THE NEW POOR

THE NEW POOR

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I am a single woman that has gone through so many changes within the last 10 yrs. First I was diagnosed with M.S. This I was able to deal with until all the complications began to appear. I began to forget the simplest things and began the short term memory loss. This resulted in my not being able to maintain my job as an accountant. Then the depression set in. Then the fight with Social Security began. Not "looking" sick and still able to hold a conversation made my fight tough. Not remembering the simplest of instructions, having absolutely NO energy, dealing with the pain 24 hrs. a day with little or no relief and being so depressed I didn't even leave my house compounded everything. After countless reports from my physicians and having to hire an attorney, I was awarded my Social Security benefits. Since that day 2 yrs ago my depression is much better and looking back I can't believe that person was me. I still fight with daily pain which has increased but that person that lost all interest in life is now gone (for now). I now have to fight with Social Services since I now make "too much" money to qualify for any state assistance but I don't make enough to maintain a decent quality of life. I'm not living in squalor or starving which I know happens more often than is told, but for those of us who have worked all their lives and then faced with an unexpected disability it's hard to ask or know where to go for help. I have lost my home since I was out of work for 2yrs prior to my award, have been in small claims for not paying my doctor bills and my credit is ruined. These are the things that we strived for and now I am what I consider the NEW POOR. The best thing about this is my network of friends has increased and I have learned to be humble.

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multiple-sclerosis

Posted By:

AXMASCAROLS

1 Year, 2 months, 2 Weeks, 6 days, 17 hours, 11 minutes ago

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