[faerie_moon_x]

So my mother-in-law is homeless. She has bipolar and degenerative bone disease and is on disability. She was abandoned by her previous husband and they are divorced. She has been moving from relative to friend for the past three years, briefly had an appartment but was evicted because she can't afford rent on her own. Currently she is living with us. She has no desire to "meet a man" because she has been abused by all her ex husbands and boyfriends, so she doesn't trust herself in that area, would rather avoid it.

We live in a house owned by my dad. He charges very minimal rent for us. She's been with us 5 months and in June he wants her to pay rent, which is fine. But, he wants half her income check. I explained to him that is too much for her, and now him and my step-mother are pissed. They don't care. She doesn't want to pay half her income to live with her son, and would rather get her own place. But, how??? Rent is more than her entire check.

I looked it up and in my state it takes up to 12 months just to be approved to be put on a waiting list for assistance with housing if you are disabled. She's not even 50 years old yet.

How do single people on disability not be homeless?

[cocoabeans]

I've never been on disability but, I've heard of people renting single rooms in houses and oddly enough, working part time and collecting. I don't know if it is true that you can do that but, yup disability income can be awful. Half isn't much is it? Does she buy her own food now? Pay for utilities?

[faerie_moon_x]

Half is a lot. The other half goes to her meds. Last month she was hit with a $200 fee unexpectedly and she only had $18 for the whole month to buy food. She has no prescription coverage, so she doesn't get all of her meds, just the most important ones. Her pain med (for her bone disease) is over $100 a month. So after meds and rent she'd be broke.

She's not askign to live free. Just maybe a third instead of half. But, that's not going to happen. My dad thinks $$ = caring.

[Victoria'smom]

We're a family of three living off one disability check. Best thing to do is apply for hud housing, low income non-hud housing, and section 8, in EVERY county she's willing to live in because it can take over 10 years to get in some places. Have her look into places that have everything included because that's the only way she'll be able to afford it without juggling bills. We juggle and are hoping to one day get section 8. If she doesn't have it apply for emergency food stamps. Also look at food banks. If she drives or you drive her to her appointment's your area may give $20 gas cards. If there's a bus system they may give monthly bus passes. If she pays for a phone or needs a phone there is safe link She wants to try to get as much as the state is willing to help her with even if she stays with someone. She should check that she's homeless because she's in temporary housing at the moment.

Try to get your family to except 30 % of her income, that's what she would have to pay in affordable housing. If they don't accept it have your family do a formal eviction so that the state can get her caught up. If she does not have a degree, and your community colleges are covered solely by grants with a little extra, she may want to take 2 classes at a time in an area that she can volunteer in to help her self esteem and supplement her income until other options are available. If you guys can, you may just want to make up the $140 month until other options come in.

Disability seems to be built on the premise that you will get all the community help you can get. I know it's embarrassing but at this income level even $10 is a huge deal. Our family doesn't take my own advice. So until recently we've had to move about every 6 months. A lot of times when we 'visit' family they have no idea that we are homeless but our son has no clue either. Hopefully that helps a little.

[Btp1136]

For food, she should be able to apply for assistance. I know in Illinois you'd get at least 200 per month.

[BuggsBunny]

Has she tried medicaid for her meds? If her only income is disability she should be eligible. She should also be on Medicare if she is on Social Security disability. They have an automatic eligibility like 2 years after you start SSD, you are eligible for Medicare, and once you are on SSD you are eligible for medicaid. Why isn't she taking advantage of these two programs for her meds?

[insideout]

not sure where you live, but there are usually federal programs, state programs, county programs, and city programs for subsidized/low income housing. there are regional waiting lists and there are also individual complexes that hold the voucher. some, you must apply to each complex individually.
There is also the option of renting a room.
You can work and keep your check, if you make under a certain amount, but sounds like she is not able to work.
Food banks can sometimes give food up to every 2 weeks. there are programs through the USDA. Remeber the butter and cheese of the 80's and 90's? there's a version of that still around that includes many more types of foods, you just have to find an agency that distributes the food. you can start your search here: http://www.fns.usda.gov/fdd/contacts/sdacontacts.htm

your city's senior services department can usually find whatever the person needs, including meals on wheels and legal aid. Sky is the limit. the only tough part is finding the services.

[eskielover]

Also, there are some wonderful patient assistance programs for meds that are expensive.....the drug companies all have them....mostly not the generics however.

I am on disability, but it was based on my income as an engineer, so it's higher than most people get for disability. I don't qualify for the assistance program for my pain mediation, but because it's so expensive (more than even I get per month) they let you appeal it on medical & financial need.

I don't think your MIL would even have to do the appeal with the low amount I'm sure her disability income is.

Not sure why she's not on medicaid rather than just medicare.....the coverage is actually greater & pays for more with the medicaid.

I know that the prescription coverage costs a lot every month.....because I'm only on the one medication, it's not worth it for me to have prescription coverage because what meds I do end up buying, my pharmacist has help me find different coverages through the pharmacy that lower the cost of the meds....including the heart med I get for my dog.

I know in this economy that it's very difficult to get along on the small amount that the lower amounts of disability provide.....one has to get creative.....& I agree with her not to get involved with a guy just to find someone to help her get a place that she can call 'their' own......but then I don't agree with living together in the first place even though my daughter is doing that because she finds that on her low paying jobs, she can't afford a place of her own & I live way across the country from where she lives.

[insideout]

is there a link to the program, eskie?

[eskielover]

For the patient assistance programs, they are usually tied specifically with the drug company for the drugs you are on.....some I have found are:
http://www.rxassist.org/
http://www.patientassistance.com/
www.needymeds.org/

google "patient assistance programs" & you get pages of options

The drug store I use is CVS....all over the US.....they seem to have some low cost drug assistance.....the cost changes from month to month & they go through different ones to find the least cost to the person......don't know exactly how it works....but I have purchased several months of my dog's heart medication for about $4.00.....a lot different than the $68 my vet wanted to charge for the same med.

[SmokeyPoole2012]

I wonder if it would help to find a disability advocate in your area. These government funded programs are founded to not only help find adequate affordable housing but can aide in finding part-time employment, help you find assistance from within your community as well as a number of other things.

I searched for a "Disability Advocate" on Google and found an organization called Adlib who assist people in my community. They have been a lot of help for both me and my son.

[justaSeeker]

I'm on SSDI, which is different from SSI, so it's important which type of Disability program she receives her payments. There are also many differences in the types of benefits she will qualify for.

She should qualify for a Housing Assistance program, which, by law, will take no more than 1/3 of your income. The problem is that oftentimes there is a waiting list to get on the program. It's important to find the right agency and get signed up ASAP.

[thickntired]

I would check out the website "The Dollar Stretcher." It has a lot of good information about living on disability, job loss, debt . . .

I just got on disability, but I'm terrible. I am really trying to quit over spending, but I'm used to that big pay check. Try not to use your debot or credit cards too - cash only.

Peace,

TnT

[hamster-bamster]

Is there a social worker where she receives mental help?

[faerie_moon_x]

Well, my family doesn't care about anything such as "it should only be 30% of her income." Why my dad cares about is, "I can make money off of her, so I will. And I will threaten and guilt trip and let my wife call my child a worthless piece of trash." Oh, by the way, they won't speak to her directly. They put me in the middle.

My dad won't sign any papers that will go through "government." For example, when I was in college he wouldn't even sign papers for me to get a federal loan. Because it's some type of trap. She lived with us before and was paying $200 a month, this was three years ago. Social Security needed her landlord to sign a paper to say how much she was paying per-month. He refused to sign it because he "doesn't want them knowing our business," and I signed it for her.

My husband has decided to look for a job so that we can get enough money to move out. In her home state, where she came from, she didn't qualify for medicaid and only for $10 a month in food stamps. Something to do with the type of disability she is on. I think she will qualify here but she will need a state ID, ect. I wish the whole family qualified but because of my job, I make like $80 too much a month. Awesome!

[Irreplaceable]

My boyfriend's mom gets disability as well as other assistance and from what I know, she does ok. Like a lot of people, sometimes she lives paycheck to paycheck. She was living in low income housing for the longest time but now she lives in a relative's house. She got low income housing through the county/section 8. She also gets food stamps and other assistance. When she was working, she worked only part time so that she still qualified for assistance...She gets help from welfare for utility bills, and other such things. Everyone I know who is on assistance gets multiple help from the county. It can be done, you just need to know what options are available to you and take advantage of it...

[Irreplaceable]

Originally Posted by dark_heart_x

Well, my family doesn't care about anything such as "it should only be 30% of her income." Why my dad cares about is, "I can make money off of her, so I will. And I will threaten and guilt trip and let my wife call my child a worthless piece of trash." Oh, by the way, they won't speak to her directly. They put me in the middle.

My dad won't sign any papers that will go through "government." For example, when I was in college he wouldn't even sign papers for me to get a federal loan. Because it's some type of trap. She lived with us before and was paying $200 a month, this was three years ago. Social Security needed her landlord to sign a paper to say how much she was paying per-month. He refused to sign it because he "doesn't want them knowing our business," and I signed it for her.

My husband has decided to look for a job so that we can get enough money to move out. In her home state, where she came from, she didn't qualify for medicaid and only for $10 a month in food stamps. Something to do with the type of disability she is on. I think she will qualify here but she will need a state ID, ect. I wish the whole family qualified but because of my job, I make like $80 too much a month. Awesome!

D*** $10.00? Where I live, if you go over the income limit by just a bit ($80 or so), they won't hold it against you, they give you assistance...

Edt: Oh, I would even check food banks. A lot of times the welfare office has a list of food banks and churches that give away free food. Meat, milk, everything. My boyfriend's mom does that too...Sometimes goes church to church for help. Churches help with utility bills if you have a disconnect notice. You have to do your research. Options are available. They may be limited, but they are available.

[faerie_moon_x]

Where I live there is a major "assistance crisis." So there is a lot of red tape and such. We have a very high homeless population here, unfortunately. Also similar where she came from. They even built housing for them a few years ago, but that's already filled up. We also never qualified for daycare assistance, which is why my husband stayed home. But now that his mom seems to be going to live with us forever, he is going to get a job. But, I worry because it's hard for her to take care of the kids. But maybe if we have more money it will be easier....

Thanks to all of you for all this info. I will look into it all.