My name is Tammy. I am (was) a career Paramedic put on Disability in 2009. I only get 956.00 a month in Disability benefits. Half of that goes to rent. The rest goes for Utilities, gas, etc. I only get 49.00 in Food stamps. I am on Medicare, but it doesn't cover much at all, and the co-pays for the tests I have to have and my medications (I'm on many) plus Dr. visit co-pays are very high. I cannot pay them with any regularity, and go without my Dr. and medications most of the time. I have tried but cannot get Medicaid, because I make "too much" in Disability by 11.00 dollars. NC is one of the very few states that has a monetary ceiling on Medicaid for the disabled. There is NO way around it, I have tried. Medicare does not cover dental, and I am in pain with my teeth and have only a few left. They have degenerated to almost nothing due to the inhaled medications I take 6-8 times a day. I have already had two bad infections from my teeth and I fear more. My Dr,. said that an infection there can attack my heart and kill me. I need to have what's left pulled and get dentures. I have done research and there is a place in Raleigh that will do everything for around 900.00 dollars, including dentures. There is no way I can do it. Medicare doesn't cover glasses, and mine are at least 6 years old. I got behind in my lights a couple of months ago due to a medical emergency that I had to use light bill money for, and I could never get back straight. Now my lights are due to be cut off on Jan. 28. The bill is 158.00, but I don't have it. I can't get assistance anywhere. I don't qualify for help at DSS because I don't have a newborn, small children in my home and I am not on what this county calls life support, even though my breathing machines run on electricity. I have been struggling just to live since I've been on disability and now I need help very badly. I served my community for over 15 years as a medical provider and now I can get no help anywhere. I have a daughter, but she has a family to support and is in bad shape financially herself, but she does help when she can with what she can, but can't help with that kind of money. She doesn't have 158.00 dollars anymore than I do, much less enough to help me get teeth. I just want to be able to smile at my grandaughter again, that's all. And I want to keep my lights and heat on. If I lose my electricity, I'll never be able to get it back on and will consequently lose my apartment. I can provide verification for everything, how much in disability, utilities bill, etc. This is NOT a scam, this is an honest plea for help from someone, anyone. I worked hard for years as a Paramedic, I paid in to the government like a good taxpayer, yet all I see getting any help when I go to DSS are young people wearing nice clothes and expensive jewelry, talking on new cell phones while they wait and driving fancy cars. I don't want any of those things, I just want to live. I can't get ANYTHING except 49.00 in Food Stamps and my medicare. PLEASE, PLEASE someone help me. Thank you.
