Update: on the SHTF for us

FINALE UPDATE: September 13, 2006
[b]OK Not so final

Divorce is NOT an option

Separation is not an option. (If we separated DW would have to be charged with abandonment the state would go after her for child support and thus she would end up in jail for non-support. Plus that suggestion is insane if we can’t make it on one income together How could we make it on one income and have to be living apart)


Ruby I am glad that you and your husband made it. I doubt you would have, had you both been inflicted with the exact same illness’s that I have. Maybe were not as strong as you. The laws and rules have changed greatly since 1978.

Where did the money go? OK, 38 HT people sent gifts. $543.54 went to the utility company to keep the power on. The balance went to cover phone bill. Internet, gas for job search.

When the bills are so deep it is almost impossible to get out of the hole. The only way anyone can get out of a mess like this is a cash infusion that levels the playing field and having a cash flow (job) that will cover the regular bills after getting flush.

A job (in our case) will cause the temporary FS and medicade to terminate. That means I’m back to square one and once again face no meds. I contacted the manufacturers 800 patients’ assistance lines. Until Medicade is terminated for 60 days they will not help. When I can show proof of medicade terminated, and have my doctor to fill out forms, then I “may” qualify for 90 days assistance.

While “Montel”, “Oprah” and “Ellen” thought they were helping the many thousands of people that don’t have insurance by telling the world about the Patient’s assistance programs it hasn’t. Because of the publicity a good many of the programs are being canceled.

Whether you choose to believe it or not this board is my main form of social activity. I will greatly miss the banter and even the religious fights at GC. Maybe I’m just “stupid” but I think of a good many folks on these boards, as friends not just screen names. So when someone says to me talk to your friends, well I did.

Ruby and several others say we should have a “CAN DO” attitude. All right here’s my Can Do list.
I can turn off the internet OK not a good idea
I can turn off the telephone OK not a good idea
I can stop taking Insulin, Glucovance, Norvasc, when they run out OK not a good idea, you guys win taking meds, see

I can surrender the mobile home

amended as requested
OK let's discuss it

Good friends you have my mailing address drop me a line when you can post cards are still reasonable.
Kenneth in NC

Sorry I didn't make it clear, it should have read, He (Kenneth) lives in the country. I know Sancraft is a woman and a very strong woman with a CAN DO attitude.[/QUOTE]
Sorry I was just reading with out thinking I guess.

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marching to the beat of a different drummer

Good luck, Kenneth.

I think that the dice has been rolled, and the last hand has been dealt. I hope you play them well.

Folks, I really hope that you money mavens can refrain from saying "you should have"...because at this point the last hand HAS been dealt. All he can do now is play his hand out.

If you shut off the internet, go with God, Kenneth.

Kenneth - read my pm to you from last night and please answer it.

sometimes off the wall ideas help.

Angie

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"Live your life, and forget your age." Norman Vincent Peale

I did not want to add much to this discussion in public because I would have been on the out numbered and unpopular side. Personally with out saying to much in the way of specifics about what I feel in the matter, I think it is sad that Kenneth is going thru what he is but I feel that giving him $ is not the way to help despite his and many peoples posts to the contrary. If we could all help him by building a little cabin or something with him that would be far better, and if he was with in a few hours drive of my place I would be there to help with that. If I ever could not pay a bill promptly for any reason I would stop what ever service is sending me the bill whether it be power,city water, internet, phone or what have you.Infact I am considering stopping all those things in that list that I have so as to not have to worry about making enough $ by working for someone else to pay those bills atleast till My berries and things I will be plnting in feb are a few years old and start bringing in $.The internet as I said before today in a post is not going to be a part of my house ever as I feel it will detract from my productive homestead activities the likes of which are never complete since their are always more projects I am starting and working on, Also it will take away from the time I spend with my lovely wife and children so as much as I love spending time here with you all and learning on the net I will be doing so only from the library shortly, After the farmers markets on saturdays and when I get a chance rarely in the winter probably.

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marching to the beat of a different drummer

I think perhaps writing books would be a good way to bring in some $ seems like folks really enjoyed the short story.

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marching to the beat of a different drummer

I mentioned separation, not divorce. Daughter stays with spouse, you move ~into~ cabin. Only for appearances. Social Services don't want to give you anything unless you're destitute, and being a single mom is always a help.

There's an old saying, "when you find yourself in a hole, stop digging".

If heaven forbid, I found myself in your situation, I'd start moving my household goods into the cabin. Tell Green Tree to come get their property. BTW, saw on a post earlier about someone giving away a mobile home (barterboard?) Around here, there's always someone giving away a mobile home...usually run down and wore out, but still free....

If the cabin isn't an option, I'd take the family to the Social Services dept. with a blanket or two and camp out in their offices...till they told you which housing unit you were to be assigned. Don't know about your hometown, but the local towns hereabouts, even if they don't have a stop light, have public housing. Staying in one of these free rental units just might be the ticket, to allow your DW to save up enough money for a start over, or to save enough money to remodel your cabin and make it livable. Winter's coming, and if you don't have the wherewithal to heat and cook in it, esp. with the daughter, public housing would be better...

Things will work themselves out, unfortunately it probably won't be the way we'd've wanted em too...

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Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity. Seneca
Learning is not compulsory... neither is survival. W. Edwards Deming

Actually you are in dire straights.
I would divorce the wife if that was the game we had to play to survive.Though Im not sure thats an answer,it IS an option.

Its not about what I want at this point,its desperate survival and you do what you have to do,which often means swallowing your pride and doing whatever it takes.High ideals are fine,sometimes you cant even afford to have them.

Texican gave some out of the box idea that is at least worth looking into.You need to check out what can actually be done going that route before dismissing it out of hand,we are talking lfe and death,and this isnt worth death for a government piece of paper saying you are married in the eyes of Uncle Sugar.
Not if it means your life.

Speaking for myself on that,your mileage may vary.

Sometimes the system doesnt work for folks who are desperately ill,then you have to play the system and beat them at their own game.

Ive seen enough injustice on the disability front to know sometimes it isnt right,and it isnt fair and its completely arbitrary.

You do what you have to do to survive,then you make it right later.Then you remarry if you went the divorce route.

Sorry I dont have the answers,but I do know you fight in any way you can,not curl up and die because the system is failing and you have ideals.

Flame away folks,we are talking absolute survival,and sometimes it just isnt pretty what you have to do.

Bankruptcy happens,the pieces can be picked up later.You may live in a travel trailer or a bus,I have,its doable.You may live in a trash motel in shanty town,then so be it,you take what comes and cope,you dont give up the meds and die.

When the Disability does come through,you can get another Mobile.

And the game still isnt over until they change the locks,the job money may be enough and in time.Make a something,anything payment on that first check.
Wait til the actual paperwork comes through,until then its BS threats,no more.I still dont believe they want to take the mobile back at a loss,but they need to show the loan is being serviced,there are regulations they have to meet for performing loans and THEY can be forced by them to pull your paper.

Pay them something on that first check,I would make that something 250 as they are offering.

BooBoo

Texican,we were typing at the same time,you said it so much better than I could,and you have it right at this point.You really said it well Texican.

I like your plan,and it gives breathing room,just what they they need,the room they will breathing in may be a dump,so be it.

It will work out.

They need to learn to play the system to get it moving.They are not evil folks,they are good folks,part of why the system isnt working for them IMHO.

As someone said,the last hand has been dealt,now play it well.

BooBoo

Wow, Kenneth, this sure is a tough spot to be in.

You are homeschooling your daughter, I remember ... is there any way she can stay with someone else for awhile (without triggering truancy charges)? Without a child on the property you may be able to 'stay under the radar' with the county that much longer.

When we lived in our unserviced shed for four months, and my son had to come home from school to light the kerosene heater (and stay in his ski pants and coat until the place warmed up) I was sometimes scared that the county would show up and charge me with being a terrible mother (I did have a backup plan but it was not something I wanted to implement unless I had to). I know if it'd just been me, nobody would've noticed or cared.

Not that I'm suggesting you break the rules, really, just that you ... bend them while you allow yourself the time to get your cabin up to their standards so that you can all live in it.

Wish I was close enough to come help you out. I'm afraid the American social services network puzzles me completely - can't help you with any of that paperwork, but if I happen to come up with any more ideas I'll let you know!

(P.S. Angie's post with the ideas for updating your cabin had some great thoughts - is any of that workable for you guys?)

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Apple Jack Creek
near Edmonton Alberta
author of Just Keep Knitting: a journey of healing through forgiveness, faith, and fibre and The Rookie's Field Guide to Supported Spinning

Kenneth, I wish the best for you and your family.

Paula

Kenneth, if they take the mobile home could you qualify for section 8 housing? It is for people who earn about 50% of the states median income. It is fully explained here:

http://www.affordablehousingonline.c...on8housing.asp

I know we live in a housing cooperative. We aren't in section 8 housing, we pay the full amount, but they do have section 8 here and they are maintained just as well as the townhouse we live in. If you qualify for something like that you wouldn't have maintenance and upkeep on your housing. You could just hang onto your land unimproved and your taxes would be lower. Just an idea.

I wish you and your family the best!

Mobile home was likely a bummer deal. If I understand Kenneth correctly they have already paid $25K on it and still have ten years to go on the note at $250 or so a month, so that works out to another $30K. Were it fully paid off it might be worth a couple of K. Essentially they are renting it from GT on a rent-to-buy, with probably RTB interest rates.

Far as I know Kenneth owns the land, which I estimate to be several acres at the end of a deadend road. Don't see why he couldn't get a bank loan (first mortgage) on the land, let GT have the one they have now, and purchase a used, but liveable one with, hopefully, it be paid in full set-up on the property. Then they just have a land note and utilities (and meds). Heck, might buy back the same one from whoever GT wholesales it to.

Don't know acreage, but from what I saw at least five acres. Say land is going for $8K an acre there. That's $40K in equity. A $10K land note should allow purchasing and setting up another mobilehome.

Problem with public assistance I see if you basically have to be flat out broke (no capital) to qualify. Likely owning the land will prevent it.

Another problem I see is, as far as I know, not belonging to any religious group, whether you are a believer in their version or not. Were they to have attended some service at a large church with an outreach program on a regular basis there might have been the possibity of the church members overhauling the cottage as a group outreach program. When desperate one pays the games one has to play.

I agree with the divorce if that will give you more help with meds or what not. Being Married in Gods eyes are what is important why worry about others or the feds?

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marching to the beat of a different drummer

By PM I was informed Kenneth has 2 1/2 acres and that banks don't like to do land loans. However, this isn't raw land, but improved with at least a cottage (for whatever it adds), cargo van box for storage, gravel drive and utilities in place. Seems like something the bank could turn over fairly quickly if the loan on which it was used for collateral was defaulted.

Problem may be more of a problem of no family member having regular employment. Working for a temporary service may not be considered as dependable income to ensure payments. Wife may have employment for a couple of weeks, then no assignments for a couple of months.

As noted above, I suspect owning the land will greatly affect ability to get some public assistance, such as housing.

How long does it take to get a voucher?

It varies. The Section 8 program has historically been oversubscribed and waiting lists can run into the years. In fact, many housing authorities frequently close their waiting lists and stop accepting applications because the waiting lists are so long. To find out about wait times in your area call your local public housing authority. Use the search tool above to locate the housing authority serving your area.

A friend of mine has been on the list here in NC for 6 months. Good Luck on S-8

Star

I am sorry Kenneth took my ideas in the wrong way. Maybe I came across too strong. I was just relating what has happened to us, and what we had to go through. Maybe the regulations here in Texas are not as strict as they where he lives.

I know they are counting on being able to live on his disability when he gets it. He said what she makes would go against his check. I can tell him now. He will not get enough to make ends meet. Not the way prices are now days. My husband and I are both on disability, and believe me, we live pay check to pay check. If our trailer wasen't paid for there is now way we could make it. We have not used our air conditioner AT ALL this summer because cannot aford to pay the electric. We turn off the water heater and only turn it on when we use the shower. I've quit using our dryer, and hand all our clothes on the line to dry.

I really think if their daughter is 12 yrs old she is old enough to do a lot of stuff there with supervision. I know Kenneth is not able to do things himself, but I'm sure he could supervise. When I was talking about a Can Do attitude I didn't mean to get rid of the stuff he said he could get rid of. In fact I think he really needs to keep the telephone especilly because they need it for her job notifications.

I will be praying for this family. I really do care what happens to them. I just think now they are at the point they feel there is no use anymore and are depressed. I do know when you feel there is no hope you cannot see thing clearly.

Ken, I can move anything that you can pick up(used trailer or camper)to your land and set it up for you. I have screw machines to anchor it down/etc. If worse comes to worse I have a 22 ft camper(bad floor in main section) you can borrow through the winter. You have my E address and will help anyway needed. Money is tight here also but can physically help. If you come across a real house nearby I will move it to your land for you-gratis. Best I can do my buddy,wc

Gideon, you are a good friend! I sure wish I was closer. I am not very strong, but I work hard and I would so love to help.

I hope something can be figured out for you soon. My prayers are with you and your family....

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Every time you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing. ~Mother Teresa

Divorce isn't really necessary... at least here... separation is the keyword... talked with a relative earlier this evening who is 'separated' from her husband... they invited me over to eat... asked if hubby was going to be there... we got a giggle out of it... of course he was (they sleep every night in the same bed), but until the medical bills are paid, they play the 'game'... otherwise, they'd lose everything and be sleeping under the bridge...

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Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity. Seneca
Learning is not compulsory... neither is survival. W. Edwards Deming