Life can change in the blink of an eye. We all know it and probably experienced it — multiple times. It changed this week for Kiki and she needs help.
Kiki was married to a US military man. He brought her to the good ole’ USA after World War II. They lived on farmland in the middle of this big chunk of land removing her from the beauty of her island, their traditional foods and excellent public transportation. She never learned to drive and spent most of her life in near isolation as she learned English from the radio and TV.
A daughter was born and the marriage soured. Kiki divorced her husband but has lived comfortably on his military pension. However, he passed away on Saturday and the money will stop effective February 1. Joe remarried and his present wife will continue to get money from the estate, but Kiki’s financial assistance is over. She will now have less than 1/3 of her previous income.
There are plenty of people here with tons of advice about living on almost nothing. You learn along the way, but there is more assistance then you can imagine. She needs all the inforamti0on she can get right now. Her English is sometimes difficult to understand and she can struggle with comprehension. So beginning tomorrow I will bring a few people around to help her. She is starting from scratch.
She has Medicare, but nothing else. While she is at her doctors tomorrow I will pick up forms she will need from Social Security, Section 8 Housing, State assisted supplemental medical insurance, no premium prescriptions and another plan to help her never pay for prescriptions. She can get food stamps and will now qualify to visit the food bank. I have many of these plans, but her income will be below mine and she will qualify for maximum help. I just discovered a free phone and free 250 minutes a month for people meeting low income standards. Not everyone here qualifies, but she will.
The hardest will be to get on Section 8 for low-income housing. The certificates can be used at The Home, but the wait can take up to three years. That will be too long. I hope The Home will greatly reduce her income. You never know. They can do it of they choose.
This is a wonderful country. If you are willing to be frugal and live on what the government provides it can make a huge difference.
No doubt many of you will never need this kind of assistance, But just visiting any one of these offices and seeing the crowds will remind you that the poor we always have with us. A blessing of The Home is that we do take care of our own. She will be cared for through this transition. Her family will help some, but it will be her friends in The Home that will make the real difference. This is the great side of life in The Home.
1 comment:
Your Home rocks with its compassion and caring for its family members.
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