It took Hubby five years and forests of paper to get the government to agree that he wasn't able to work anymore.

Epic, is ther a social worker at the hospital? Is there the possibility of Medicaid for the gap?

See, that's what I don't get. He has been on disability continuously since he was 18 years old. Before that, he was a ward of the court of the state of Arizona, so he has effectively been "in the system" since he was 8 years old. He's had the same diagnoses since then, nothing has changed. He's got enough alphabet soup in his medical file to launch 20 new federal agencies. But, somehow, when he petitioned for divorce last year, he was told that he would have to be re-evaluated to stay on disability, which his disability is not one that's ever, ever going to change or go away. I'm just flailing at the injustice.

There are case workers, but while they seem nice enough, no one seems to be jumping up to help. I'm looking at services with the county, but the problem there is everything is supposed to take 30-45 days to process, but I need a plan in less than a week. I also have to get Medi-Cal in place before the county in-home health service people can help me, but the application they were supposed to have mailed still hasn't come, and the person at the rehab who could help me expedite that process a little is pregnant and keeps leaving early, not coming in, and/or not calling me back.

I just realized that my mother's Discover Card actually has the available balance, and, weirdly, a better interest rate than mine. So if I can't find money, or help, or a loan in time, I think I'm going to just give them her CC number, and work out how to cover paying it back when I'm not under such a time crunch (she's coming home Friday and I'm hoping to have care in place on Monday morning).

I got an offer in the mail the other day for a mortgage refi from the CU. I was thinking of looking at a home equity line anyway, so I'm also probably going to try to talk to someone about this. Take out a bit over to clear her last few outstanding balances, then her SS check would just cover her regular monthly bills and maybe free up some spending money for her. And I could clear my CC balances to clear some more ready cash flow to help her out. I'm just afraid of fees, and how long it might take.

And I suppose that's what this comes down to. I can figure it out, but all of the figuring it out RIGHT THIS SECOND is why I'm stressed to the gills right now. But as I keep reminding her, the only way out is through, and forward is the only direction we're offered. So we're going forward.

Sail, contact an independent-living center...they can help.(They don't do it for you, but they can help y'all sort stuff out.)

Is it possible for your brother to help with $$$? That's sort of what Tom and I have done with stuff for my parents - my sister is closer physically and since we can't handle the day to day to day stuff (I try getting to Columbus when needed, but it sucks the soul out of me). But in return for that, we pay for stuff as needed.

Is it possible for your brother to help with $$$?

Possible? Probably. Gonna happen? Nuh and uh. This is me earning the house, remember.

If I can't find another way, I might ask my dad for a loan to help me avoid some unnecessary interest charges. He left her 4 decades ago, but this would be helping me, so maybe. It would nice if I could just get him to give me a few grand rather than loan it, but it would surprise me deeply if he offered that. But WTH, one of my step-brothers has been mooching off them for years now, maybe he'll help me out a bit if I ask.

Someone remind me again how oppressive socialized medicine is? Anyone? Bueller?

Yeah, let me tell ya, free and unencumbered is how I'm feeling right about now. Thank goodness we keep being saved from the guvmint oppressing us.

Ugh, no, FB, so not interested in friending former stepdad's crazy-too-old-for-that-shit cutter wife/former internet skank. What? is Coulter's page full or something?