I remember back in 2018 when I was approved for Social Security disability. Sean was 17 and he also qualified for Social Security because as a single mother, I was no longer working and he was a minor. I remember the man I talked to on the phone who told me that I was approved told me that I was getting a large monthly check.
When the checks started coming in, it totaled less than half of what I was making at my job and I was a teacher!!! Because Sean was still a minor, his money came in my name. I called my caseworker immediately to get things straightened out and she told me back in 2018 that I made too much money with both of mine and Sean‘s money so I did not qualify for any assistance.
Then he turned 18 and my money was significantly reduced and I called my worker again. I thought for sure that I would qualify for some assistance and I would take any that I could get! She told me that I alone make too much money still! What?!
So, now, fast-forward to 2022 and my disease has progressed and my wheelchair has gotten rickety. My Mom has been calling National Seating and Mobility for months and the supply chain was all messed up and it was taking time to get the parts that I needed! My Mom is taking my chair in on August 24 and I will be at home in my manual chair like I was last time it was getting repaired.
I need a new seat and seat back because after four years and one month, the pad has really compressed and my butt hurts and considering I sit all day long that’s not really good! Also, I am dealing with pressure sores on my feet STILL and I can’t even begin to think about sores on my butt! That would be awful! I have my ‘Butt sticker’ to protect my tail bone that gives me a little bit of comfort but a new seat pad would be the best!
Now, I am on Medicare because I have that been working for so long. Medicaid picks up any charges that Medicare does not cover because they only cover 80% of services. My wheelchair repairs will cost about $4000. Because Medicare only covers 80%, I am responsible for the other 20%! We got on the phone today with the Michigan Department of Health and human services at about ten o’clock this morning and did not finish until three. I was exhausted!
My Mom asked if I qualified for any assistance programs and the worker told her that I make too much money and they only help ‘the poor.’ She also said that with the annual increases, I will never be ‘poor’ enough to get assistance. I can tell you that I am DEFINITELY poor enough because MS is expensive enough to make me so!
I have had all evening to sit here and ruminate with this fact that I will not qualify for any government assistance programs but thinking about it, when all of this went down that I was no longer working, I was filled with a cold fear and I stared at the ceiling of my bedroom well I laid in bed and couldn’t sleep. I said audibly, “God, I just don’t want to be poor!” with tears welling in my eyes.
With that prayer that I said five years ago, it has come true! I definitely DO NOT feel that I am NOT poor but a friend and colleague of mine set up a go fund me account for me so I could make ends meet before Social Security kicked in. The money raised there paid a lot of my bills well I waited to get Social Security disability.
So, even though I did not qualify for any assistance, I was reminded that I am blessed! It definitely takes a lot of work to make my meager check stretch but I can do it mostly and my Mom is there to help when I can’t. We help each other! I’m getting by because it was ordained a long time ago that I would be blessed and I have been and I am most grateful!