NeuroTalk Support Groups - Catch 22- Tips & Helpful info

NeuroTalk Support Groups (https://www.neurotalk.org/)

- Social Security Disability (https://www.neurotalk.org/social-security-disability/)

- - Catch 22- Tips & Helpful info (https://www.neurotalk.org/social-security-disability/120255-catch-22-tips-helpful-info.html)

You can also try dialing 2-1-1 from a land line for health and human services which includes emergency housing.

Check to see if you can receive a reduced rate on your utilities, such as the one offered in my neck of the woods:

"The California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE) program offers income-qualified customers a discount of 20% or more off their monthly electric bill."

http://www.sce.com/residential/incom...e-programs.htm

Having spent more than a decade since I first became disabled, I've learned a few things about Credit Reports, Scores and Collection Agencies.

The following site provides lots of really good information about all things credit related for free in their forums. The owners/moderators are ethical and intelligent people IMHO.

http://www.creditboards.com/mambo/

If you have delinquent accounts with your original creditors, or can no longer keep them current, then it is a good idea to contact them to let them know about your financial hardship to see if they will stop your payments, reduce your interest, etc. Be prepared that they might insist the account be closed in order to qualify for these considerations.

If you have old debts that have been sold to a collection agency, please understand the damage has already been done to both your report and your score. Furthermore, if you make any payment, it will reset the statute of limitations and can further decrease your scores by not allowing the bad debt to age. And, your former creditor will receive none of your payment since they have sold the account. Collection Agencies will often inflate old debts to absurd amounts that have no relation to the contract you had with the original creditor, anyway.

Never speak to a Collection Agency on the phone! Screen your calls or hang up on them. They will lie to you. Even if you ignore everything I've said here, if you insist on dealing with them, only do it in writing via registered snail mail.

When (or if) you receive your SSI/SSDI backpay and/or monthly benefits, do not comingle your funds with sources of money that can be attached (WC money, your spouse's paycheck, etc.) if you are sued. Uncle Sam has made SSI/SSDI funds off limits because if you are truly disabled that backpay should be going to pay for your current needs. They don't want you paying off debt collectors and then needing additional government benefits like housing assitance or food stamps. This doesn't mean you can run up credit card bills with the plan to default because you think this an excuse for a "get out of jail free card." Activity like that would be considered fraudulent...

Nationwide housing database for homeless and low-income. Includes shelters, transitional, and permanent affordable housing.

http://www.shelterlistings.org/

http://www.cms.gov/apps/media/press/...&cboOrder=date

Good News!

HHS, HUD PARTNER TO ALLOW RENTAL ASSISTANCE TO SUPPORT INDEPENDENT LIVING FOR NON-ELDERLY PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES $40 MILLION AVAILABLE TO LOCAL HOUSING AGENCIES TO ASSIST 5,300 FAMILIES

legalmania:

If you follow this link http://www.shelterlistings.org/ use the options

18 and Over
Permanent Affordable Housing
Florida

you would see there are currently 85 listings. That should give someone living in the state of FL information to start with.

I have done some editing here to keep this thread from veering off at a tangent and so that we can keep the information more clear for those seeking assistance

the discussion part is now on the board here
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread122123.html

thank you

I'm glad I found your post. Housing is the next big issue for me to tackle. In Los Angeles the waiting lists are very long, so I might have to rent a room in someone's house. My mortgage is now in default and I can't possibly afford to stay here. I will check out the HUD link.

Quote:

Originally Posted by LIT LOVE (Post 647407)

You're too ill to work, but the SSDI process takes so long for approval how can you survive while waiting?

The SAD truth is after personal resources run out, the disabled often become financially dependent on their family, or worse yet, they end up homeless. I've met both varieties over the years.

I can't tell you how many healthy people have told me they couldn't stop working if they became disabled--as if it's a choice--as if they could somehow tough it out, so to speak. Are there people who are approved for SSDI who can work? YES. Are there people who can't work, even PT, that are denied for SSDI. YUP!

Is the difference an evil judge? A bad attorney? A crazy vocational expert? It can feel that way at times. In hindsight, I substantially lengthed the approval process by not doing adequate research my first go around when I was being represented by an attorney. My best advice is to hire the best attorney you can find, but be prepared as if you were representing yourself. Know what is in your file! (I brought a friend who did all the copying for me.) At the ALJ hearing level you do not want to be blindsided by documents from experts you've never met. Read. Research. Repeat.

ASSUME the SSDI approval process will take years! Utilize any other resources available in your area.

Is there a waiting list for housing assitance in your area? The list might seem absurdly long, but it might happen faster than a Fully Favorable SSDI decision. Some housing programs will even bump you to the top if you're disabled.

I made a rather costly blunder of not filing an application for state disibility after I was injured since it was a Worker's Comp claim. There was a window of more than a year when I had zero income and wished I had known to preserve those state benefits.

Check to see if your community has a transportation program for the disabled. An aquaintance I knew was getting rent money from her church while using child support for SUV payments, it still was repo'd, just many months and several thousand dollars later. Argh. Once the car was gone she was less stressed and as it turned out, her doc had her license yanked anyway.

The YMCA has warm water classes that amount to physical therapy which are free or low cost for households with low incomes.

If you're too ill to be proactive regarding your local resources ask a friend and/or family to help. And, I'm sure others on the board have better suggestions than I, so please add your two cents!

Thanks for your post, are you aware of a good attorney in southern CA for SSDI? I was just denied on my appeal and am truly at my wits end. Thought it might be easier to just let myself fall apart and get "taken away". I have lost my entire life in the past year since I fell. They are wearing me down, when I'm already too weak to fight.

If you go here https://secure.ssa.gov/apps6z/FOLO/Controller and then enter your zip code, an option at the bottom of the page comes up for other local agencies that might be able to help you with housing, welfare, etc.