Replies to 'Living on One Income'

I also have fibromylgia, myofascial syndrome, crohn's disease, osteoporosis and other health problems. I know what you are going through. In June 2005 I was told I could no longer work. I was an insurance agent and made good money. My husband and I lived fairly well. Social Services gave us custody of my husbands 3 children in 10/2004 as their mother physically abused them. We never recieved child support and raised them on our own. When I could no longer work in 2005, I filed for disability through Social Security. I had short term disability through work but only lasted until December 2005. I called everywhere to get help, but my husbands income was just over the allowed limit. However I did qualify for a reduction in gas & electric.I tried every angle to get help but depending on your income. You might want to try BGE, if you have credit cards some will work with you on payments. I live in Md and I know laws are different in other states.Social Services maybe able to help or give you advice on where to get help. I also contact the Senator's office in Md which they helped me. If you need help with repairs to your home I have an appointment with community conservation, which they will add a bathroom or other needs if you own your home and they add it as a 2nd mortgage but you don't pay any money since your husband is disabled, you only pay them back if you sell your home. Social Services wasn't help to me because of the income and amount of people in your household, but they do help with food and various other services. If you are buying your home try for a reduction in your taxes. Our church helped us, they paid one of our house payments and our telephone bill. I know it took me 1 1/2 years to be awarded disability and I had to go before a judge. We had to sell our home and rent. Our bills kept adding up and credit card companies raised our interest rate to 32% and suspended 2 accounts. Even after being awarded disability and paying our bills up to date, I sent them a copy of SS letter stating I was disabled since 2005 they still kept the interest rate the same and would not lower it also the accounts still were suspended. It hurts your credit and if you try to buy something and credit is pulled, it's always a reminder of the worst 1 1/2 years of your life.My heart goes out to you.We were just able to buy another home, It's ok but it's a place to call home. I hope some of this information helps. Just keep searching the internet and call the senator's office, salvation army your bill collectors, social security, social services, your church and if you don't have health insurance for the children, in Md, you probably would be eligible for free health insurance through Priorty Partners(the state insurance). I would contact social services about your niece(even if it is for advice). Say alot of prayers. I will pray for you and I hope this information will help. I know it's hard and nobody knows unless they go through it themselves. Good Luck and God Bless. I hope you can post any latest developments. The more information we find to help one another the easier it maybe for someone else. I wish they would do a show on this topic. I feel the government needs to step in and help.People need to know what to do, this only makes your health worse. Social Security should not take this long for a decision. If you know someone at Social Security, I was told you recieve your benefits alot sooner. What is going on with our Government?  

Take Care and Good Luck,

Linda G. (MD)

I am not sure that you are doing any favors my letting her not work.  Sitting at home probably isn't helping her self-esteem.   While some jobs might be difficult on her given her "anti-social" nature there are still jobs that she could probably do that have low people contact.  Some suggestions might be data entry, filing, or a job that involves working with numbers.  

Handling two jobs is very difficult and even more so if you have medical conditions.   Often from what I have observed is that even when healthy people get a second job they decline physically and mentally.     I believe that many of the medical condition that people like you are developing are the result of an inefficient work system.  In Germany and I believe some other European countries workers are given almost a full month off in order to rest and recover.   It actually leads to greater productivity, as people are able to maintain better there physical health, mental health, and energy if they are given a break every so often.  Most European countries also give workers much more time off to rest and recover.   The American system views its workers as replacable and breaks its workers down, which both wrong because we are talking about peoples lives and inefficient because workers develop experience and skills that does not make them replacable.