys me is middle class people who actually ARE sloppy with their money.... Spitfire of ATJ Dec 2015 #110

Sometimes they are. In fact, Linda herself became famous for writing ... lumberjack_jeff Dec 2015 #111

We need a "How to be poor" classes Prism Dec 2015 #112

Both my husband and I have done worse than our middle class parents and our kids are doing Dont call me Shirley Dec 2015 #125

This was posted December 8, 2014 on DU, here is that thread happyslug Dec 2015 #128