Hello to all...My name is Debbie. I am a 55-year-old single mom who is permanently disabled (i've explained my condition below ). About three weeks ago I was given eviction papers, and I'm scared to death.  The letter explained that in 3  days I must pay the back rent, late fees, and current rent or get out in 60 days.  In short,  I need help to hold off the eviction long enough to reach my hearing date for disability benefits, sometime in the next few months.  The lawyer I have ,  Who works on contingency, has given my eviction notice to the court,  and has submitted a request for a date as soon as possible. But he offers no guarantees, and I am just about out of time.    I am just a few months away from getting the benefits I need, but after eight years  of red tape and waiting, I am about a month away from losing everything I have left. 

My fight for my Social Security disability benefits has taken years.    I have followed every staff properly, and submitted every document they have requested on time,  and followed instructions to the letter. I never would've dreamed that it takes this long, but it does .    Over the past several months, I have been  trying  so hard to hang on,  but my resources have all run out. There is nothing left, and I am in real trouble and desperately need help. 
 
If I lose our home, there is no place that will rent to me, because my monthly income consists of only a few hundred dollars a month of welfare. 
Most frightening of all is that if I have no home, I will lose my son. That would be devastating. It's unthinkable.

I also receive food stamps for my son and me, and while my daughter contributes her paycheck every month, it is still not nearly enough to even make rent. I have been struggling for sometime now, and my family has, over these last several months, contributed all that they can. I would be grateful for any donation, as we have literally nothing right now, and nowhere else to turn. I pray that enough is donated to, at the very least, postpone the eviction until I am able to have my hearing with the judge. I don't know how much information you may need,  but I will do my best to explain my situation, and  why we have reached a point where we are in real trouble and in danger of losing our home:  

 Use ago, when I first applied for Social Security disability benefits. I naïvely believed that someone who was truly unable to work would receive financial assistance in a timely manner. I was so wrong. After first applying on my own, and waiting four years for applications to be processed, dozens of doctor visits (to provide the necessary films and confirmations that they needed), additional paperwork, and appeal after appeal, a new doctor encouraged me to call a lawyer specifically practicing Social Security disability benefits aid. I did, They took my case right away, and I have been through all of the phases, yet again, of the application through this lawyer.  After four years with this lawyer, I am told that the final step… a hearing before a judge, is less than six months away. I have been praying that I would make it financially before we were in danger of losing our home, but I haven't. After 8 years,  and after using every resource I had, I'm so close, yet so far.  

One of the most tragic aspects of this process is that I believe there are thousands of other truly disabled people that are in serious trouble because applying for benefits is so complicated and utterly time-consuming.   Over the last eight years, I have had to use my savings, 401(k), and retirement money just to survive day today ,  waiting for my disability benefits. I hate to think that  after losing so much already, that I have to also lose my home and my son… Not when I'm just a few months away from my hearing.   It's difficult not to feel as if you're being punished for something. It's a terrible feeling.

Before becoming disabled, I worked for very hard for decades.  I have always been hard-working, independent and self-sufficient.  Many years  I spent as a single  mom. I loved working, and miss it very much. I am blessed with three beautiful children and two amazing baby grandsons. Two of my children live with me… My teenage son, and my eldest daughter, who is my caretaker. She assists with shopping, cooking, cleaning, and all personal activities that I may need help with, such as washing my hair (I have very limited use of my arms and hands ).  She has taken every odd job she can find, and is actively looking for second job.

I hope I have included enough information for you, and have explained my situation well enough. If you are able to help us at all, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. If there's any additional information you may require, please reply to my email address and I will provide you whatever you need.

May God bless you and keep you,
Debbie