Transportation Grant Help For Multiply Disabled Single Mother Of Two
by Lora
I became disabled in July of 2004. I have several medical conditions, which combined make it nearly impossible for me to function on a normal basis daily. I was awarded my disability benefits in November of 2008 after filing a new claim for benefits. The judge, the one who handled my application before the one I was approved on, denied me the back pay due to me from when I originally filed. Even though the state's doctors and specialists stated I was disabled from the original onset date, the judge told me at my hearing that my choices were simple. One choice was to drop my appeal and give up on my back pay from Social Security and keep the benefits given to me by the new worker. The other choice was for her to re-open the entire case, pointing out that it would be her decision as to whether or not I could continue with my benefits. The judge stressed she felt I was "too young" to be disabled and if I continued with my appeal for back social security it was likely I would lose my current benefits and owe the government for what I had already received. I felt that although this wasn't right my only choice was to drop the claim for what I felt was right in order to keep the benefits I am receiving now because for 2 years my children and I were homeless with no benefits because of her first decision on my hearing. I don't think that the government should allow a judge to rehear a case when they have already deemed that the judge was wrong in their original denial, because the judge then is biased against the person who appealed their decision and had it overturned. However, there seems nothing can be done about the way this happened to me. I am just seeking a way to better help to take care of my family now. I was told that there might be grants available to help my children and me. So, in essence that is why I am here telling my story, to see if you can help me. I suffer from severe obesity, chronic arthritis, degenerative disc disease with multiple discs already destroyed, incontinence, COPD and borderline diabetes. I am also under doctor-prescribed medication for depression and high blood pressure. Currently I must use a CPAP machine with oxygen BiPAP to sleep at night. I also take 8 different prescriptions daily. I originally became disabled in 2004 when the discs in my back deteriorated to the point that I could barely move and I lost control of my bladder functions. At that time I could have had surgery to repair most of the problems but did not have medical insurance and that is why I applied for my disability. However, in waiting for the Social Security Administration to make its findings in my favor my condition continued to worsen and I developed severe depression, which caused a huge weight, gain. The excess weight now causes me to be unable to have the surgeries that could have corrected the original problems and allowed me to go back to work 6 months later. Now my condition worsens steadily and my functional capacity deteriorates. I currently receive disability in the amount of $786 per month and my two daughters each receive $71 a month. Out of this we pay rent, lights, water, gas, phone and purchase groceries and other household items we need. I do receive $346 a month in food stamp benefits, which covers about 75% of our food, costs. Usually we have about $40-50 a month after all the bills are paid and we have bought the necessities. I use this to pay for school needed items and try to get the girls an outfit or underclothes. We currently have no vehicle and have to rely on others to take us to the store or doctors appointments. Our hardship has increased because my grandmother, who now lives with us after the death of my grandfather earlier this year, is not able to take care of herself. I am fortunate in that Medicare and Medicaid now cover my medication needs and I only have to pay a small co-pay each month. But I don't have enough money left this month to purchase Christmas gifts for my girls. Again I have had to tell them that it will get better some day. I just hope that some day shows up soon. I do not have any earnings or income other than what I receive from Social Security. I am not able to work at all any more. We do get a utility assistance grant for winter that usually amounts to the average of one month's bill on our gas. I am looking to find out if there are any grants or programs available to help me get reliable transportation, as well as help with getting my girls the items they need to have, i.e. clothes, shoes, school supplies, computer equipment.
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