Hello

I am sorry your husband had surgery and I hope he continues to do well. I am sure he will be fine. I know a man at a very young age had triple aneursym surgery and he is in his 40's and doing well. Can your husband file unemployment and get umployment benefits from his job? If he can't go back to work, can he get ssdi?

Here are links concerning ssdi--

CLICK HERE

To access the following:

 Disability Benefits
SSA Publication No. 05-10029, August 2010, ICN 456000, [View .pdf]  Get Adobe Reader (En Español) [Audio.mp3] audio icon
      
Contacting Social Security

Our website is a valuable resource for information about all of Social Security’s programs. There are a number of things you can do online.

In addition to using our website, you can call us toll-free at 1-800-772-1213. We treat all calls confidentially. We can answer specific questions from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday. We can provide information by automated phone service 24 hours a day. (You can use our automated response system to tell us a new address or request a replacement Medicare card.) If you are deaf or hard of hearing, you may call our TTY number, 1-800-325-0778.

We also want to make sure you receive accurate and courteous service. That is why we have a second Social Security representative monitor some telephone calls.
 
    
      
Contents
Disability benefits skip contents list
Who can get Social Security disability benefits?
How do I apply for disability benefits?
When should I apply and what information do I need?
Who decides if I am disabled?
What happens when my claim is approved?
Can my family get benefits?
How do other payments affect my benefits?
What do I need to tell Social Security?
When do I get Medicare?
Can I go back to work?
The Ticket to Work Program
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Disability Benefits
    

Disability is something most people do not like to think about. But the chances that you will become disabled probably are greater than you realize. Studies show that a 20-year-old worker has a 3 in 10 chance of becoming disabled before reaching retirement age.

This booklet provides basic information on Social Security disability benefits and is not intended to answer all questions. For specific information about your situation, you should talk with a Social Security representative.

We pay disability benefits through two programs: the Social Security disability insurance program and the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program. This booklet is about the Social Security disability program. For information about the SSI disability program for adults, see Supplemental Security Income (SSI) (Publication No. 05-11000). For information about disability programs for children, refer to Benefits For Children With Disabilities (Publication No. 05-10026). Our publications are available at www.socialsecurity.gov.
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Who can get Social Security disability benefits?
    

Social Security pays benefits to people who cannot work because they have a medical condition that is expected to last at least one year or result in death. Federal law requires this very strict definition of disability. While some programs give money to people with partial disability or short-term disability, Social Security does not.

Certain family members of disabled workers also can receive money from Social Security. This is explained in "Can my family get benefits?"
How do I meet the earnings requirement for disability benefits?

In general, to get disability benefits, you must meet two different earnings tests:

   1. A “recent work” test based on your age at the time you became disabled; and
   2. A “duration of work” test to show that you worked long enough under Social Security.

Certain blind workers have to meet only the “duration of work” test.

The table below, shows the rules for how much work you need for the “recent work” test based on your age when your disability began. The rules in this table are based on the calendar quarter in which you turned or will turn a certain age.

The calendar quarters are:

    First Quarter: January 1 through March 31
    Second Quarter: April 1 through June 30
    Third Quarter: July 1 through September 30
    Fourth Quarter: October 1 through December 31

Rules for work needed for the “recent work test”
If you become disabled...     Then you generally need:
In or before the quarter you turn age 24     1.5 years of work during the three-year period ending with the quarter your disability began.
In the quarter after you turn age 24 but before the quarter you turn age 31     Work during half the time for the period beginning with the quarter after you turned 21 and ending with the quarter you became disabled.
Example: If you become disabled in the quarter you turned age 27, then you would need three years of work out of the six-year period ending with the quarter you became disabled.
In the quarter you turn age 31 or later     Work during five years out of the 10-year period ending with the quarter your disability began.

The following table shows examples of how much work you need to meet the “duration of work test” if you become disabled at various selected ages. For the “duration of work” test, your work does not have to fall within a certain period of time.

NOTE: This table does not cover all situations.
Examples of work needed for the “duration of work" test
If you become disabled...     Then you generally need:
Before age 28     1.5 years of work
Age 30     2 years
Age 34     3 years
Age 38     4 years
Age 42     5 years
Age 44     5.5 years
Age 46     6 years
Age 48     6.5 years
Age 50     7 years
Age 52     7.5 years
Age 54     8 years
Age 56     8.5 years
Age 58     9 years
Age 60     9.5 years
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How do I apply for disability benefits?
    

There are two ways that you can apply for disability benefits. You can:

   1. Apply at www.socialsecurity.gov; or
   2. Call our toll-free number, 1-800-772-1213, to make an appointment to file a disability claim at your local Social Security office or to set up an appointment for someone to take your claim over the telephone. The disability claims interview lasts about one hour. If you are deaf or hard of hearing, you may call our toll-free TTY number, 1-800-325-0778, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. on business days. If you schedule an appointment, we will send you a Disability Starter Kit to help you get ready for your disability claims interview. The Disability Starter Kit also is available online at www.socialsecurity.gov/disability.

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When should I apply and what information do I need?
    

You should apply for disability benefits as soon as you become disabled. It can take a long time to process an application for disability benefits (three to five months). To apply for disability benefits, you will need to complete an application for Social Security Benefits and the Disability Report. You can complete the Disability Report at www.socialsecurity.gov/disabilityreport. You also can print the Disability Report, complete it and return it to your local Social Security office. We may be able to process your application faster if you help us by getting any other information we need.

The information we need includes:

    * Your Social Security number;
    * Your birth or baptismal certificate;
    * Names, addresses and phone numbers of the doctors, caseworkers, hospitals and clinics that took care of you and dates of your visits;
    * Names and dosage of all the medicine you take;
    * Medical records from your doctors, therapists, hospitals, clinics and caseworkers that you already have in your possession;
    * Laboratory and test results;
    * A summary of where you worked and the kind of work you did; and
    * A copy of your most recent W-2 Form (Wage and Tax Statement) or, if you are self-employed, your federal tax return for the past year.

In addition to the basic application for disability benefits, there are other forms you will need to fill out. One form collects information about your medical condition and how it affects your ability to work. Other forms give doctors, hospitals and other health care professionals who have treated you permission to send us information about your medical condition.

Do not delay applying for benefits if you cannot get all of this information together quickly. We will help you get it.
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Who decides if I am disabled?
    

We will review your application to make sure you meet some basic requirements for disability benefits. We will check whether you worked enough years to qualify. Also, we will evaluate any current work activities. If you meet these requirements, we will send your application to the Disability Determination Services office in your state.

This state agency completes the disability decision for us. Doctors and disability specialists in the state agency ask your doctors for information about your condition. They will consider all the facts in your case. They will use the medical evidence from your doctors and hospitals, clinics or institutions where you have been treated and all other information. They will ask your doctors:

    * What your medical condition is;
    * When your medical condition began;
    * How your medical condition limits your activities;
    * What the medical tests have shown; and
    * What treatment you have received.

They also will ask the doctors for information about your ability to do work-related activities, such as walking, sitting, lifting, carrying and remembering instructions. Your doctors are not asked to decide if you are disabled.

The state agency staff may need more medical information before they can decide if you are disabled. If more information is not available from your current medical sources, the state agency may ask you to go for a special examination. We prefer to ask your own doctor, but sometimes the exam may have to be done by someone else. Social Security will pay for the exam and for some of the related travel costs.
How we make the decision

We use a five-step process to decide if you are disabled.

   1.

      Are you working?
      If you are working and your earnings average more than a certain amount each month, we generally will not consider you disabled. The amount changes each year. For the current figure, see the annual Update (Publication No. 05-10003).

      If you are not working, or your monthly earnings average the current amount or less, the state agency then looks at your medical condition.
   2.

      Is your medical condition “severe”?
      For the state agency to decide that you are disabled, your medical condition must significantly limit your ability to do basic work activities—such as walking, sitting and remembering—for at least one year. If your medical condition is not that severe, the state agency will not consider you disabled. If your condition is that severe, the state agency goes on to step three.
   3.

      Is your medical condition on the List of Impairments?
      The state agency has a List of Impairments that describes medical conditions that are considered so severe that they automatically mean that you are disabled as defined by law. If your condition (or combination of medical conditions) is not on this list, the state agency looks to see if your condition is as severe as a condition that is on the list. If the severity of your medical condition meets or equals that of a listed impairment, the state agency will decide that you are disabled. If it does not, the state agency goes on to step four.
   4.

      Can you do the work you did before?
      At this step, the state agency decides if your medical condition prevents you from being able to do the work you did before. If it does not, the state agency will decide that you are not disabled. If it does, the state agency goes on to step five.
   5.

      Can you do any other type of work?
      If you cannot do the work you did in the past, the state agency looks to see if you would be able to do other work. It evaluates your medical condition, your age, education, past work experience and any skills you may have that could be used to do other work. If you cannot do other work, the state agency will decide that you are disabled. If you can do other work, the state agency will decide that you are not disabled.

Special rules for blind people

There are a number of other special rules for people who are blind. For more information, ask for If You Are Blind Or Have Low Vision—How We Can Help (Publication No. 05-10052).
We will tell you our decision

When the state agency reaches a decision on your case, we will send you a letter. If your application is approved, the letter will show the amount of your benefit and when your payments start. If your application is not approved, the letter will explain why and tell you how to appeal the decision if you do not agree with it.
What if I disagree?

If you disagree with a decision made on your claim, you can appeal it. The steps you can take are explained in The Appeals Process (Publication No. 05-10041), which is available from Social Security.

You have the right to be represented by an attorney or other qualified person of your choice when you do business with Social Security. More information is in Your Right To Representation(Publication No. 05-10075), which is also available from Social Security.
How we will contact you

Generally, we use the mail or call you on the phone when we want to contact you about your benefits, but sometimes a Social Security representative may come to your home. Our representative will show you identification before talking about your benefits. It is a good idea to call the Social Security office to ask if someone was sent to see you.

If you are blind or have low vision, you can choose to receive notices from us in one of five ways. Your choices are:

    * A standard print notice by first-class mail; or
    * A standard print notice by certified mail; or
    * A standard print notice by first-class mail and a follow-up telephone call to read and explain the information in the notice; or
    * A standard print notice and a Braille notice by first-class mail; or
    * A standard print notice and a Microsoft Word file on a compact disc by first-class mail.

Other formats also may be available. For more information, visit our website at  or call us toll-free at 1-877-708-1776. If you are deaf or hard of hearing, you may call our TTY number at 1-800-325-0778.

 
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What happens when my claim is approved?
    
When do my benefits start?

If your application is approved, your first Social Security disability benefits will be paid for the sixth full month after the date your disability began.

Here is an example: If the state agency decides your disability began on January 15, your first disability benefit will be paid for the month of July. Social Security benefits are paid in the month following the month for which they are due, so you will receive your July benefit in August.

You also will receive What You Need To Know When You Get Disability Benefits (Publication No. 05-10153), which gives you important information about your benefits and tells you what changes you must report to us.
How much will my benefits be?

The amount of your monthly disability benefit is based on your average lifetime earnings. The Social Security Statement that you receive each year displays your lifetime earnings and provides an estimate of your disability benefit. It also includes estimates of retirement and survivors benefits that you or your family may be eligible to receive in the future. If you do not have your Social Security Statement and would like an estimate of your disability benefit, you can request one at www.socialsecurity.gov or call our toll-free number, 1-800-772-1213.
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Can my family get benefits?
    Certain members of your family may qualify for benefits based on your work. They include:

    * Your spouse, if he or she is 62 or older;
    * Your spouse, at any age if he or she is caring for a child of yours who is younger than age 16 or disabled;
    * Your unmarried child, including an adopted child, or, in some cases, a stepchild or grandchild. The child must be younger than age 18 or younger than 19 if in elementary or secondary school full time; and
    * Your unmarried child, age 18 or older, if he or she has a disability that started before age 22. (The child’s disability also must meet the definition of disability for adults.)

NOTE:
In some situations, a divorced spouse may qualify for benefits based on your earnings if he or she was married to you for at least 10 years, is not currently married and is at least age 62. The money paid to a divorced spouse does not reduce your benefit or any benefits due to your current spouse or children.
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How do other payments affect my benefits?
    

If you are getting other government benefits, the amount of your Social Security disability benefits may be affected. For more information, you should see the following:

    * How Workers’ Compensation And Other Disability Payments May Affect Your Benefits (Publication No. 05-10018);
    * Windfall Elimination Provision (Publication No. 05-10045); and
    * Government Pension Offset (Publication No. 05-10007).

You can get these publications from our website, or you can contact us to request them.
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What do I need to tell Social Security?
    
If you have an outstanding warrant for your arrest

You must tell us if you have an outstanding arrest warrant for any of the following felony offenses:

    * Flight to avoid prosecution or confinement;
    * Escape from custody; and
    * Flight-escape.

You cannot receive regular disability benefits, or any underpayments you may be due for any month in which there is an outstanding arrest warrant for any of these felony offenses.
If you are convicted of a crime

Tell Social Security right away if you are convicted of a crime. Regular disability benefits or any underpayments that may be due are not paid for the months a person is confined for a crime, but any family members who are eligible for benefits based on that person’s work may continue to receive benefits.

Monthly benefits or any underpayments that may be due usually are not paid to someone who commits a crime and is confined to an institution by court order and at public expense. This applies if the person has been found:

    * Not guilty by reason of insanity or similar factors (such as mental disease, mental defect or mental incompetence); or
    * Incompetent to stand trial.

If you violate a condition of parole or probation

You must tell us if you are violating a condition of your probation or parole imposed under federal or state law. You cannot receive regular disability benefits or any underpayment that may be due for any month in which you violate a condition of your probation or parole.

 

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When do I get Medicare?
    

You will get Medicare coverage automatically after you have received disability benefits for two years.
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Can I go back to work?
    

After you start receiving disability benefits, you may want to try working again. There are special rules that help you keep your cash benefits and Medicare while you test your ability to work. We call these rules “work incentives” or “employment support” programs.

For more information about helping you return to work, ask for Working While Disabled—How We Can Help (Publication No. 05-10095). A guide to all our employment supports can be found in our Red Book, A Summary Guide to Employment Support for Individuals with Disabilities Under the Social Security Disability Insurance and Supplemental Security Income Programs (Publication No. 64-030). Also visit our website, www.socialsecurity.gov/work.
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The Ticket to Work Program
    

Under this program, Social Security and Supplemental Security Income disability beneficiaries can get help with training and other services they need to go to work at no cost to them. Most beneficiaries will receive a “ticket” that they can take to a provider of their choice who can offer the kind of services they need. To learn more about this program, ask for Your Ticket To Work (Publication No. 05-10061).
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AND THIS ONE

CLICK HERE

For access to below information;

 Work credits needed for disability benefits
Retirement Planner Home Skip Retirement Planner links
Retirement Estimator
Benefit Calculators
Eligibility Issues
Near Retirement?
Apply for Benefits Online
Frequently Asked Questions
Other Resources
    

The number of work credits needed for disability benefits depends on your age when you become disabled. Generally you need 40 credits, 20 of which were earned in the last 10 years ending with the year you become disabled. However, younger workers may qualify with fewer credits.

The rules are as follows:

    *

      Before age 24--You may qualify if you have 6 credits earned in the 3-year period ending when your disability starts.
    *

      Age 24 to 31--You may qualify if you have credit for working half the time between age 21 and the time you become disabled. For example, if you become disabled at age 27, you would need credit for 3 years of work (12 credits) out of the past 6 years (between ages 21 and 27).
    *

      Age 31 or older--In general, you need to have the number of work credits shown in the chart below. Unless you are blind, you must have earned at least 20 of the credits in the 10 years immediately before you became disabled.

Born after 1929, Became Disabled At Age:     Number of Credits You Need:
31 through 42
    
 20
44
    
22
46
    
24
48
    
26
50
    
28
52
    
30
54
    
32
56
    
34
58
    
36
60
    
38
62 or older
    
40

You can find additional information about disability benefits in our Disability Planner.

Click on any of the following topics for more information about:

    * How credits are earned;
    * Number of credits needed for retirement benefits; and
    * Number of credits needed for survivors benefits

Here is a site the may help you save your home and view it in internet explorer

https://www.naca.com/index_main.jsp

Depending on the age of your children and how much you are making at work, call 211 and ask about temporary cash assistance and if you qualify for that program.

Let me know if you need food assistance as there are food banks around or if there is any other information you need.

Wishing you all the best-

Starshine

My husband just had brain surgery on July 23, 2010, and he had a aneurysm the size of a half a dollar. He has not worked since he surgery. He is doing okay but he can't go back to his job for awhile and our family doctor told us he may not be able to go back to his regular job. I work full-time and we have 2 kids and I don't make enough money to cover our monthly bills and I'm scare that we may end up loosing our home. I try to trust in God and hope he will provide, but it is very hard sometimes. I need help paying our bills. Thanks for reading this. God Bless!!! 

Be careful of scammers. If you hear from someone named Tom Grant,Thomas Hanks it is a scam. There are those out there that pray on people having a hard time.

I had never drawn unemployment for I had always had a job until May 2008. In two years I have not been able to find a job. Now that I have spinal stenosis and multilple levels of arthritis of the spine, carpel tunnel both hands and osearthritis I have filed for disability. It will be months before I even receive benefits, and in the meantime my unemployment benefits have stopped since I filed for disability. I borrowed 3000.00 on my car from one of those title places because I paniced. A mistake I will never as God as my witness will ever do again.

I have a 72 year old disabled mother that I try to still care for. It has been really hard, i can not take this kind of stress. I have prayed for God to please help me out of this. If something doesn't happen soon, I will lose the car I worked so hard to pay for, before I made such a stupid mistake.

I know in these times it is hard for people to help other people. But if everyone that  reads this can send 5.00, hopefully i will receive enough to pay the bills and not lose my car. I have never had to stoop this low in my entire life!

Please Help God Help Me!

I AM WRITING TO FIND OUT HOW I CAN GET HELP FIXING OUR HOUSE. WE HAVE RAN OUT OF MONEY AND I HAVE A VERY SICK HUSBAND. WE GOT THE HOUSE A YEAR AGO AND IT NEEDED A LOT OF WORK, MY HUSBAND STARTED ON IT AND COULD NOT FINISH IT.WE HAVE A 16 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WE ADOPTED 16 YEARS AGO BECAUSE SHE WAS A DRUG BABY. I HATE FOR HER TO LIVE IN A HOUSE THAT`S NOT GOT BEDROOMS AND WE HAVE BEEN SLEEPING ON COUCHES AND FLOORS. I HAVE HAD 4 BACK SURGERIES AND MY HUSBAND IS FACING HIS 3RD KNEE REPLACEMENT.HE HAS A LOT OF HEART PROBLEMS. WE ARE DESPERATE!!!! MY CAR IS BROKE, MY WASHING MACHINE IS BROKE AND WE HAVE ONLY HIS DISABILITY CHECK A MONTH AND IT TAKES ALL OUR MONEY FOR THE BILLS AND MEDICINE.

i need help with my light bill it is 373$ due march 3rd i am looking for work i am a cna for 19yrs i am waiting on a job i applied for to call me back mean while i need help i have a grandson he is 7 months old and a daughter 16 so someone please help us so we wont get cut off i went to social services they said i have to have a job for them to help me so please help me.

Hi Everyone my name is Cheri Iam Asingle momof three 7, 10, 17 Ialso have Ason who doesnt live home I had to move to north Carolina due to a domestic violence situation I do not have anything for my children to open or to eat on christmas morning every program that is availableto help has closed there list I have been working and I am still unable to keep up I have not had a penny to save for christmas. then everyone said that I would not need heat well I have been freezing  Ican not afford to pay the deposit they are asking .and what makes it worse I am taking care of my sister who is diabled I am so lost and confused I do not know what to do anymore if ther is someone out there that can help  I would never forget you if someone has any suggestions please let me know contact me ar acherilynn@yahoo.com

I am a mother of 2 and I was layed off in Aug. I have Crohn's Disease, Rheumatoid Arthritis and severe migraines that makes me unable to get and hold a job. I have applied for disability but you know how that goes. I am behind on my mortgage and they want it now. I hate asking anybody for anything but now I am at the point I do not know what to do. With christmas around the corner, that only makes things tighter around here. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Please read my page on getting items for free here: Free Holiday Stuff, http://free-holiday-stuff.app-rosie327-1.aidpage.com/

Getting items for free, http://how-to-get-stuff-for-free-or-close-to-free.app-rosie327-1.aidpage.com/

Birthday freebies, http://birthday-freebies-websites.app-rosie327-1.aidpage.com/

Also, start shopping now at yard sales and flea markets - you can sometimes find brand new items for just some pocket change!  Put the items you find away and just keep stock-piling.  Hopefully by his birthday and Christmas you will have lots of stuff!

Best wishes, Rosie

Hi there. There may be a Salvation Army in your area. Around October they will usually start a Christmas Stocking Tree, in which names are put on it, and sponsors will normally just pick a name from the tree. The child is usually given gifts from the family or person that picks their names.  I do believe your son is just at the right age, to fit in the qualifications for the tree.

If not, please do, let me know. 

Like many, many families this year, we have  both been laid off with no incoming coming in.  And, with Christmas in just a few months, I am stumped as to how I can give my son any type of Christmas at all.  He is 11 years old and will be 12 on December 22nd.  I have tried calling the 2 local agencies that I know about that give assistance toward Christmas gifts, only to be told by both that 12 is the cut-off age, and since he will technically be 12 before Christmas, there is nothing they can do.  I was searching online for any other available assistance to families at Christmas time, and I came across this site.  I don't know if this will even reach anyone, but if it does, thank you for reading.  If anyone knows of any place I can go to get help, or if you are looking to sponsor a child this holiday season, please let me know.  This is my last hope to give my son a good Christmas. I am in the Gaston County area of North Carolina.

I am a computer repair tech by trade. I got laid off in 2007. They contracted me for a while but now they have nothing. I am a single Dad with 2 small children. I collected unemployment for about 26 weeks now they say they made a mistake and want it back. I am overdrawn at bank, about a month and a half behind on my rent and a power bill due as well as many other bills I can't pay. I have applied for everyything from dishwasher to computer tech and can't find anything. I AM DESPERATE AND WILL DO ANYTHING. My kids have no idea how bad off it is. I don't know what to do. I cry out to God all day and all night. SOMEONE PLEASE HELP ME.PLEASE

i am a single parent andi have an autistic daughter and she has medical coverage were i dont.

i need my teeth fixed there are days were i lay in bed or on the couch because of them and hen i cant get up for her and that breaks my heart i dont smile any more because of my teeth and i woul be so happy to smile for her she hugs my neck when i am in pain and kisses my cheek and looks at me wondering what is wrong. i am very embaresed of my teeth and i need help.

will some one please help me. 

I am a mom of 6 wonderful kids,  We work hard to make ends meet, and ask for no help.  We are asking for some help for christmas for our 4 younger kids.  They are a boy 14, and 3 girls..11,11 and 9.  we are asking if anyone can help..we live in GAstonia NC and would like a Wal mart or Target gift card so I can buy them a couple gifts for them to open on Christmas Day.  Even tho I work..8 dollars an hr can pay rent and some food...but for any extras..I cant.  I would love a nice turkey dinner for the kids and maybe a pumpkin pie.  Merry Christmas is you can hel[p

hi  my name is  ashley and  im a singel mom hoe needs help with chrismas  this year  i have  to  kids  a boy and girl they  realy r good kids and its hard beeing  a singel mom  and the angle tree is  stoped  taking prople  in opt. so if any one can help that would be grate

  thak you

I am a mother and looking for some help this month. I lost my job and just need a few extra dollars for groceries, rent, etc. If you are willing to help, please contact me.

I am a single father of two who feels like  this is the end of the rope. I was working two jobs as of a month ago, to keep up with with my bills, not to mention my monthy child support. I was laid off from my full time job, and my only means of money was coming from my part time job. I was recently hired for another full time position thankfully but am very much behind on my car payments and rent. Ive tried all different sources for help but the door is always shut. I am definitely not looking for a hand out,i will repay every cent that is due, So if there is anyone out there  who is in the position to help me please let me know. i can show proof of all my late payments.

One more thing--it seems that there are intermittent postings from people who are looking to capitalize on other people's misfortune.  I refer in particular to one person from Africa who is repenting having engaged in internet fraud schemes and asking help in getting started again.  I wish I weren't such a skeptic, but I am.  I'm sure you all get emails every day from persons who promise large sums of money for help in getting inheritances freed up from banks, etc.  Sometimes these people use names similar to your own.  All of them say that they got your name from someone else and heard that you are someone compassionate or willing to help.

Please don't fall for these scams--you know the old saying, "If it sounds too good to be true, it is!"  I've done alot of research and writing about these frauds--and some of the nicest people in the world have ended up being bilked out of thousands and thousands of dollars.  Some have even lost their lives in the process. 

Don't waste your time buying lottery tickets.  Don't pay fees to websites that promise to put you in touch with benevolent millionaires.  Please, everyone, be careful out there.  We're all in situations in which we are vulnerable, scared and tired--and that makes us such easy targets.

Caroline

I just joined this group yesterday, on a day when I felt like I had reached the end of my rope and the end of my world--but reading over everyone else's stories, I feel as if I had no right complaining.  It breaks my heart to see how much some people must endure, and I wish I were on the other end of the spectrum and able to help everyone out a little bit.

The truth is, folks, there are no benevolent millionaires out there who are going to help us bail out of our messy lives--but a counselor once told me that no matter how bad it gets, something always comes through for us in the end.  Maybe it's a forgotten refund for overpaying insurance, or a thoughtful check from a friend who wants to help, or maybe it's an unexpected job offer.  Maybe, just maybe, each of us has a marketable skill that suddenly comes to mind, just in time to ward off the wolf at the door.

I've been through some bad situations in my life--nothing as bad as this, but still, darned close--and I've seen that the above really IS true.  Something has a way of happening at the last minute.  Perhaps it's God.  Perhaps it's the strength of our own human spirit that suddenly leaps into action, fueled by adrenalin.

Of course, the jury is still out on my own situation--and it remains to be seen what miracle is going to take place to get me and the children out of this jam we're in.  My ex husband called this morning for the first time in weeks and said something about meeting tonight--I know it's probably  just to talk about money and what to do about filing taxes before April 15th, but in my heart of heart, I am hoping he's had enough time to reconsider reconciliation.

Right now, today, I need your thoughts, your prayers, your guidance.  I don't want to go meet him with fear or anger in my heart--that will only drive me to say things that are guaranteed to put him off.  Nor do I want to go meet him in a la-dee-dah mode, as if saying, "Everything's FINE without you," because that isn't the truth either.

Sometimes couples separate because the marriage truly isn't meant to be.  Other times, a separation can be a means by which they calm down, re-evaluate the situation, see what they are missing, and make a vow to try again. 

Any words of advice or help for me today as I count the hours til our meeting?  I'm a wreck!  And I swear, if I ever win a lottery or publish that novel I never seem to finish, I'll log on and personally come to the rescue of as many of you as I can--because it's in giving that we ultimately receive, isn't it?

I just got a job offer after being out of work since September 2007.  I am also in school fulltime online right now.  I am a single mom and a Christian.  I have made it thus far by the blessings that God has kept me.  Now I am in a bind and I hope to find someone to help me out.  the job only pays 7.50/hr and it full time permenant.  Social services in my area would normally help pay for daycare for my three children.  But they have a waiting list that is months long.  The job wont wait months and I can't afford to pay $400.00 a month a piece for my three children.  PLEASE HELP!  You can make the payments directly to the daycare facility.  I am not asking for a handout, I am asking for help.