Life or Death: Help PETER Survive SSA's Sudden Fund Cutoff

A desperate plea from my friend PETER MANALE...

URGENT: SSA has cut off my life-saving funds, leaving me with $300 to survive in Ecuador. This is my second time facing this crisis, and I'm terrified. I need immediate help with food, shelter, and medication. Please, your generosity is my only hope. I will pay back any loans when SSA corrects their error. Details below.

My Dearest Friends and Kind Strangers,

I am reaching out to you in a state of desperation I never imagined I would face again. As some of you know, this is not the first time I've had to beg for help due to the Social Security Administration (SSA) abruptly cutting off my vital funds. The last time this happened, I spiraled into a deep depression, ending up hospitalized and contemplating suicide. Your incredible generosity then saved my life, and I am eternally grateful.

Now, I find myself in an even more dire situation. On April 3rd, my monthly benefits, which I receive through Direct Express, a banking service affiliated with the Social Security Administration (SSA) and the U.S. Department of Treasury, were suddenly terminated. My debit card begins with the first 4 digits of 5115. When I contacted Direct Express, they informed me that all cards beginning with 5115 were deactivated due to a branch closure. The fact that this is a bank directly tied to my SSA benefits leads me to believe the Department of Treasury had a hand in this closure. This is a terrifying thought, as it means my lifeline has been directly, and without warning, cut off by the very people who are supposed to be supporting me. Living in Cotacachi, Ecuador, adds another layer of complexity. Ecuador's postal system is non-functional, so I received no warning from SSA or Direct Express.

I am now left with less than $300 to survive. I have no other income. I have contacted SSA in Santo Domingo, pleading for urgent assistance to establish a new banking arrangement, ideally transferring my account to a Direct Express card starting with 5332 (from a still-open branch) or another suitable alternative. However, I know from experience that bureaucratic processes, especially across international borders, take time – time I simply don't have.

I am terrified. I am facing a life-threatening financial crisis. Without my SSA benefits, I will not be able to afford food, shelter, or essential medications. The thought of going through this again, the agonizing uncertainty and despair, is unbearable.

This is a plea for help. I am asking for your support to bridge this gap until SSA resolves this issue, which could take months. Every dollar will go directly towards my basic needs: food, shelter, and any urgent medical expenses.

I understand that times are tough for everyone, and I hesitate to ask for help again. But I am truly facing a life-or-death situation. Your generosity, no matter how small, can make a world of difference.

Please, help me survive this crisis. Please share this campaign with your friends and family. I am running out of time.

It is important to note: If and when the SSA resolves this issue, I should receive all of my back payments that are currently being withheld. Given the financial hardships many are facing, I am open to considering your contributions as either a loan, which I will repay in full once I receive my back pay, or as a gift, according to your preference. Please indicate your preference when donating.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

-PETER MANALE