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Old 03-06-2017, 06:29 PM
 
2,129 posts, read 1,768,595 times
Reputation: 8758

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Quote:
Originally Posted by BLS2753 View Post
The trick is to research areas where the rents are low enough that you don't need a subsidy. They do exist. They may be a long drive away, and in a small rural town you won't like. But there won't be a waiting list, and it beats living in your car.
So now we're going to ignore things like medical care and good full service hospitals?

Maybe you can afford to do that. I sure can't.

There is also the issue of social isolation. Also services such as transportation.

Those very very small towns that are so cheap to live that you "don't need subsidies" - and if you are on SSDI you WILL still need subsidies as the max benefit is around $750 - $800 per month - also have no services, no meals on wheels, no elder/handicap transport, and few shopping opportunities for groceries and sundries. No or very small senior citizen centers. No or very bad cable, no or very expensive and slow internet. No movie theaters. Too far from broadcast TV and sometimes even broadcast radio to pick up a signal.

I know of no small town where you can rent an apartment for under $400 a month, and I'm talking VERY small cities of 1200 or less. Not even there are rents that cheap. Maybe in a crime-ridden slum.

You have an extremely unrealistic view of what is possible.

Last edited by Pyewackette; 03-06-2017 at 06:47 PM..
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Old 03-06-2017, 06:33 PM
 
Location: Paranoid State
13,044 posts, read 13,822,556 times
Reputation: 15839
Quote:
Originally Posted by galaxyhi View Post
Every are is supposed to have a "first Call for Help" line by dialing the United Way, Catholic CHarities or such, you should be able to find it by dialing 2-1-1.
Quote:
Originally Posted by biscuitmom View Post
^^^^
Everyone should be made aware of 211.
When I worked as a librarian, I very often suggested people call it. They provide referrals for both immediate and long-term needs.
I recall one late Saturday afternoon when 2 women and several young children came into the library. They said they urgently needed food and housing, and all local resources - including food banks - appeared to be closed or not answering their phones. I let them call 211 from our library phone and they were taken care of.

They also have a website: CALL 2-1-1


I've never heard of 211. Thanks for the heads-up.
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Old 03-06-2017, 07:15 PM
 
Location: Planet Woof
3,222 posts, read 4,557,049 times
Reputation: 10238
There are plenty of small towns where rent can be had in small houses and apartments for under 400. Also HUD subsidized apartments and senior housing as well as Section 8. These places usually have senior services through county and Area on Agency regional offices with transportation, home assistance, meals on wheels, etc available. ''Excellent'' medical care may be an issue as well as car dependency for shopping, etc. It all depends how ''primitive'' you want to live. Winters are the roughest and social isolation can be anywhere, really.Depends on what is a priority in one's life.
I lived in a very islolated rural area for 7 years, 5 years ago. We rented a 2 BR 2 BA house on 23 acres for 500. That was average out there. Now we pay over 900 for a 1 BR apartment in the burbs, 50 miles west of the rural area. Now that I am retiring we are considering a move back out into this same area for the low COL and the quality of the quiet rural life. We had more friends and fun out there than we ever did here and I know the medical landscape which dovetails with what we already need. Same docs, same hospital system. I am going to start looking very soon.

Last edited by HappyDogToday; 03-06-2017 at 07:24 PM..
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Old 03-06-2017, 07:29 PM
 
676 posts, read 716,371 times
Reputation: 1348
Wow you sound not so nice. I'm sorry for that but let me remind you we have worked hard all of our lives. WE NEVER GOT ANYTHING HANDED TO US.

My husband lost his business, we lost a house we owned, he is struggling for his life, with stage 4 melanoma, my oldest son is mentally ill, my daughter is living with an abusive drunk, shall I continue?? Are you happy now that I don't have the perfect life that you thought I had? And we don't have a pile of cash. WHAT IS YOUR PROBLEM!!! Shall I continue? I posted here saying it was an interesting thread. Why are you attacking me???

If my husband passes I am not yet 65'andmi will receive only a portion of his SS plus my small pension. Maybe 1800.00 a month. Not exactly a rich person. And I have to pay my own health insurance until I turn 65. Then SS will be less because they will deduct for that.

Are you sorry I don't have a worse sob story? Please STOP being so nasty. I am not being nasty to you or anyone. I only said this thread sparked my interest. Now that you know my business, are happy? JEEZ. Any more nasty replies I will report. No need for them.

Last edited by Sunscape; 03-07-2017 at 08:29 AM..
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Old 03-06-2017, 09:48 PM
 
555 posts, read 592,896 times
Reputation: 1302
Quote:
Originally Posted by Marble cake View Post
Wow you sound not so nice. I'm sorry for that but let me remind you we have worked hard all of our lives. WE NEVER GOT ANYTHING HANDED TO US.

My husband lost his business, we lost a house we owned, he is struggling for his life, with stage 4 melanoma, my oldest son is mentally ill, my daughter is living with an abusive drunk, shall I continue?? Are you happy now that I don't have the perfect life that you thought I had? And we don't have a pile of cash. WHAT IS YOUR PROBLEM!!! Shall I continue? I posted here saying it was an interesting thread. Why are you attacking me???

If my husband passes I am not yet 65'andmi will receive only a portion of his SS plus my small pension. Maybe 1800.00 a month. Not exactly a rich person. And I have to pay my own health insurance until I turn 65. Then SS will be less because they will deduct for that.

Are you sorry I don't have a worse sob story? Please STOP being so nasty. I am not being nasty to you or anyone. I only said this thread sparked my interest. Now that you know my business, are happy? JEEZ. Any more nasty replies I will report. No need for them.
Well, the title of the thread was "Let's hear from those on SOCIAL SECURITY ONLY" thus the snide remarks... But yeah, not very nice on S&M's part.
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Old 03-06-2017, 09:58 PM
 
Location: Los Angeles area
14,017 posts, read 20,866,014 times
Reputation: 32530
Quote:
Originally Posted by Marble cake View Post
Wow you sound not so nice. I'm sorry for that but let me remind you we have worked hard all of our lives. WE NEVER GOT ANYTHING HANDED TO US.

My husband lost his business, we lost a house we owned, he is struggling for his life, with stage 4 melanoma, my oldest son is mentally ill, my daughter is living with an abusive drunk, shall I continue?? Are you happy now that I don't have the perfect life that you thought I had? And we don't have a pile of cash. WHAT IS YOUR PROBLEM!!! Shall I continue? I posted here saying it was an interesting thread. Why are you attacking me???

If my husband passes I am not yet 65'andmi will receive only a portion of his SS plus my small pension. Maybe 1800.00 a month. Not exactly a rich person. And I have to pay my own health insurance until I turn 65. Then SS will be less because they will deduct for that.

Are you sorry I don't have a worse sob story? Please STOP being so nasty. I am not being nasty to you or anyone. I only said this thread sparked my interest. Now that you know my business, are happy? JEEZ. Any more nasty replies I will report. No need for them.
Quote:
Originally Posted by bigdogmom13 View Post
Well, the title of the thread was "Let's hear from those on SOCIAL SECURITY ONLY" thus the snide remarks... But yeah, not very nice on S&M's part.
I do not intend to excuse the meanness, but your own wording is partly to blame, as Bigdogmom points out. In one sentence you state that you have "only" Social Security, then in the very next sentence you say, well I have a small pension too. I think that was just sloppy drafting on your part and did not deserve the condemnation it received, but it was an internal contradction.
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Old 03-06-2017, 10:14 PM
 
Location: Omaha, Nebraska
10,343 posts, read 7,931,194 times
Reputation: 27742
Quote:
Originally Posted by Escort Rider View Post
I do not intend to excuse the meanness, but your own wording is partly to blame, as Bigdogmom points out. In one sentence you state that you have "only" Social Security, then in the very next sentence you say, well I have a small pension too.
I think Marble_Cake's post (though technically off-topic for this thread, since she's not subsisting only on a Social Security check) does point out something interesting: someone who "only" has Social Security (but a large check) may be doing better financially than another person who has both Social Security and another source of income such as a pension (if both the SS check and the pension check are both pitifully small). Ultimately what matters is the total net monthly income relative to total expenses; after any applicable taxes have been paid, whether that money comes from Social Security, a pension, or a 401k or IRA, it spends the same.
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Old 03-06-2017, 10:18 PM
 
Location: Los Angeles area
14,017 posts, read 20,866,014 times
Reputation: 32530
Quote:
Originally Posted by Aredhel View Post
I think Marble_Cake's post (though technically off-topic for this thread, since she's not subsisting only on a Social Security check) does point out something interesting: someone who "only" has Social Security (but a large check) may be doing better financially than another person who has both Social Security and another source of income such as a pension (if both the SS check and the pension check are both pitifully small). Ultimately what matters is the total net monthly income relative to total expenses; after any applicable taxes have been paid, whether that money comes from Social Security, a pension, or a 401k or IRA, it spends the same.
I agree. It is the rule, not the exception, that threads drift off-topic to some extent.
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Old 03-06-2017, 10:28 PM
 
1,190 posts, read 1,022,696 times
Reputation: 1034
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tallysmom View Post
One of the best things that happened to my mom was senior housing for limited income. They took a third of her income and gave her a small apartment and her freedom. She no longer had to worry about maintaining a home, a yard...all that was a phone call and a guy showed up. The place was beautiful...yes, very small, but liveable.

She had more than SS, but not much more... and we paid for her cable yearly. I keep telling a friend of mine she should put her name into a few, she'd qualify, and it's not like she'd get a place tomorrow.

Regarding a third of her income...it wasn't a set dollar... it was a third of her income, a third of Mrs. Jones income a tire of Mrs. Smiths income.
Around here, that seems to be the difference between living a half way decent life, and a life of struggling.
Whether or not you get into subsidized housing

It's great here. The electric bills are very low. Temp controlled apartments. People are expected to keep the noise down. No water bill. A few of my clients reside in them.

The only issue is...my clients are from the mental institutions which are closing down in California. They can be dangerous. CHECK OUT who your neighbors are in subsized housing first. Accept the apartment then drive there day and night. Introduce yourself. You may find they are not allowed to be alone, ever. 24 hr supervision
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Old 03-06-2017, 10:29 PM
 
Location: RVA
2,766 posts, read 2,072,415 times
Reputation: 6638
The premise of this thread is weak nonsense. ER has mentioned his SS is like $150/mo. The max SS is like $3800/mo. The range of JUST SS is so large as to wonder what the point was.
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