Student Loan Repayment Help For Hard Working Cerebral Palsy Disabled Man

by Daniel
(Des Moines, WA, USA)

I'm a 39-year-old man with Cerebral Palsy. In 2001, I obtained my degree in Computer Science. However, the job market at that time was difficult.

Every job listing I found required work experience I did not possess. In addition, the fact that I had a full-time job made searching for a job quite difficult. I chose to remain content with my current employment.

In 2005, some unwise financial decisions forced me to move in with my mother, as well as file for bankruptcy. Since then, I've been striving to get back on my feet financially, but it has been difficult.

Last month, I celebrated 18 years with my employer, The Home Depot. Since 2006, I have been working on the night crew, stocking shelves.

In general, I enjoy the work I am doing. However, about 18 months ago, I started experiencing chronic pain in my ankles. Frequently, I was asking for permission to go home early, because I couldn't stand the pain any longer.

This frustrated my boss, and at his suggestion, I agreed to drop from full-time to part-time status. The thought was that I could indeed leave work at an earlier hour without getting in trouble with the boss.

Shorter hours, however, equal a smaller paycheck. I seem to get by okay, but that is largely due to the fact that I am still living with my mother.

With the bills I have, as well as the bills I would have if I were living on my own, I cannot afford to live on my own.

For example, I don't believe I could rent an apartment for less than $500 per month, if that. Add to that utility bills, most of my income would go toward my living expenses, alone.

My largest financial challenge is the Student Loans I am trying to pay off, which right now sit at about $33,000. My current payment is $220 per month, most of which goes toward interest.

In fact, as of October 2011, I have paid a total of less than $5,000 toward the principal on my loans, while paying more than $11,000 in interest. At this rate, it will cost me more than $100,000 to pay off what started as a loan of about $38,000.

It does not take long to see that, given my circumstances, I am going to be shackled to this debt for the rest of my life. And (heaven forbid) should I ever reach the point where I am unable to work and have to live on disability, then what?

I am asking for a grant to assist me in paying off this loan, so that I may not face such financial hardship as I currently do.