Help deaf/almost blind man stay
Donation protected
I am a deaf man whose vision has been getting worse over the last 2 years. My wife and I live in a junior bedroom apartment in Sunland, CA. We have a court date for unlawful detainer (eviction) on June 17,2015. We are attempting to raise $4000 to stay in this humble apartment. Why? Because I am familiar with this apartment and surrounding locations; I am close to my doctors. I have a case pending with Social Security and I am being assisted by the Dept of Rehabilitation. Being forced to move would create an extreme hardship on both of us. Let me tell you my story:
I was born deaf and blind in one eye. As I was growing up, I developed great lip-reading skills that allowed me to communicate with hearing people. At the age of 17, I began working and did not need government assistance.
After 30 years of employment, it finally happened. In February 2013, I developed diabetic retinopathy in my good eye and my vision has been progressively getting worse since then. I cannot see clearly to read lips, so my hearing and comprehension has suffered. I was added to my wife's insurance in November 2012 and had been taking medication to control my blood sugar, but my vision still deteriorated. I began to see an opthmalogist who performed several laser surgeries to help hold the deterioration of my eye at bay. Then, in June of 2013, my wife lost her job and insurance. I had no medication until October 2014 and no eye surgeries until May 2015. When I finally saw the ophthalmologist in March 2015, my vision was 20/40. When I had my eye surgery in May 2015, my vision was 20/80. The doctor estimates that when I see him in August 2015, my vision will be 20/100. So, in a short while, I will soon be blind. I have an open case with Dept of Rehabilitation where I will undergo training in being blind (walking with a cane, reading Braille, etc.)
In April 2013, I applied to Social Security for SSI benefits. Many people told me how easy it was toob tain benefits. After I applied, I received a call from a SSA case worker who verified I was deaf and said I would get my benefits by September 2013. But, somehow my file was routed to the state of Virginia and the woman there refused to take my deafness into account. Yet, on my application and on the medical questionnaire that followed, I included the fact I was deaf along with information that I could not drive due to the deterioration of my vision, nor could I do my typical work as a computer repair technician. Social Security turned me down twice, focusing only on my eye and not on the combined factors of deafness and diabetes.
Right now, we are in a desperate situation, facing eviction. My wife cannot find work. She's apllied to nearly 40 places, interviewed, etc., with no success. We tried selling items on ebay, it hasn't helped. She tried selling her mail-art and artwork via her instagram account (zeeflower). Even with her unique talent, it hasn't been worthwhile. Friends and family can no longer help. We're about to be homeless.
On May 27, 2015, we appeared in court to fight eviction and the judge gave us until June 17 to come up with $3,800 dollars to pay back rent, late charges, court fees and attorney fees. I thought I had $3,700 in an old 401K account that was 10 years old for an old employer that I had left. That money was invested in stocks for that company. It turns out that I don't have any money, as the company went out of business, so the stock value dropped to nothing.
Can anyone help? I am dependent on a loving wife (who is under a lot of pressure), trying to deal with people (and a system) who seem to not care. I'm at the point where I'm willing to go public with the media with this lack of caring for a person who is oppressed; who was a productive member of society and now needs help to care for himself.
I gave part of my income to Social Security for 30 years of employment. I have never asked the government for anything. I didn't want to depend on them. Since I was 17, I have not needed assistance until now. Now, we're on food stamps and Medi-Cal and nearly homeless. Yet, Social Security refuses to help me. After being denied twice, our attorney appealed so I will have a hearing, However, there is no date set yet.
I've waited for two years to get relief via SSA, while it seems other people, including the deaf, obtain their benefits with ease.
I was hoping to hang on until August, when I hope to finally secure a hearing date and can explain to the judge. It appears to be darkness at the end of the tunnel for us.
I was born deaf and blind in one eye. As I was growing up, I developed great lip-reading skills that allowed me to communicate with hearing people. At the age of 17, I began working and did not need government assistance.
After 30 years of employment, it finally happened. In February 2013, I developed diabetic retinopathy in my good eye and my vision has been progressively getting worse since then. I cannot see clearly to read lips, so my hearing and comprehension has suffered. I was added to my wife's insurance in November 2012 and had been taking medication to control my blood sugar, but my vision still deteriorated. I began to see an opthmalogist who performed several laser surgeries to help hold the deterioration of my eye at bay. Then, in June of 2013, my wife lost her job and insurance. I had no medication until October 2014 and no eye surgeries until May 2015. When I finally saw the ophthalmologist in March 2015, my vision was 20/40. When I had my eye surgery in May 2015, my vision was 20/80. The doctor estimates that when I see him in August 2015, my vision will be 20/100. So, in a short while, I will soon be blind. I have an open case with Dept of Rehabilitation where I will undergo training in being blind (walking with a cane, reading Braille, etc.)
In April 2013, I applied to Social Security for SSI benefits. Many people told me how easy it was toob tain benefits. After I applied, I received a call from a SSA case worker who verified I was deaf and said I would get my benefits by September 2013. But, somehow my file was routed to the state of Virginia and the woman there refused to take my deafness into account. Yet, on my application and on the medical questionnaire that followed, I included the fact I was deaf along with information that I could not drive due to the deterioration of my vision, nor could I do my typical work as a computer repair technician. Social Security turned me down twice, focusing only on my eye and not on the combined factors of deafness and diabetes.
Right now, we are in a desperate situation, facing eviction. My wife cannot find work. She's apllied to nearly 40 places, interviewed, etc., with no success. We tried selling items on ebay, it hasn't helped. She tried selling her mail-art and artwork via her instagram account (zeeflower). Even with her unique talent, it hasn't been worthwhile. Friends and family can no longer help. We're about to be homeless.
On May 27, 2015, we appeared in court to fight eviction and the judge gave us until June 17 to come up with $3,800 dollars to pay back rent, late charges, court fees and attorney fees. I thought I had $3,700 in an old 401K account that was 10 years old for an old employer that I had left. That money was invested in stocks for that company. It turns out that I don't have any money, as the company went out of business, so the stock value dropped to nothing.
Can anyone help? I am dependent on a loving wife (who is under a lot of pressure), trying to deal with people (and a system) who seem to not care. I'm at the point where I'm willing to go public with the media with this lack of caring for a person who is oppressed; who was a productive member of society and now needs help to care for himself.
I gave part of my income to Social Security for 30 years of employment. I have never asked the government for anything. I didn't want to depend on them. Since I was 17, I have not needed assistance until now. Now, we're on food stamps and Medi-Cal and nearly homeless. Yet, Social Security refuses to help me. After being denied twice, our attorney appealed so I will have a hearing, However, there is no date set yet.
I've waited for two years to get relief via SSA, while it seems other people, including the deaf, obtain their benefits with ease.
I was hoping to hang on until August, when I hope to finally secure a hearing date and can explain to the judge. It appears to be darkness at the end of the tunnel for us.
Organizer
Patrick Palczewski
Organizer
Los Angeles, CA