Help With Scooter & Bills until SSDI Approval

For those of you that don’t know me, my name is Brenda. I was working seasonally doing taxes and the rest of the time as an artist/photographer/writer.

I also suffer from major osteoarthritis and that’s why I’m doing this GoFundMe.

In order to do anything outside of my house, I need a mobility scooter. The cane and/or rolling Walker are no longer enough.

I really hate asking for help but am out of options. I applied for Social Security Disability after tax season ended. My savings have now run out and I have no idea how long before I am approved.

While I’m waiting, if I earn any money, they automatically decline because if I can earn $20 on a quick job, I can obviously work 40 hours a week and completely support myself.

They do not understand good and bad days. I was already having issues when I started at the tax office. I knew I couldn’t work full time all year anymore. I could work my butt off for 3 months and then work events the rest of the year.

I honestly don’t know how people do it. My plan was to build up my savings before applying. I didn’t have as much as I wanted because I had to take a lot of time off during last tax season because of my arthritis. And the pandemic complete killed making money with my art.

The plumbing and AC issues at the house didn’t help much either.

I’m really hoping to get an approval in January so I can work at least some this tax season.

Right now, my goals are smaller. Get back into my bed tonight and shower tomorrow.

My stretch goal is being able to get out of the house and drive again. The scooter should be in soon and I really want to go somewhere and use it.

I’ve been dealing with the arthritis for decades but most of it was short flares and more good days than bad. That has changed dramatically over the last few years.

I used to haul plants to the farmers market and could set up the tent by myself.

I used to walk a mile on the beach in knee deep water.

Now, even on my best days, I can’t balance enough to walk on sand. Shoot, I can’t walk in my own yard because the ground is uneven.

Every flare leaves me a little worse than before.

For the most part, I get by. I keep going and keep trying to find tools to help me do the things I need to do.

Unfortunately those tools cost money. I’ve been managing to buy what I need but it has tapped out my savings. The lift chair I had to buy last year was $2000. The rolling walker was $200. Putting a ramp (still a work in progress) to the house was $3000.

I was able to buy the scooter on credit but eventually it has to be paid back. And then there are those pesky monthly bills like mortgage and electric.

I have realized that by the end of the year I will be out of money but the bills will still be there.

My most recent flare made me realize that besides the scooter, I will need a lift for my van. Originally I thought it would be light enough unassembled for me to handle. On my best days, that would be true. Sadly, those days aren’t happening much. The last week and a half I couldn’t manage to hold my phone, let alone lift a scooter into the van.

Any help would be appreciated.