So down

[HughJaynus]

 I'm a 21 year veteran of HIV/AIDS,  It's been a long, long road, buried 3 lovers, been hospitalized several times, been on every posible comination therapy.
After a struggle to hang on to my career I finally let go and went on Social Security (which as we all know) doesn't pay enough to live on.
I still had a house payment, bills etc. so I worked a part time job so as not to loose everything! Well I have since sold my house due to overwhelming bills.
I now reside in a (let's say less than luxury efficiency apt) in a not so nice part of florida.
3 months ago I get a letter from social security saying that they are stopping my benefits.
It seems that I made 7,562 dollors in 2002 of which December 784.00 was made (4.00 too much)
It's difficult for me to get meds in florida, Soon I will loose my cockroach palace.  It just seems things are all piling up against me,  I feel like I'm in a dark hole with no light in sight. I feel like maybe all my fight is gone.

[help me]

I know that if you are a twenty-one year veteran then you are a strong person and one that doesn't give up easily.  As you may know when things look their worse is when suddenly something happens to make us see the need to go on.  Have you talked to your loved ones about how you feel?  I know that they would be hurt to know you feel this way and not have confided in them.
Have you thought about a room-mate that could help with some of the expenses that you now face alone. Life is to precious not to want to hold on to every day, minute, second of it.  I am a new one the board as you are but I will pray that things get brighter for you.

[Willy50]

Hello and welcome to the board to both of you.  

Hugh, I'm very sorry to hear about your situation.  I don't have HIV, but have many internet "friends" that have greatly diminished health and the financial problems that go with it.  It often causes me to get discouraged with our medical system.  I keep thinking that people that have worked all their lives paying taxes should have more than any of us end up with.  

All that I can say is to hang on.  While the system may have let you down, it will still be there to support you.  I don't have tremendous experience here, but some of the folks with HCV have had some positive experiences in dealing with SS or Medicare.  Unfortunately good experiences seem to be less common than bad experiences.  I think the answer may be additional effort.  You may have to challenge their findings.  There is an appeal process that you may find could help you.  You may be able to do it yourself, or may have to hire an attorney.  If you can keep from being "kicked ou" of the system, you may have less problems getting started again.  I've got a friend that totally lost his house..... and nearly everything else while waiting to get his benefits.  He finally won his case, but not before he lost his house.  Months later, he's still awaiting his back pay.  It's a tough system.

All you can do is to keep going, somehow.  You can count on future help, but have to hang in there.  I think you got good advice telling you to find another to help you cut expenses.

Got to run, take care,
Willy