Does anyone have any suggestions, ideas, or help? I've been to every surrounding county, and not one has assistance funds for the county where I live -- and our county has none. We are a sparsely populated area; fewer than 2,000 in the county. No General Assistance funds at all.

GoFundMe doesn't work if the "administrator" doesn't post up-dates. My daughter is the administrator. She promised money for cat food two weeks ago, but failed to send it. She refuses to give me an accounting of the funds received and when I ask if there are any funds, she just says "I can't find the paper I wrote it all down on".

She's a thousand miles away. I know she MEANT well when she agreed to do this. I have asked her to notify GoFundMe that she no longer wants to be administrator, and turn it over to me, but she just doesn't get around to doing it.

I have been able to do some shopping -- but this month it looks like I don't have money for gas or required purchases. I had a cut-off notice for my electric bill for over $200, and that and rent (which includes natural gas, garbage, sewer, etc.) took all but $200 of my social security check.

Thanks for letting me vent. The stress is dreadful.

Are you saying that you never received the $1,547 that was donated to your account? It looks like the last donation was made in May. Providing a social security number is required before any payouts can be made by Go Fund Me. Whose social security number was provided? Is the money going to your daughter's bank or yours? Since you are the beneficiary, the administrator should have set up the process for you to make withdrawals. Maybe she simply has not yet set that up. You would need to provide your bank information. Have you contacted Go Fund Me? Go to Go Fund Me online and click on Contact Us. Since you are the account beneficiary, you can request an accounting of funds collected, including any payouts. You could also set up your own Go Fund Me, relieving your daughter of the responsibility to administer the account.

My daughter has put $90 directly into my checking account several times. She paid one month's rent, back when it looked like I would be evicted if I did not come up with rent money. She also bought me groceries once, in April or May. I'm pretty sure they used my daughter's social security number. The money goes to my daughter's bank. I have no idea if there's any money left or not, as I cannot get her to give me any accounting.

Frankly, I would rather do without the money if it means fracturing my relationship with my daughter. I never asked her to do this, and told her from the get-go that if it damaged our relationship in the least, I didn't want her to do it.

Thank you for taking the time to respond.

It sounds as though your daughter had the best of intentions and life has just gotten in the way. The best way to have set up the GoFundMe would be for your daughter to have shown herself as administrator and you as beneficiary, using your SS#. Then she could easily have set it up so that you could request that the funds be paid directly to your bank. If your daughter is 1,000 miles away, it makes sense that you would need to handle your own funds.

I urge you to contact the GoFundMe Help Line. [www.gofundme.com]

They pride themselves on responding within 5 minutes during their normal business hours. Can there BE a company that really does that?

You need help now and you need a GoFundMe that allows you to withdraw the money and use it for the things you need. Perhaps you should just create a new GoFundMe account for yourself, leaving the GoFundMe account your daughter set up in place. The GoFundMe staff can advise you.

Your own GoFundMe definitely sounds like the better way to go. Folks believe they are contributing to you, not your daughter who seems to have most of the money in her account.

I'll be honest that I have no clue how those websites work. Regardless, how much time does it really take to transfer money or print something out showing receipts and disbursements?

Thank you all. I think the reason she's doing it is because she's younger, more tech oriented than I am. I'm afraid I wouldn't know how to post the updates and put in photos and stuff like that.

Course, it doesn't matter much that she knows how to do that, but somehow just never gets around to it! She asks me for the info for the updates, then doesn't update it.

I will contact GoFundMe. Thanks for all the advice and support!

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/07/2016 04:46PM by ceasesmith.

Do you have any senior centers in or around your area? Those are the places to go for referrals for anything you may need help with.

Yes. I was just there yesterday. They have jobs that require 20 hours a week commitment, and pay a "stipend" of a little over $40 a week. Also requires fingerprinting, background check, and drug test -- all of which must be paid for by the applicant.

I cannot commit to 20 inflexible hours a week. If I wanted to work for nothing, I'd just volunteer (I do a LOT of volunteering!).

I did two audits last week, was on my feet about 2 hours for each one, plus 4 hours drive time for each. My leg hurt so bad I had to reschedule Tuesday's to Wednesday, and even with a day off between, the second was pure unadulterated torture. I did it Wednesday, spent Thursday through Monday in bed, recovering.

Does anybody know anything about recovering from a torn meniscus? Support groups, anything like that?

Thanks again. I deeply appreciate you all taking the time to read, think, and offer suggestions.

If you start a separate account there are plenty of highly technical forum members. I'm sure someone or several someones would be willing to guide you through posting a picture and then updating. You do know how to post here and how to work with all the various platforms used for mystery shopping so don't underestimate what you can probably do on your own either.

And I could be wrong, but wasn't spaz suggesting the senior center as a place to refer you to assistance agencies in your area rather than a job? Granted St. Louis is much larger, but we have multiple non-profits who can direct folks to a variety of resources.

I found this through a quick Google search for nonprofit senior assistance. I thought you said you were in Nebraska? If not try the same search adding your state to the end. This is a document from the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, State Unit on Aging.

[dhhs.ne.gov]



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/07/2016 05:57PM by LisaSTL.

The assistance they offered WAS the job with a stipend. Dhhs in Lincoln referred me to another county, who said they had no funds but referred me to another county, which also had no funds but referred me to yet another county. They had no funds, either, and suggested I "hit up" the churches in my area. I have been to
every single county within 150 miles.

So the senior center didn't offer any lists of nonprofit organizations, not government agencies, servicing your area? I still can't help but think there may be some you could turn to even if they don't have a physical presence in your locale. Are you able to qualify for Medicaid or is your Social Security income too high?

In late July you mentioned having a lawyer who said you would be getting checks, just not when. I noticed about a week later someone asked if you had contacted him or her for an update. Did you? Knowing things are moving forward would allow you some peace of mind and getting the balance of the money from your daughter would help get some of those bills paid for now.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/08/2016 12:59AM by LisaSTL.

Our whole county has only about 2,000 people. We are a staunch group who lend a hand and help each other.

I did apply for Medicaid. They told me my "share of cost" would be $800 a MONTH. My social security is
$13 a month above the cut-off for food stamps and medicaid. I called the lawyer again, there's just no information. I was under the impression that once the doctor certified I was unable to work due to an injury
that occurred at work, I would get checks weekly. It hasn't happened.

My daughter no longer answers the phone when I call, nor does she answer my e-mails. I borrowed a neighbor's cell yesterday, and she answered the phone!

$800 a month for Medicaid? I know people with Medicare and a full supplement, not one of those advantage plans, who pay less than $350 for everything including their prescription drug plan.

It is too bad your daughter is behaving so badly. Adding those funds to your $1,200 from SSI could keep your head above water for awhile.

From a practical stand point, you may have to do some self doctoring. I have a torn meniscus with the body fragmented and medially extruded, a chronically torn ACL, severe tricompartment chondromalacia and osteophytosis, plus Bakers cyst, etc., etc.. In short, I need a new knee. I also have a blown out L5 disc, so I have some amazing back spasms. I have been working with this since March of 2014. I will not be able to retire for a year, so I have had to learn to adapt. I am not a candidate for surgery due to other issues. Here is what I've learned to do to keep working.
I mostly do merchandising work. I choose small jobs, with multiple locations. It gives me a rest between stores driving. Driveline, Advantage Solutions, SAS Retail, American Greetings and Anderson Merchandising all have current openings in Nebraska. You can go to NEworks.gov to see what is available in your area. Most have small work. You won't get rich, but it can be steady work.
I use KT tape to keep my knee in place. A wonderful physical therapist showed me how to tape my knee in place. It actually pops out of place and locks the leg up. Like a lightning bolt going through your leg. Here's the web site that shows you how to do it. My knee when I get up in the morning is 2 inches larger than the other one, and it swells as the day goes on, so I can't use a brace.
[www.kttape.com]
I use a rollater walker (you can walk with it, then sit on it if you need a break). When it isn't practical to use the walker, I am leaning on a shopping cart to walk and work. Check Craigslist or a thrift shop for a reasonably priced one. Some places will even give you one.
I take an anti-inflammatory ( Ibuprophan 800) first thing in the morning any day that I am working.
I self limit my day by how bad it gets. I may only be able to work 1-2 hours on some days, and may have to do 7 days in a row to get all my work done. If I have a great day, I may get 5 hours in working. It is a pain, figuratively and literally, but I have to work. A flexible icepack is always used when I get home.
Hope this gives you some hope that a buggered up knee isn't the end of your ability to get around.
Depending on your car, maybe Uber or Lyft could be an option for you?
Good Luck

Yes, Lisa, I thought she would might get direct help from them (the senior center) with a list agencies and/or churches to contact.

What about you closest mission or homeless shelter? Most of the times they can advise you where to get free food....you have to stand in line here, but they provide a lot of food to needy people. Have you contacted Catholic Charities, The Salvation Army and/or St. Vincent DePaul (sp?). Those are all national and provide support and assistance. The can also refer you to other agencies. I would also contact your local unemployment office, they offer a LOT of free services and might be able to refer you to assistance.

I would be calling that attorney at LEAST twice a day, EVERY day, until you got some kind of update, otherwise, you will end up on their back burner and they will take care of all the other squeaky wheels, first.

@cindy55 wrote:

From a practical stand point, you may have to do some self doctoring. I have a torn meniscus with the body fragmented and medially extruded, a chronically torn ACL, severe tricompartment chondromalacia and osteophytosis, plus Bakers cyst, etc., etc.. In short, I need a new knee. I also have a blown out L5 disc, so I have some amazing back spasms. I have been working with this since March of 2014. I will not be able to retire for a year, so I have had to learn to adapt. I am not a candidate for surgery due to other issues. Here is what I've learned to do to keep working.
I mostly do merchandising work. I choose small jobs, with multiple locations. It gives me a rest between stores driving. Driveline, Advantage Solutions, SAS Retail, American Greetings and Anderson Merchandising all have current openings in Nebraska. You can go to NEworks.gov to see what is available in your area. Most have small work. You won't get rich, but it can be steady work.
I use KT tape to keep my knee in place. A wonderful physical therapist showed me how to tape my knee in place. It actually pops out of place and locks the leg up. Like a lightning bolt going through your leg. Here's the web site that shows you how to do it. My knee when I get up in the morning is 2 inches larger than the other one, and it swells as the day goes on, so I can't use a brace.
[www.kttape.com]
I use a rollater walker (you can walk with it, then sit on it if you need a break). When it isn't practical to use the walker, I am leaning on a shopping cart to walk and work. Check Craigslist or a thrift shop for a reasonably priced one. Some places will even give you one.
I take an anti-inflammatory ( Ibuprophan 800) first thing in the morning any day that I am working.
I self limit my day by how bad it gets. I may only be able to work 1-2 hours on some days, and may have to do 7 days in a row to get all my work done. If I have a great day, I may get 5 hours in working. It is a pain, figuratively and literally, but I have to work. A flexible icepack is always used when I get home.
Hope this gives you some hope that a buggered up knee isn't the end of your ability to get around.
Depending on your car, maybe Uber or Lyft could be an option for you?
Good Luck

WOW, WOW, and WOW!!! You make me feel like a total wuss/whiner.

You are an inspiration.

Thank you.

It wasn't my intention to make you feel bad. I just wanted to help you see that there are ways to work around some issues. I was lucky to have a great physical therapist who taught me a practical, non invasive knee fix, and the correct body mechanics to do my job. Suggested the right walker. If you haven't had the advantage of good physical therapy, how could you know what can help you? It can be extremely overwhelming to be in pain daily. I will take advantage of anything that will make my day easier!

Yes, that's part of what I've been going round and round with the worker's comp carrier -- they took 8 months to send me to a doctor. They sent me to a surgeon. Guess what? He wants to operate.

I begged, pleaded, threatened to sue, to get a 2nd opinion. Surgeons wanna cut -- it's what they do. I asked for alternatives, any alternative, to surgery. I am 70; surgery is not something you approach lightheartedly at any age, but certainly not at MY age. I would be thrilled if they would pay for physical therapy to see if it would enable me to have some normal function without surgery.

I do work around my issues. I know I have to pay the price in pain if I over do!

And the pain is agonizing.

Thanks so much for your postings.

What's driving me crazy is no one is saying this isn't a work-related injury. So why am I not getting paid those weekly checks, which would enable me to not only survive, but pay back the money I owe the people who helped me so much after I exhausted all my savings and had nothing left?

September 20, and still nothing from worker's comp, or the lawyer. No letters, no phone calls, no money!

If you would, and I'm sorry to ask again, but if you click the GoFundMe link on the first page, when it opens, at the upper right is easy ways to share -- just click on share for whatever social media you are on. I still owe
$30 on last month's electric bill, and have not been able to pay this month's rent. So far, my landlord has been very patient and understanding, but my rent will be 3 weeks late tomorrow.

I am NOT asking you to donate, but I am begging you to share. Maybe somewhere someone will run across it and move it forward in social media.

Every time I see an ad for people to send money to help dogs or cats, I cringe. Where's the organizations to help PEOPLE?

Thanks so much for your forbearance in reading these humiliating and embarrassing posts.

I encourage you to contact GoFundMe to set up another Fund or to have this money paid directly to you.

While I am sympathetic to you, one of your last posts told us this Fund goes to your daughter's bank account and that she lives many miles from you. You told us you are unable to get any accounting of the money and your daughter now does not answer phone calls and emails. I would not be comfortable promoting this GoFundMe in any way because it does not look like all the money is going to you and it appears fraudulent. I am not willing to contribute to your daughter and I won't promote a fund that appears to benefit her rather than you.

Thank you for taking the time to post such a thoughtful response. You echo my concerns.

However, I don't believe my daughter has mis-used any of the funds.

Anyone who wants to PayPal can PM me for my e-mail address. PayPal doesn't keep 10%, doesn't hold the funds, and the funds are immediately available to me.

The USPS suggestion was a good one. Many of us need to send packages outside our zones and she is in the middle of the US (sort of). Can you post a list of (lightweight?) things you need?

Oh, I love to cook. Any kind of Oriental sauces or spices, like soy, hoisin, sweet and sour. I have beans (pinto,from the food bank), but would LOVE packages of spices for to make those beans into chili beans!
A little package of that at the grocery here is $1.59. I always look at them, and pass them up as too expensive.
Same thing with those little tins of vienna sausage and sardines. Anything packaged that's good in oriental cooking, like those small cans of the crunchy stuff, oh, yeah, water chestnuts.

A package of tortillas. They're good with the pinto beans, and terribly expensive here, like $3 for a dozen.
Tabasco Sauce. That helps the beans and tortillas -- and a tiny, tiny bottle is over $2.

Irrestibles or Temptations, small bags for my two cats. They LOVE them.

Any little things that's not expensive. Only time I can get to a Dollar Store or anything like that is when I'm on shops -- and then I'm too tired to go in and shop for myself.

I have maintained a $13 a week food budget this summer, with help from my garden and the food bank. I have green beans, tomatoes, okra, and squash, so I really eat like a king. I had fresh asparagus all spring!

My ZIP is 69154 if anybody needs to check zones.

Thank you. I hope no one feels that I'm pestering.

The large grocery stores have free food in the back every morning early 7/8AM weekdays. Obama has a free phone for those that can't afford one. I hope this helps in a small way.

Thank you, Irene -- but we don't have any large grocery stores within 60 miles. I don't qualify for the free phone, because I don't live in subsidized housing (there isn't any!), and I am not on food stamps -- either of which automatically qualifies you for the free phone. I did check it out, due to someone suggesting that earlier in the thread. Thank you for taking the time to read and respond.

Still nothing from worker's comp.

This is just so agonizing!

Thank you all.

I want to thank everybody for their support and aid. I ms'ed 9 days in September, 9 days in October, and 6 days in November. I am slowly -- very slowly -- trying to repay everybody.

Thanks.

Claudette