Help Need Disability Advice

[GOOFY4DONALD]

I know all states are different but maybe someone can show me where to turn. My MIL got hurt at home. She slipped on the ice outside and broke her ankle and knee. She cannot work (she is a care giver in a private nursing home). She told me she looked into disablilty but since she will be better before 12 months she was told there is no short term disability. She has no money, no insurance. She was told she can only get food stamps. Her home is paid for but she is sitting in a freezing home at -30 degree weather. I brought over food and DH (her son) brought over firewood and heated up her home. He also cut the logs so she can lift them. I would love to help her but we cannot suport her and our family (not to mention she is bad with money and may spent it on...well not necessities). I just believe that if someone gets hurt and cannot work they are not sent off to suffer. Does anyone know where I can look?
Thanks

 

[LadyZolt]

Does she have any other kids or family who can help?

She should contact the power company because most of them have plans to help out people -- in many places, other people can donate money to the power company that they then use to pay for people like your MIL or in similar financial situations. And a lot of power companies will do a thing where they "average" the cost out over the year and so each monthly bill is about the same amount, which means it doesn't drastically rise in the winter months.

She could also rent out her house. Take in some borders, or actually have her move in with you and her son so that you can take care of her as she heals, and then she can use the rent money she receives to pay for the house expenses, like the heat.

I don't know about how to get her to quality for Short Term Disability -- I think that under the Family Medical Leave Act, your job remains but the time off from work is unpaid. She should find out more to make sure that she will have her job when she is recovered.

I would also do a search online for legal advice for your MIL's state. There might be some help available, like vouchers for power in addition to food stamps, or some places set up to give help. There's always local churches who can help with some stuff, too. I know my church has a food bank and there would be people willing to help her clean her house, shovel snow, take her on errands, help out with some bills, that sort of thing.

I'm sure this is very difficult for your family and I will be saying some prayers for her. Hope some of this helps!

-Dorothy (LadyZolt)

 

[GOOFY4DONALD]

Does she have any other kids or family who can help?

She should contact the power company because most of them have plans to help out people -- in many places, other people can donate money to the power company that they then use to pay for people like your MIL or in similar financial situations. And a lot of power companies will do a thing where they "average" the cost out over the year and so each monthly bill is about the same amount, which means it doesn't drastically rise in the winter months.

She could also rent out her house. Take in some borders, or actually have her move in with you and her son so that you can take care of her as she heals, and then she can use the rent money she receives to pay for the house expenses, like the heat.

I don't know about how to get her to quality for Short Term Disability -- I think that under the Family Medical Leave Act, your job remains but the time off from work is unpaid. She should find out more to make sure that she will have her job when she is recovered.

I would also do a search online for legal advice for your MIL's state. There might be some help available, like vouchers for power in addition to food stamps, or some places set up to give help. There's always local churches who can help with some stuff, too. I know my church has a food bank and there would be people willing to help her clean her house, shovel snow, take her on errands, help out with some bills, that sort of thing.

I'm sure this is very difficult for your family and I will be saying some prayers for her. Hope some of this helps!

-Dorothy (LadyZolt)

Thank you for the reply. Actually she does have my BIL living wit her but he refuses to help pay for the bills and she won't make him. She also has 2 other kids but due to her alcoholism they refuse to speak to her. The odd thing is she was the worst to me. She has tried to sabotage my marriage and she has called me all sorts of names. You name it she has done it but I cannot live with myself sitting back and saying "well you deserve it".

I have also suggested that she look iton reverse mortage. I don't know much about it but thought she should at least look into it. She told me that BIL told her she better not screw up his inheritance.

As you can see this is not the most loving family.

 

[themarquis]

I know all states are different but maybe someone can show me where to turn. My MIL got hurt at home. She slipped on the ice outside and broke her ankle and knee. She cannot work (she is a care giver in a private nursing home). She told me she looked into disablilty but since she will be better before 12 months she was told there is no short term disability. She has no money, no insurance. She was told she can only get food stamps. Her home is paid for but she is sitting in a freezing home at -30 degree weather. I brought over food and DH (her son) brought over firewood and heated up her home. He also cut the logs so she can lift them. I would love to help her but we cannot suport her and our family (not to mention she is bad with money and may spent it on...well not necessities). I just believe that if someone gets hurt and cannot work they are not sent off to suffer. Does anyone know where I can look?
Thanks

I don't know if she could possibly get SSI ?? My guess would be no, but it can't hurt to look -- that is different than short term disability (which is employer funded), FYI.

There are programs in most cold weather areas that will help with heating bills for the indigent. I don't know if they just let you delay your bills for a while or they pay part of them. That would be something to look into.

There are food banks and charities run by various nonprofits. Often they do not need documentation about income -- I think Catholic Charities, for example, even if she is not Catholic. They might know about help with heating bills or firewood donation, as well.

If she regularly attends a church you could look into seeing if anybody there might help with firewood or assistance, or if the church has a charity program.

There is also the question of whether her employer would need to make accomodations for her to work due to her being disabled. I really have no idea -- I know this is the case for long-term disabilities that they would probably need to adapt her job so she could do it (have her work at the front desk or whatever).

I also have no clue but you could check to see if her homeowner's insurance would help her. (that is just a random thought -- just throwing out some ideas here.)

 

[themarquis]

if she has lost her health insurance, there are some options: medicare may be available, since she has no income. There are also county and state-funded programs -- call the local board of health or a local hospital.

 

[allison443]

Hopefully the house is in her name and not the BIL's name. She can get a reverse mortgage, but perhaps the kind that allows the homeowner to access a sort of home equity fund. She can only withdraw what she needs, when she needs it. There is a limit on the amount of the reverse mortgage and the bank is paid back when she dies or the house is sold. She couldn't lose her house from it. My parents have one, they have used it to purchase a vehicle and make modifications on their home. High closing costs, but worth it if you have no other source of income and you're sitting in a paid-up house.
What good is it to leave an inheritance if you can't support yourself when you're still alive?

I hope your family situation works out.

 

[golfgal]

Hopefully the house is in her name and not the BIL's name. She can get a reverse mortgage, but perhaps the kind that allows the homeowner to access a sort of home equity fund. She can only withdraw what she needs, when she needs it. There is a limit on the amount of the reverse mortgage and the bank is paid back when she dies or the house is sold. She couldn't lose her house from it. My parents have one, they have used it to purchase a vehicle and make modifications on their home. High closing costs, but worth it if you have no other source of income and you're sitting in a paid-up house.
What good is it to leave an inheritance if you can't support yourself when you're still alive?

I hope your family situation works out.

A home equity line of credit would be a better option but it sounds like someone better give her an allowance or pay her bills for her using that money.

Short term disability is something that is often offered by an employer but you can buy individual coverage as well. Short term disability is just that, for short term use. Generally coverage starts somewhere between 1-3 weeks and lasts between 1-3 months. You then, if you have it, start collecting your long term disability if it is set up right. If she has no coverage for either, she is out of luck.

Check her paystub and see if she even has coverage to begin with. If she does, someone told her some incorrect information about her short term disability. I have never heard of a short term plan that kicks in after a year--that would be pointless. If she doesn't have coverage then her options are to take out a home equity line of credit, borrow the money from someone or accept welfare. You can't get disability coverage if you don't buy it.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Thank you for the reply. Actually she does have my BIL living wit her but he refuses to help pay for the bills and she won't make him. She also has 2 other kids but due to her alcoholism they refuse to speak to her. The odd thing is she was the worst to me. She has tried to sabotage my marriage and she has called me all sorts of names. You name it she has done it but I cannot live with myself sitting back and saying "well you deserve it".

I have also suggested that she look iton reverse mortage. I don't know much about it but thought she should at least look into it. She told me that BIL told her she better not screw up his inheritance.

As you can see this is not the most loving family.

It is not that she "deserves this" as circumstances and her setup of living have lead to this, so take out the guilt on your part.

It sounds as if you are doing what you can. Sitting back a bit might prove useful in this situation. I would make suggestions to her and then see what she does.

Since this is very tangled mess I would refrain from trying to go gung-ho.