MS Disabled Wife Seeks Help For Electric Bill And Accessible Vehicle

by Cindy
(Peckville, PA, USA)

My name is Cindy. I am a 45-year-old female. I live in Peckville, Pennsylvania. I have been married for almost 13 years. I have four grown children, the youngest just started going to a trade school.

I was diagnosed in early 2002 with multiple sclerosis. By 2005, I was already using a wheelchair and unable to stand and walk. Currently I have aides that come in every day and bathe me in bed.

If I want to get out of bed, my husband has to pick me up and place me in my wheelchair. I tried to get a power wheelchair, but I am not eligible because my hands shake too much to use the controls.

As my disability progressed, I was no longer able to work. I had always had a job and we depended on both my income and my husband's.

My husband tried his hardest to keep things going on just his income, but it wasn't enough. We ended up losing our home to foreclosure in 2007. We currently rent a two-bedroom apartment.

My husband lost his job in 2008 and he is still unemployed. Jobs are very scarce around here.

Our car is 15 years old and falling apart. In fact, the inspection ran out a year and a half ago. I am not able to get into our car because it is too small. My husband has been trying to get something bigger.

He spent the last four years rebuilding his credit after the foreclosure. Even though he got his credit back to a respectable score, nobody will give him a loan since he is not working.

My main concern, however, is our electric bill or I should say the past due amount. Even though we put something toward the bill every month, it is not enough. We are approaching $4000 past due.

We live in an area where we do not have a major supplier for the electric service. It comes through the borough. They are what is known as "private sector."

The public utilities commission has no control over them. I tried to get help from a disability advocate. They told me that because the borough was "private sector" they could do what they want.

I even contacted the attorney general's office and they confirmed that they can in fact do whatever they want. We are in danger of being shut off.

Our only income is my SSI and this barely covers our rent. We also get assistance with food. We have tried places like the Salvation Army, Goodwill, Red Cross and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society for assistance with no luck.

As much as I would love to have a car that I can get into so I can get out, I really need help to pay my electric bill. If there are grants out there that help disabled people in need, I need one.