I am partially employed because I am disabled and in the appeals process for Social Security Disability. I can only earn a little bit of money. I work causal for the same job I worked at when my disease progressed to what it is today. I work on an as needed basis and although my job is pretty regular I often times lose money because I'm sick and must call off. When that happens I must often choose between rent and gas. I will always choose gas because I need electricity and water and when it is warmer the gas is only heating up the water. I didn't owe that much and I could get help from Charity. Well Charity is dependent on donations and because donations are down that means I did not receive help. I then contacted my gas company and had them fax the medical form that would help keep my gas on. She did fill it out but it was to late because they shut off my gas.
The horrible thing about waiting for Disability is they deny everyone unless you have heart problems or are on Oxygen. I was first turned down in 2010 when it was discovered that I had Sarcoidosis, an autoimmune disease that caused me to have Splenic Cancer. I lost my spleen on September 24, 2010. That is how they diagnosed my condition. They denied me and I appealed. I lost my case and I went back to work. I was fine for a few years although I still suffered from nausea and pain. I was OK and was able to hold down a job for three years.
On March 7,2015 I passed out at work and my co worker had to call an ambulance. It was then that I found out I had something wrong with my heart, and kidneys. They also discovered that my immune system was failing. I spent months going from specialist to specialist. I had to many people on my immune system with my kids and grandchildren, 7 Co Workers, and 8 Consumers in small homes. I lived with my children and grandchildren in a small house and I worked in a house with 7 Co Workers and 8 Consumers in tight quarters. I put in my 2 weeks notice on 7/10/15 and my last day was July 24, 2015. I never wanted to quit but I felt I had no choice.
I was given Unemployment but when that ran out I had no income. My best friend helped me make ends meet and paid all but my rent. I did not have an income from Feb15 until June when I got a check for $60. I have been working every sense when I could but still became homeless. I have spoken out about that before.
Now I have a decent place to live but when I get sick and miss work I am forced to make a decision no one would ever want to make. I had to chose between gas or rent. Now I am waiting on the Gas Company to work with me because it is cold in the house. My Social worker and Nurse was there the day the gas got cut off and they called CYF who because the house had one space heater in my granddaughter's room that they found the conditions to be safe. I have figured out to make heat until CRISIS opens up on November 1, 2017 and working with the gas company to get it on faster than that. I am not able to work full time as I can barely walk now and have Congestive Heart Failure along with Liver Disease.
Social Security is something you pay into every pay day and for them to make you go through hoops trying to get something you paid into makes me sick. My hearing is on November 21, 2017 in Pittsburgh PA and I pray it comes through for me because I do not know what I will do.
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