November Low Income Mummas Support Thread - Page 9

[justmama]

Originally Posted by zersha

I'm probably way off because I am definately no expert, but could your home have mold? I just ask this because both dh & I got the worst joint pain after moving into our home and having to clean up a lot of mold damage. And I actually have anklosing spondilitis (a form of arthritis, but I'm used to how that feels), and the affects from the mold were really severe and besides affecting our joints, I think it caused us to just feel otherwise unhealthy too.

My sister had a really leaky roof for the year she lived in her apt and whenever it rained she was MISERABLE with migraines and just generally cruddy symptoms. We finally figured out that it was the mold in the place that her landlord would do nothing about. So she just ended up breaking her lease, paying the extra month or two, breaking herself to find another place and pay that rent too and getting out. Her health and the health of her pets was more important than $2K in rent since she was making pretty good money at the time. Mold is nothing to mess around with.

[justmama]

So I have to do an extra grateful to add to my list:


my husband bought the oldest girl sneakers today! YAY! He actually called to ask what her size was and bought her a pair of sneakers since he knew that I have been really short this month and hers are falling apart(can't find any to fit her at the consignment shop). So he found a really cute pair of white and hot pink sneakers at Wal-Mart today for her.

[Montana Mom]

Hi. We're in Montana too. Gearing up for the long winter with a newborn. I hope its not too bad this year.

Thankful for...a lot. Everything. Our kids. This baby (who will hopefully emerge very very soon). WIC.

I've been thinking about this a lot lately, and one thing that we are specifically thankful for is that our children's other parents are good people.

[mrskennedy]

Good and bad news here...

I got a quote for my used instruments... It wasn't as much as I'd hoped, but fair enough. I've accepted it ($100 for 3 ukuleles), and I don't have to pay shipping.

I'm also waiting to hear back about a medical transcriptionist position. It's a part-time IC position, and I could really use the money and the experience! The company offered it even to students like me, who haven't finished training yet. So I'm keeping my fingers crossed and would appreciate any good vibes you could send!

It's esp. important that I get this job b/c social security claims I owe $2500. Long story, but I really don't owe, and we appealed it last year. Obviously it didn't do any good, though they claimed it was all taken care of. If they don't receive pmt by next week, they're going to suspend my benefits. Needless to say, we won't have a house then. We live primarily on SS, and DH's benefits aren't enough to pay even our rent, much less utilities, etc. So, uh, could really use good thoughts/prayers here!

[sandygirl]

Originally Posted by mrskennedy

It's esp. important that I get this job b/c social security claims I owe $2500. Long story, but I really don't owe, and we appealed it last year. Obviously it didn't do any good, though they claimed it was all taken care of. If they don't receive pmt by next week, they're going to suspend my benefits. Needless to say, we won't have a house then. We live primarily on SS, and DH's benefits aren't enough to pay even our rent, much less utilities, etc. So, uh, could really use good thoughts/prayers here!

Keep appealing!!!!!! They've done this to my mother for 5 years now - we jsut keep appealing and finally they backed down!

THEY CANNOT CUT YOUR BENEFITS WHEN YOU HAVE FILED AN APPEAL!

[mrskennedy]

AB, have you seen an ND? They're not always cheap... But they don't mess around either. Maybe one would give you a reduced rate--mine has. NDs get right to the bottom of things, typically with no expensive tests, etc. Healing energies coming to you!

[mrskennedy]

Originally Posted by sandygirl

Keep appealing!!!!!! They've done this to my mother for 5 years now - we jsut keep appealing and finally they backed down!

THEY CANNOT CUT YOUR BENEFITS WHEN YOU HAVE FILED AN APPEAL!

Thanks! That's good info!
But... How come they cut my benefits last year even after I appealed? : Should I get a lawyer--and pay him/her with my simply gorgeous face? But I'd get one somehow if I had to!

[sandygirl]

Originally Posted by mrskennedy

Thanks! That's good info!
But... How come they cut my benefits last year even after I appealed? : Should I get a lawyer--and pay him/her with my simply gorgeous face? But I'd get one somehow if I had to!

did you sign anything? They tried to slip in payment aggreements with the paperwork stating my mother's was resolved, and she nearly signed it. That's what I'm thinking may have happened.

I know with SS you have to appeal QUICKLY sometimes, or they can cut your benefits while it's being worked out. YOU CAN get an hardship forberance of anything owed to them though - it takes a lot of work & going up the chain of command to find anyone who knows that though.

I wouldn't get a lawyer right now - maybe if they give you a particularily hard time about it you might consider one, but right now you're probably okay without one.

[AngelBee]

Originally Posted by mrskennedy

AB, have you seen an ND? They're not always cheap... But they don't mess around either. Maybe one would give you a reduced rate--mine has. NDs get right to the bottom of things, typically with no expensive tests, etc. Healing energies coming to you!

This may be my next move.

I also have a referral to a great accupuncturist. (sp?)

I will try anything (well.....almost anything) at this point.

[mommy2maya]

Today is the first day to apply for LIHEAP in Pa.

[sonrisaa29]

Originally Posted by mommy2maya

Today is the first day to apply for LIHEAP in Pa.

What is that?

[mommy2maya]

http://www.oru.com/programsandservic...ce/heappa.html
http://www.dpw.state.pa.us/ServicesP.../003676887.htm

[mrskennedy]

Thanks for the links, mommy2maya! I saw last year's info, but couldn't find the new table/app. info.

A question though... The LIHEAP benefits table says you can choose the income calculation period, but there's nowhere to choose. So are the income amounts listed monthly amounts (like household income: $1000-1999, etc)?
Thanks!

[mommy2maya]

No, the income listed is yearly.

[mrskennedy]

Originally Posted by AngelBee

This may be my next move.

I also have a referral to a great accupuncturist. (sp?)

I will try anything (well.....almost anything) at this point.

I think both are great ideas.
Have you tried Reiki at all? PM me if you want more info. I know how you can get it whenever you need it, free.

[mrskennedy]

Originally Posted by sandygirl

did you sign anything? They tried to slip in payment aggreements with the paperwork stating my mother's was resolved, and she nearly signed it. That's what I'm thinking may have happened.

I know with SS you have to appeal QUICKLY sometimes, or they can cut your benefits while it's being worked out. YOU CAN get an hardship forberance of anything owed to them though - it takes a lot of work & going up the chain of command to find anyone who knows that though.

I wouldn't get a lawyer right now - maybe if they give you a particularily hard time about it you might consider one, but right now you're probably okay without one.

Thanks! Last year I had a representative, and she may have signed something... I know I didn't. In any case, I've started the appeal process again and also, as per their website, am sending a request that my benefits continue while they make a decision. I'm hoping this is enough for now.
Thanks for your help and support... All of you!

[Belleweather]

Originally Posted by AngelBee

This may be my next move.
I also have a referral to a great accupuncturist. (sp?)

I was going to ask if you'd looked into acupuncture or traditional chinese medicine. It has done WONDERS for our family, (so much so that it's DH's second choice of new career after PA school) for anything we have that's a chronic condition. I know lots of Acupuncture schools have low-cost clinics where they do treatments and prescribe chinese herbs, so that's something to look into as well.

natural_mama89 and Justmama: PM me with addresses, and I'll put together a package for each of you.

Sonrisaa: I'm the one who wants to do bioethics in the family (although right now I think I'd do anyone or anything that could get me out of working in the life insurance industry...). DH is looking at the University of Wisconsin, since it's right down the street, but I don't know if he'll be able to get into that program. Their "successful average GPA" is at least a point higher than his current GPA. He sees an advisor over Thanksgiving, so we'll see.

*

Speaking of my Poor DH. Guess who managed to put us an extra $800 into debt today? Yep. He got pulled over because our van (his car) has expired plates -- which we totally should have known about, but they expired right around when we discovered little Mr. Surprise Baby was on his way, and I can see how we mighta missed that detail. Anyway, apparently he had gotten pulled over once BEFORE for expired plates, months and months ago. And hadn't paid the ticket, and had his license suspended. He's DAMN lucky they didn't send him to jail -- I think they would have, but DS was in the car. As it is, he walked out with a ticket for driving without a license, a second ticket for expired plates, AND a ticket for a missing rearview mirror. Plus, we need to pay plate renewal and a license reinstatement fee.

I told him he needed to get a paper route to pay all this crap off, because I was not working the extra hours for it. He's excited about taking DS out on his paper route every morning now... somehow, I don't think this had the deterrent affect I'd hoped for.

[CaliMommie]

Yay! We found a house that we really love for rent this weekend and they just called to say that they would love to rent to us! It is a 3 bedroom, 2 bath manufactured home on 3 acres! It is painted really great colors & has a washer/dryer/fridge already. it is in a gated community with lots of children around. I am just so excited to be getting out of this awful apartment! Our apartment was broken into thursday (we seem to have come home just as they were entering, cuz nothing was gone & the door was still moving!), so needless to say I don't feel very safe here anymore. I can't wait to move this weekend!

[CaliMommie]

Speaking of my Poor DH. Guess who managed to put us an extra $800 into debt today? Yep. He got pulled over because our van (his car) has expired plates -- which we totally should have known about, but they expired right around when we discovered little Mr. Surprise Baby was on his way, and I can see how we mighta missed that detail. Anyway, apparently he had gotten pulled over once BEFORE for expired plates, months and months ago. And hadn't paid the ticket, and had his license suspended. He's DAMN lucky they didn't send him to jail -- I think they would have, but DS was in the car. As it is, he walked out with a ticket for driving without a license, a second ticket for expired plates, AND a ticket for a missing rearview mirror. Plus, we need to pay plate renewal and a license reinstatement fee.

I told him he needed to get a paper route to pay all this crap off, because I was not working the extra hours for it. He's excited about taking DS out on his paper route every morning now... somehow, I don't think this had the deterrent affect I'd hoped for.

We just had to pay DF's registration & renew insurance, it adds up fast. I'm sorry about the ticket

[mrskennedy]

CaliMommie, congrats on the house!

Belleweather... Our DHs can get us into soooo much trouble, can't they?! Hopefully yours isnt a morning person! At least in that case, he'd be tired/grumpy/not so excited after a few days/weeks of this paper route! Or maybe your DS will decide to cry for him... I don't know, but I hope he doesn't LOVE this b/c he should feel bad about the debt! :