Wednesday, September 21, 2011

PLEASE---We Still Need Your Help

I am begging for your help again so that we don’t have to go to a homeless shelter in Downtown Dallas. I'm terrified of being homeless.


Late yesterday, after Sandi had her second round of cardiac tests (we won’t know results for a few days), we were approved for food stamps. The caseworker processed our case as an emergency and that means later today we can go buy some food. Not that we were starving but basics were getting pretty low. I guess it helped that Sandi was doing the tests because with the stress and effort with that, we have not been eating much of anything at all. Just too upset.


We were denied for Medicaid because, according to the very nice caseworker who really worked with us, we have over $200 in assets because we have furniture, clothes, etc. and that disqualifies us under Texas Medicaid rules. We “might” qualify once we were in a homeless shelter but I really don’t want to find out if that is true. Sandi is still on unpaid medical leave and has not been terminated yet, so she still has her insurance as long as we pay the $120 bucks a month for her premium. The lack of Medicaid does not help my deal at all.


So, that is where we stand at this point. That is also why I am asking for your help.


Please know that I am asking for the bare minimum…not to get our car fixed or anything like that. This is just for the rent, keep the local phone service on so I have access to the internet, and pay for Sandi’s meds, etc. Most of the sixteen drugs she is on are generic and that helps, but between her drugs, my drugs, the many medications the boys are on because they both are special needs, it all adds up.


I know some folks hate Amazon and will not buy from them in favor of independent bookstores. I’m not asking you to change or do things differently. But, please, if, you are going to buy from Amazon anyway, please consider going through me as I get a referral fee of a few pennies on each purchase. It takes about three months after the end of the month for it to appear in my account and does not cost you a thing.


Sand is still having various mental issues, but she is able to once again make some things again. This has been strongly encouraged by her doctors and me as it can help her recovery. She has been making things for years and it is nice to see her able to do things again as there were serious questions she would be able to do so. Sandi has some of her stuff at http://www.ioffer.com/users/sanditipple she has holiday as well as everyday items like quilts, baby blankets, stuffed animals, etc.


Last fall our son, Karl, set up a couple of deals for selling things under his online moniker of THUNDERCATSNYY. Karl is still doing this. One is at Amazon where he has had decent success moving video games, movies, my old books¸ and other items. His store on Amazon is at: www.amazon.com/shops/thundercatsnyy and changes almost daily because he adds things to replace stuff he has sold. He also set up a deal on iOffer to help move some of his Mom’s stuff and other items such as comic books he can’t sell/list at Amazon via www.thundercatsnyy.ioffer.com


By the way, my good friend and occasional reviewer here, Barry Ergang has quite a few neat books over at his deal located at http://barryergangbooksforsale.yolasite.com/ He sells a few and adds a few a couple of times a week so even if you looked before and did not find anything that strikes your fancy, surf over and take a look.



Barry is also now up with some of his older published stuff available on Smashwords. You can search under his name or go directly to his stuff by clicking http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/cassidy20


 So, there you have it. A shameless plug for folks you know and their families. We are good people who happen to be having one very bad time of it. Please know that we are doing our best and are not just asking for help we don’t need. We truly do need your help desperately.


On behalf of Barry and my own family, I thank you.



Kevin

6 comments:

Lisa Harkrader said...

Lord. Clothes and furniture count as assets? So you have to be naked and sleep on the floor before you qualify for Medicaid? There's something seriously wrong with the system.

Kevin R. Tipple said...

As we now understand it...yes, in this state, they do. Kind of amazing.

bexeth said...

Unable to help at this juncture, but I thought I'd pass along this link in case you haven't seen it. This is a service for low-income families to get phone service at a discounted rate. I believe that my phone bill was only $15 a month when I was signed up.

http://www.att.com/gen/general?pid=10676

Kevin R. Tipple said...

We are on that program automatically through the food stamp program. Not as low as $15 but lower than it otherwise would be and it helps.

Thanks!

Fiona L. Woods said...

Posted to my blog Cats and Crime about your situation with a link back to here. Hope it helps with the finances for you and your family. Have to try to muster the troops on this one.

I can't believe they count your clothes as assets. Like Lisa said, "naked and sleep on the floor." Jeez!

Kevin R. Tipple said...

Thank you, Fiona. I really appreciate it.