I get $860 per month Social Security Income and $107 per month for food.  My rent is $640 per month so that only leaves $220 to pay bills and to survive on.  Luckily my power bill is only around $40.  That helps tremendously.  Cable and Internet is $100 and phone is $50.  That leaves about $30 per month and I have to use that for food because who can eat for $107 per month and not gain weight? 

Medicaid says that my income is too high so every six months I have to pay $1422 as they call a Spend-down in order to reactivate my insurance.  The spend-down is like a deductible.  How they come up with that number is very confusing.  So at the end of July I will have to meet the spend-down for the second time in order to get insurance and prescription coverage for another six months.  Where or how I can come up with the money is mega motivation to pull out of my depression and start a new. 

My prescriptions are over $700 per month!  That's ridiculous, but without these medications I would be in hell pain.  I'm referring to my nerve pain in my lower body below my injury level that feels like burning or freezing.  Some of these medications can be covered by other companies through Partnership for Prescription Assistance (PPA), but my baclofen can not be covered.  That is $100 per month that I will not have after the end of July.  I litlerally can not function without the baclofen.  My body becomes so tight or stiff that I can not move without it.  So again mega motivation to quit feeling sorry for myself and start a new.

I will not qualify for Medicare until February 2007 (two years after I broke).  The time between August 2006 and February 2007 will make it very hard to survive.  After I'm on Medicare, I will have insurance and at least partial prescription coverage.  I understand that there are other organizations that help make up the difference in coverage.  I can't wait until then to have some stability.

My plan is to go to school and work towards becoming an architect.  The financial Aid and/or grants I'm hoping will hopefully make up the difference and keep me financially stable.  I recently found out that there is no financial aid for summer classes, so I will most likely have to wait until fall quarter to start school.  I'm still looking into starting this summer.  I might have an advantage in my situation, but I not sure.

I may also have to find some type of job, but without a degree, I will most likely be working at minimum wage.  Yuk!  I haven't made less than $35 per hour for a very long time.  I'll keep up on this topic as new information becomes available to me.

You have so much more knowledge than many architects have.  I remember your dad having to revise floor plans because the architects don't have the living knowledge of the builder.

go for it 

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Hi Jake:

Today i read your whole web.page & Christmas seems like a very difficult time for you. Many of your frustrations are money related. I hope and pray that the Spokane College & College Counselor/ Life Coach will direct you to needed  re-training. I know the College counselor needs to help pair you with a internship program quickly to get real time job experience and some money to help the family budget.

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I have battled my weight gains & loss  my whole adult life. There are no easy answers here, quality food and a gym membership take money & means.

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Jake in your family budget you list phone

and phone is $50. If this is a cell phone I am sure the cost is fixed. If the phone is a candidate for a "help Line" phone. My brother Mike is disabled & My old Neighbor Danny Sullivan on Grand Boulevard in Spokane had this phone service. The phone is specifically for disabled people on a fixed income. My brother pays about $5 per month, and my Neighbor Danny pays about $9 bucks.

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My neighbor Danny has a permanent disability, He has free environment to mall walk during the winter and all year long. Maybe you could roll around the NorthTowne Mall in the early morning being inspired and inspiring the seniors and others who walk & roll around the mall.

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Jake, I love your web.page and pray soon life & challenges of going to College & working part.time at a nice Architect firm like.

Conferences & girls soccer games, and how your making a FULL LIFE & Spokane a little more accessible to people on wheels. 

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God Bless you & family...........John

I am amazed of your attitude and makes me ashamed of how hard i think i have it physically, mentally and financially. I have an auto immune disease called Fibromyalgia but with it i can walk. Im in alot of pain in different ways but i can deal with it. Ive been a CNA my whole life taking care of people and i know how hard it is for some one who was so independant have to ask or get help from a disability. I THINK ITS GREAT WHAT YOU ARE DOING WITH YOUR LIFE AND KIDS. I look forward to getting to know you.

Sandi your new friend :)