Freezing And Denied

[Michellee]

Hey all,

Well that was pretty quick of a decision letter. I just had my SSD doc appointment on the 4th and the letter is dated the 10. It took them six days to deny me. I just dont understand that they say I am not disable enough not to work a job out there of some sort. I guess it would be ok by them to drink and drive as well. I mean its like they are saying regardless that I am on narcotics and taking psych meds that alter my consciousness that I should get in my car and drive off to work. The VA says I am unemployable and they say go to work. I am so upset right now and the darn furnace went out for good. The heating guy says the coil has rusted out and some other problems and it cant be patched up that we need a new furnace. So my husband and daughter have been burning wood in the fireplace to keep us some what warm but I am freezing at the moment and upset. We just cant afford a brand new or used furnace this winter. We will probally have to buy some heaters and burn wood. This is such a slap in the face with SSD I know its not uncommon to have them deny deny deny, but its still just seems so wrong. I will definetely put in an appeal for reconsideration. I wonder what additional info I could give them and how to I ask them to look at the additional info. I havent worked in a few years and I am in a wheelchair most of the day and have alot of spasm, pain, lack of concentration, depression, anxiety, so I guess according to the SSDI none of that means a grain of salt to them just go find work and pop my pills on the way. ;)

[free_spirit_etc]

I suggest using those electric radiator-style heaters. They run about $35-$50 each. I used them last winter to heat my remodeled 385 sq ft garage, that I lived in and they kept it at 70 degrees, easily. Usually only needed one, except when it got below zero, here in VT. I found the ceramic type heaters, w/blowers, to be too expensive to run and annoyingly loud. That should easily sustain a livable temperature in GA. Also, most electric companies can't shut you off in the winter.

As for an SSDI atty you may want to check <http://www.nosscr.org/> for an atty in you area.

pr

I like the electric radiator heaters too. They are pretty safe to heat with compared to some of the other types. I use four in my house. I would rather use several at lower temps than have one or two cranked up to full force. My house is early 60's and the wiring is not new. And again, one of my friends loaned me a portable furnace to try out this winter.

I would agree that these types of heater would most likely be very sufficient for heating needs in Georgia. I am in the St. Louis area, and these heaters do a very good job of keeping the house pretty comfortable (even set on medium) until the weather stays cold for several days. I have a brick house - and as long as the sun can warm up the bricks a little each day, it helps. But if the temp stays low a few days at a time - those bricks can stay really cold.

I actually used two of these heaters even with the furnace. We have a tri-level with vault ceilings in the living room - which is not the easiest type of house to heat efficiently. Using the furnace alone to keep the living room comfortable kept the furnace running most of the time and the upstairs blasting hot. So I don't really think just getting a new "energy efficient" furnace is the only answer to look into.

And we have spent so much on the furnace in the past several years, I hesitate to put much more money in it. Actually, last year, I thought I had pinpointed the problem - the draft inducer fan. But they keep replacing everything else. Last year the guy who used to run the business (but has retired) was filling in one day and he said - Of course it isn't working, the draft inducer fan needs replaced. (Aha! I thought so). He just wired it up to hold it steady - to see if it would get me through the winter. And it did (except there were times the furnace wouldn’t come on and I had to go down and move the fan around a bit).

But I think it has died now. And every time I consider calling someone to get it replaced, I worry that they will start replacing everything else too – and I don’t know how many more $200 - $500 parts I am willing to stick on an old furnace. So I start considering the possibility of getting a new furnace, but comparing those isn’t easy for me. And it is cheaper to replace both the furnace and AC at the same time. But my AC is still working. Agh! I don’t make these decisions well. So I keep looking for information.

But I am leaning more toward zone heating. I think that might work better in this old tri-level. And am looking into using more than one type of heating source. I am not comfortable using the fireplace. My husband knew how to use the fireplace, but I never learned. And I am hesitant to start fires within my home without knowing what I am doing. But I am considering getting a gas insert or pellet insert for that – which would give us a source of heat during power outages.

As I am only using the electric heaters now, I am keeping an eye on my usage throughout the month – and reading my meter pretty often to make sure I don’t get hit with a bill MUCH larger than expected. But so far, I seem to be doing okay.

But I have so much to learn about heating, and insulating, and efficiency, and wiring, etc. etc. etc. before I can begin to make an educated long term decision about what I want to do about heating this house.

And never underestimate the timing of heat generating activities on those cold days. I find the coldest days are the best ones to catch up on my laundry and bake cookies! :)

[Michellee]

Since you are 100% from the VA have you thought about putting in for the IL program through the VA?........could help you get that Furnace.

Hey Jr Reihs

I have not heard of such a program. Sure would like to look into it. What is it and how can I find out more? How does it work? Let me know soon. Thanks.

[navydoc2]

Check out topic under VocRehab, that should give you a good idea about the program.

[Pete53]

Probably should ask for AC/Heat if you do it.

[carlie]

Hey Jr Reihs

I have not heard of such a program. Sure would like to look into it. What is it and how can I find out more? How does it work? Let me know soon. Thanks.

Michelle,

ILP = Independent Living Program.

Here is a Hadit search to many links on the ILP.

Hope this helps a vet.

carlie

http://www.google.com/cse?cx=partner-pub-7...%26lastdate%3D0

[Michellee]

Michelle,

ILP = Independent Living Program.

Here is a Hadit search to many links on the ILP.

Hope this helps a vet.

carlie

http://www.google.com/cse?cx=partner-pub-7...%26lastdate%3D0

Thanks Carlie,

I just read the links, very interesting and sounds like I qualify for the program. I will definetely be applying. I stop cooking dinner since I dont have the strenth in my left leg to stay standing pass 5 min and so since I have been in the wheelchair I had not relearned how to do alot of things from my chair. This will probally give me some help believe it or not in that direction of being more independent. I cant stand how I have become. So I hide too. Its time. Not sure though if this will be in time for heat this winter though sounds like there is a process and could take a while like everything with the VA these days. Yet this will really help in many other ways. Thanks you guys for the info. You all are like group therapy and a great resource.