Help Save My House
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My name is Linda Sturdivant-Chandler and I am 67 years old surviving my husband's battle with dementia.
I lost my husband of 40 years, James Douglas Chandler in 2014 after a long battle with dementia and debilitating arthritis. My goal was to keep him at home as long as possible. I did this but at a price emotionally and financially. My husband was the blessing of my life. He was a journeyman electrician and a member of the IBEW Local Union 5 and 613. He received a 65 yr member pin. He also served during WWII with the Army Air Force. The last 4 years of his life was under hospice care and as some of you know, providing additional care is expensive. He was not mobile and he was bed-ridden. During those four years, nursing and aide care was approximately 50 thousand dollars a year. Most of that burden for care fell directly on me. Some have asked me if I had it to do over again would I have sent him to a nursing home. I understand and my heart goes out to others who have to make that decision, but I felt the greatest gift I could give to him was to let him spend his final days at home. I could go on talking about how special he was but I will start crying. Almost every dollar I earned was spent taking care of him, including all of my retirement savings.
In 2013, the IRS audited our 2011 and 2012 tax returns and did not allow for a large portion of his care. I did not know I should have paid all caregivers by check; most I paid by cash. Apparently, that is not allowed. That started the IRS problem. Each year,I got further into debt mainly because of penalties. I have made payments on time to the IRS the past 2 years but the balance continues to grow.
I am 66 and recognize I have to continue to work to pay the taxes. I'm OK with this,but now the IRS is pressuring me to sell the house. I collect Social Security and a small monthly pension from my husband. My only assets are a 8 year old car and our home that we built together.
We were never extravagant and paid bills on time before his illness got so severe. Currently, after my taxes payments, I only have $1000 a month to live off of.
The house is the only thing I have left of my husband and our life together. It is not perfect but we lived here over 40 years. I would like to stay here the rest of my life. It holds memories and even though no room is level, it is ours.
I owe the IRS and the state of Pennsylvania approximately $70,000 in taxes and fees. I can offer a settlement amount of approximately $50,000 that the IRS may consider, but to raise those funds, I need your help!
Please contribute at any level you desire, every bit helps! Asking for help is very difficult but I have to leave this in God's hands.
Thank you.
-Linda
I lost my husband of 40 years, James Douglas Chandler in 2014 after a long battle with dementia and debilitating arthritis. My goal was to keep him at home as long as possible. I did this but at a price emotionally and financially. My husband was the blessing of my life. He was a journeyman electrician and a member of the IBEW Local Union 5 and 613. He received a 65 yr member pin. He also served during WWII with the Army Air Force. The last 4 years of his life was under hospice care and as some of you know, providing additional care is expensive. He was not mobile and he was bed-ridden. During those four years, nursing and aide care was approximately 50 thousand dollars a year. Most of that burden for care fell directly on me. Some have asked me if I had it to do over again would I have sent him to a nursing home. I understand and my heart goes out to others who have to make that decision, but I felt the greatest gift I could give to him was to let him spend his final days at home. I could go on talking about how special he was but I will start crying. Almost every dollar I earned was spent taking care of him, including all of my retirement savings.
In 2013, the IRS audited our 2011 and 2012 tax returns and did not allow for a large portion of his care. I did not know I should have paid all caregivers by check; most I paid by cash. Apparently, that is not allowed. That started the IRS problem. Each year,I got further into debt mainly because of penalties. I have made payments on time to the IRS the past 2 years but the balance continues to grow.
I am 66 and recognize I have to continue to work to pay the taxes. I'm OK with this,but now the IRS is pressuring me to sell the house. I collect Social Security and a small monthly pension from my husband. My only assets are a 8 year old car and our home that we built together.
We were never extravagant and paid bills on time before his illness got so severe. Currently, after my taxes payments, I only have $1000 a month to live off of.
The house is the only thing I have left of my husband and our life together. It is not perfect but we lived here over 40 years. I would like to stay here the rest of my life. It holds memories and even though no room is level, it is ours.
I owe the IRS and the state of Pennsylvania approximately $70,000 in taxes and fees. I can offer a settlement amount of approximately $50,000 that the IRS may consider, but to raise those funds, I need your help!
Please contribute at any level you desire, every bit helps! Asking for help is very difficult but I have to leave this in God's hands.
Thank you.
-Linda
Organizer
Linda Sturdivant
Organizer
New Kensington, PA