How can I find resources to help me as a single disabled mom?

by **wardell** » Sat Feb 25, 2012 1:28 pm

Please advise if able...I am disabled and want so so much to be able to support my kids now that my husband left. The section 8 program is closed, I am living temporarily with a friend because I cannot support myself on my benefits and less than a hundred dollars in food stamps a month. My in laws want me to get remarried before I terminate the temp guardianship I agreed to regarding my two little ones when my spouse left and I couldnt care for them. I just want the chance to live and raise my family like other moms do. Where is all this HELP everyone claims is there for low income, disabled parents? All I find are agencies who have you fill out forms so you can go to more agencies. Its just a nightmare. If people with no physical or mental impairments cant figure out how to navigate the system, what hope is there for people like me who have to handle situationns in a very different way, not to mention the difficulty of leaving our safety zone. I am hungry, I am broke, I miss my children, I am dependant on someone else for basic necessities and I am fed up! I want my own place, I want to be able to eat someyhing besodes expired food from the food bank, I want to raise my own children, and I want people to treat me with respect rather than disdain because I havea disability. That I am disabled does not mean unable or unwilling. It means it requires about 300 % more hassles, work, and stress to accomplish than your average joe. So if anyone can point me in the direction of some assistance so I can get back on my feet and feel I have some value in this world, by all means share the knowledge.

by **charlot22** » Sat Feb 25, 2012 1:33 pm

you do indicate you get some type of benefits--possibly SSDI/SSI..

SSDI is still minimal income hard to exist on...and you only get SSDI if you have work credits..the benefit can be as low as 718/month if you have no other income....and it might be combined with SSI..

with SSDI you would get dependent benefits for the kids..

where are you on child support?

the most any individual gets on SSDi is about $2100/month--but those are people who had been earning 100k/year before becoming disabled..

i meant--is the father paying child support--to you once you have custody....are you aware that your will get an addition 837/month if you have 2 kids...each child gets 418.50...up to a max of 1265.50 if you have 3 or more kids?

2 years is a short waiting list

did you tell child support where the father was?

did you go to court for the child support?

if you are paying child support, see if they are eligible for the dependent benefit...

if you have 2 kids and get the dependent benefit--the monthly total is 1674.

by **tai38** » Sat Feb 25, 2012 1:42 pm

Sometimes, getting benefits is a full-time job... it requires forms, forms, and more forms.... going place, to place, to place... waiting, waiting, and waiting

and in many states, you can't get assigned an adult social worker... so there is no one to help you navigate the system

you are right... it is difficult for anyone to do... a daunting task for someone with disabilities (I know, I have been there, done it)

and, if your state is like mine, as soon as you are "disabled" you are viewed as a "lesser-abled parent" even if your parenting did not change..... you suddenly are investigated & have to prove you are good parent (they don't even have to prove abuse or neglect) while they assign your kids to a family member & break up the family while investigating... only to come back & say ... No Abuse & No Neglect, kid can go back home --- but still No Support to help you do things like feed your kid decent food

My recommendations are:
1) keep applying & doing the things you are... at least in your area there is only a 2 year wait list for disabled.. in some areas they aren't taking application & in others the wait is 10 years
2) contact Salvation Army.... ask them if they have any suggestions
3) look at the website for YWCA.... look for the location closest to you... contact them

by **taryn31** » Sat Feb 25, 2012 1:50 pm

If you are already on SSI/SSDI because of your disability this is income you need in order to live . Section 8 is very difficult to get because of the long waiting lists and having it closed. You can try affordable housing HUD. you have to find HUD apartments in your area and apply for them. Sometimes their is a waiting list , but it goes fairly quickly. I am not sure if i understood about your children, if you have custody of them, or what, So if you have 2 kids you could apply for a three bedroom. The amount you pay for rent is going to be very low, depending on your annual income. Some people pay less then $100 a month. So it is very doable.

by **darce** » Sat Feb 25, 2012 1:56 pm

Well, dear, you should have appled for social security disability as soon as you became disabled. that's where all the money is. Being on SSD gives you money for yourself, money for your kids, healthcare, etc. etc. etc and you qualify for state and local programs because you're on SSD.

As far as programs for you, well, there's millions of unemployed for the last 3 years that have gobbled it all up. States are broke so they are cutting back on social programs because they just can't pay for all of it.

by **gillian59** » Sat Feb 25, 2012 1:58 pm

I am so sorry about your situation. These are the problems that caused the uprisings in North Africa, economic and social deprivation and bad living conditions. I wish I had some ideas for you. You might consider working as a housekeeper or cook or nanny in exchange for living quarters. You can place an ad under Housing Wanted or Jobs wanted in Craigslist or register with a domestic agency to be a live-in worker. If you are on SSI you can get some resources but it depends on the funds available in your state.

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