Disabled, Divorced, Abandoned Woman Looking For Government Disability Help

by Lisa Nixon
(Arkansas, USA)

I'm a 44-year-old disabled, divorced and abandoned woman looking for government disability help.

Diagnosed with Agoraphobia at 21, I have suffered from it ever since. Then my family doctor discovered I have DDD (Disintegrating Disc Disease) and he told my husband that I could no longer work, that I was disabled.

I did not apply for Disability or SSI at that time because we were doing well on his income; we even bought a house. My doctor also told him that I needed to get therapy for the anxiety attacks that were taking over my life. Even though we had excellent insurance that paid 95% of therapy, my husband said, "I can't afford it."

Then, in April of 2009, he came home from having a weekend tryst with some online woman, told me: I am letting the house foreclose and I want a divorce. I am no longer responsible for you, you are on your own.

I was devastated. Not only was I going to lose my home, but also the one person I THOUGHT I could count on "for better or worse" just stabbed me in the back. I can't even describe the hell I went through and it isn't over with yet.

There are days when I can't move at all the pain is so bad, not to mention that it wasn't until a few weeks ago that I could step outside without having a panic attack.

Both husband and son abandoned me without a second thought, and I have been denied both Disability and SSI, but I have a lawyer who is helping me fight it.

I have been told it could take years. I did jump their hoops and produced all evidence for them. I guess because I can still walk some days, I don't qualify. Yet I hear of people getting it without any problems at all and without the proof I provided to them.

What does it take? Should I lie like they did?

Anyway, I will be forced to move, which is not an easy thing for any agoraphobic to do, when I can barely make it to my mailbox. I receive temporary alimony of $85 per week. I have no other income.

I have tried to get work online, but most of those programs are scams or they don't pay cash, they just give you bonus points so you can trade those in for "stuff." I don't need stuff. I need a house, and enough money to live on to pay bills and feed myself. Am I asking too much?

I don't know where to turn anymore. I have burned out all other options. Disabled, divorced and abandoned, I need help whether it's some government grant money or any form of assistance.