Stories Of Struggle

• My mom has taken care of a sick husband who passed away ten years ago and from then has been struggling to take care of herself and her mentally disabled daughter and grandson. She worked very hard all her life and never took anytime or did anything for herself. Till this day she is the same way. But now with the economy the way it is her money in any type of retirement 401k etc has diminished as well as Social Security and Medicare health expenses. She continues to take care of her disabled daughter and grandson, but can no longer afford to pay the house note. For the first time in her life she may lose the house and have nowhere to go. Where will the disabled daughter and grandson go? Disability checks are not enough to live on. Melinda Houston, TX December 5, 2011
• I am 65 and have been disabled since 1986. In 1994 my father purchased a house for me; in 2008 it was damaged severely by Hurricane Ike. There was a tree in my bedroom, and the roof leaked in nearly every room. I filed a claim with Allstate Insurance, and their initial check was $98.85. After months and months and many appeals they finally paid a total of about $12,000 (minus a $3,000 deductible) on $58,000 worth of damages. I had the roof replaced but have been unable to live in the house for the past three years. I have filed a lawsuit, but Allstate says since I accepted their 'final' payment, I have no recourse. They have never paid anything for temporary living expenses. All my belongings are still in the house and I'm living with my mother (out of boxes), who is 92 and in failing health, under hospice care; I am her primary caregiver. I am desperate to fix my house so I can live in it again, but nobody has any solutions to offer. I was working but was laid off in July and haven't been able to find another job (I'm 65 and an accountant). How can Allstate get away with this kind of abuse? They were happy to take my premiums, on time, every month, but when it came time to satisfy my claim, the adjuster told me, "I don't care what you do, I'm not giving you another dime." It's been three years, and still nothing. I really need some help. I broke my neck in 2003 and cannot do physical labor myself, so I need to hire this work to be done. Judy Conroe, TX November 6, 2011
• I will not be on Medicare until next year and I am wondering what I will need to give up to pay for that premium. Meat and cheese and fresh fruit will be bought in smaller amounts to pay for my Medicare.
  I am a 57 yr old medically retired female Registered Nurse on Social Security Disability. I began working at age 14 with a social security number. My income right now allows me to live in a very modest duplex,pay my utilities, car insurance and buy groceries and medicines. I cannot afford to buy new tires for my van or do other repairs that it really needs. I can't even dream of buying a newer vehicle if ever needed AND live in the home I live in now and have the comfortable existence that I have with no extras,like vacations, new furniture,joining senior clubs or going to community events unless they are free. I get help from Pfizer with my arthritis medication or I would not be able to afford it at over $100 a month just for that one medicine and I take several medications. Without this medication I could not function and take care of my self and home without help and I can't afford any help.
  My grocery shopping list gets shorter every month. Prices are going up for items needed for a healthy diet that the experts recommend for me. I buy less and less each month because there is less money after rent and utilities and insurance and medicines.
  I am worried that there is going to be less money coming into the program for many of us. This decline in funds will be due to young people graduating from college now do not have the same job opportunities that their parents and even less, than the great-grandparents did post World War II.
  Pamela Amarillo, TX October 25, 2011
• I live one "unforeseen incident" from financial catastrophe. Already have been forced to file bankruptcy, what's next? Sandra Marshall, TX October 19, 2011
• It is a very bleak future for me as a senior. Edward El Paso, TX October 19, 2011