Aidpage

Hi, I am trying to help a friend and family member find a way to lower his bankruptcy payment. He was self employed and suddenly forced to quit working due to his health 4-5 years ago. This resulted in owing self employment and other taxes and bills that he could not pay. He sold and paid everything he could, but finally had to file chapter 13 bankruptcy in order to keep his home. This was 12/2008.
DOES ANYONE KNOW HOW TO OR WHO TO CONTACT IN ORDER TO GET A BANKRUPTCY PAYMENT REDUCED SO IT WILL NOT BECOME DEFAULT. IT IS CURRENT. IT IS A VIRGINIA CHAPTER 13. IT IS IN THE 3RD YEAR. MOST OF THE DEBT IS TO THE IRS.

He receives $789.00 a month from social security and nothing else, but he does get medicaid so he has health coverage and he gets $92.00 a month in food stamps(They do not consider that a bankruptcy payment takes away money that could be used for food). BUT - THE PAYMENT FOR THE BANKRUPTCY IS $584.00. $789.00 -584.00 = $204.00
When he filed for bankruptcy he had about $900.00 more money a month coming in. A problem with the company that was paying him happened early in 2010 and this money was put on hold until a court ruled on it. Any way, it is still being delayed.
His bankruptcy payments are still current. I am helping him as much as I can and I wish I knew someone else that would but I do not. He has really helped me and my family in the past.
I called the bankruptcy court about lowering his payments and left a message. His bankuptcy lawyer called him back and said NEVER to call the bankruptcy court again.  He also said that he reviewed his case and that his payments could not be lowered even though his income was not the amount that it was.  This does not make sense to me.  How can you keep paying something you don't have.  If he defaults on the payment, the IRS can take his home and he only owes about $10,000.00 on it.  I read something about forgiveness of IRS debt, but the lawyer said that would not apply since he was already in bankruptcy. (Unless I misunderstood)HELP
He does not have money for any thing. Family, friends, food banks, and help with utilities ($25+ at a time) has been keeping him going. He is from a lower middle class background and when he was working, although he was self employed, he worked alone as a tradesman - long hours, not enough money.
He is the same age I am - 67, a good man, doesn't drink, helps others, but cannot work because he has just recovered from another major surgery.
IF ANYONE CAN GIVE ANY ADVISE OR HELP IN ANY WAY IT WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.

HI, I AM SORRY FOR ALL YOUR PROBLEMS,  SOMETIMES THOUGH, IT IS A TEST OF YOUR STRENGTH, ALTHOUGH YOUR CHILD CERTAINLY DID NOTHING TO DESERVE THE PAIN THAT WAS RECEIVED.  AS FAR AS IDENTITY FRAUD, I BELIEVE THINGS ARE WORSE WITH THESE THINGS NOW THAN THEY WERE BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY CRIMINALS WITH THE KNOWLEDGE TO BE ABLE TO COMMIT THIS KIND OF THEFT.

THERE IS A VICTIM OF CRIMES SITE FOR VARIOUS STATES THAT MAY BE ABLE TO HELP YOU AND FOR THIS YOU SHOULD HAVE NO PROBLEM QUALIFYING, SINCE YOU ARE A VICTIM IN MORE THAN ONE SITUATION.  THERE ALSO SHOULD NOT BE A DEADLINE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE APPLICATION.  THIS IS THE SITE FOR PENNSYLVANIA AND I HOPE YOU GET HELP. 

www.cvvc.org/CrimeVictimsAssistance/Resources.php

THERE ARE PLENTY OF FOOD BANKS THAT YOU CAN GO TO SO YOU CAN SAVE YOUR MONEY FOR OTHER BILLS. 

GOOD LUCK AND A PRAYER

DOES ANYONE KNOW OF AN ALTERNATIVE HIGH SPEED INTERNET THAT SUPPLIES THE RURAL AREA OF BEDFORD COUNTY IN VIRGINIA? WE HAVE SATELLITE INTERNET THRU HUGHES NET WHICH COSTS ABOUT $75 A MONTH AND IT IS SLOW, BUT NOT AS SLOW AS DIAL UP. THERE IS ALSO A DOWNLOAD LIMIT AND IF YOU WANT TO DOWNLOAD VERY MUCH, YOU HAVE TO STAY UP UNTIL 2AM AND IT IS FREE DOWNLOAD UNTIL 6 OR 7 AM. GENEROUS OF THIS COMPANY, RIGHT?
I COULD EARN EXTRA MONEY WITH A JOB AT HOME (REAL ONE), BUT YOU HAVE TO HAVE 'REAL HIGH-SPEED' INTERNET. I HAD READ THAT THE GOVERNMENT WAS GOING TO STEP IN AND HELP GET GOOD INTERNET SERVICE TO RURAL AREAS. RICK BOUCHER WAS IN CHARGE OF THAT FOR THIS AREA OF VIRGINIA, BUT IF ANYTHING WAS DONE, IT WAS NOT FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE RURAL CITIZENS.
COMCAST OFFERS SERVICE WITHIN 1 MILE OF OUR RESIDENCE, BUT I WAS INFORMED THAT THEY HAD NO PLANS IN THE FUTURE TO EXPAND THEIR SERVICE. VERIZON SUPPLIES THE PHONE LINES IN THIS AREA, BUT THE LINES ARE SO OLD THAT THEY WILL NOT SUPPORT ANY INTERNET OTHER THAN DIAL UP.
I SEARCH THE INTERNET (AND CALL ANY LEADS THAT HAPPEN TO ERRONEOUSLY POP UP OFFERING BETTER INTERNET SERVICE) BUT TO NO AVAIL. MY ZIP CODE IS 24179 AND IT IS IN BEDFORD COUNTY, VA. IF ANYONE HAS ANY KNOWLEDGE OF CURRENT OR FUTURE SERVICE HERE, PLEASE LET ME KNOW.
THANKS

Hi, Our electric bill was $584 for 35 days ending 12/31/09 and the 1/31/10 bill was $547.  The total kilowatts used was approximately the same as last year at this time and the bill for both months was around $300.  The budget amount for our bill was $205 year round.  I did not choose that option, because a few years ago, I was on the budget and I ended up paying triple the budget amount at the end of the year.

  I had the furnace, etc. checked before winter started this year.  The rate increase, fuel and other charges on the bill was significantly increased.  This was the cause of the high bill.

There is a hearing set in Richmond, VA for March 16, 2010 about the rate increase by AEP.  It has been requested that if you cannot attend to please send  your comments or complaints to the following address:

CLERK OF THE STATE CORPORATION COMMISSION, DOCUMENT CONTROL CENTER, P.O. BOX 2118, RICHMOND, VA  23218-2218       THIS HAS TO BE SENT BY 3/3/10 AND CASE# PUE-2009-00030 NEEDS TO BE PUT ON YOUR CORRESPONDANCE.

I normally do not protest actions because I feel that my imput would not help the turnout, but things have come to the  point where everyone needs to protest the actions taken by corporations just because they can raise rates - no competition. The utility companies and the banks charge any fees that they want and IF there is any action taken against them, the consumer will not get the extra monies they paid back.  That money is just lost in the system of the company someplace and nothing else is said about it, although there is supposed to be control over both the utilities and the bank.

I am very sorry, but I did not mean to sound like I did not understand you.  Not everyone knows how to show love to their children, no matter what age. Your mother should love to have you and her granddaughter with her, but not every one feels the same. She could get more assistance if that is what she needs. Maybe she thinks she would have to babysit or not have her own social life - who knows?  But I do apologize if I seemed not to understand your situation with your mom.  No one can except you.

I have a daughter that moved in and out so many times that I could not count.  She was always welcome, even when I was single and I gave her as much understanding and love as she would accept. I do not have extra money and I think that and meds is the only thing she wants. She is homeless now, age 39 and lives as she does because she only wants HELP from friends who had social and drug problems. Her brother, sisters and myself have all tried to help her, money and all. She will call me or email me once in a while, but as of now, I have not heard from her since she left my home again before Halloween. She lives about 200 miles away.  Every time she leaves, it hurts me as much as the first time. She has had 4 children and has none now, but she gave me the first child when she was born. 

The only child she can see is her first one that I adopted because she would have lost her and because I already loved her. She is my 19 year old daughter and I will always be thankful to have her.  She is my child, my companion, and she WANTS TO BE WITH ME.  I could not take the other 3 boys because of my health and now, I never get to see them.  They do not live nearby.

If you ever need someone to talk to privately, please email me at shawa12@hughes.net.  Sometimes it helps to 'talk' to someone you do not know.

Good luck, Sharyn

HI, I HAVE SEEN THE REPLIES THAT HAVE BEEN SENT TO YOU, BUT I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT STATE YOU LIVE IN.  DIFFERENT STATES AND COUNTIES HAVE PROGRAMS FOR SINGLE MOMS, EXPECIALLY IF THE DAD PAYS NO CHILD SUPPORT. YOU MAY EVEN BE ABLE TO GET INTO A PROGRAM WHICH WILL HELP YOU GET YOUR OWN HOME AND PROVIDE CHILDCARE SO YOU CAN WORK OR CONTINUE SCHOOL.I KNOW IT IS HARD BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN SEARCHING AND APPLYING FOR GRANTS AND I HAVE NOT FOUND WHAT I NEED YET.

SINCE YOU HAVE ACCESS TO A COMPUTER, EVEN IF IT IS AT A LOCAL LIBRARY, OR SOMEWHERE ELSE, GO TO YOUR STATE AND COUNTY SOCIAL SERVICES AND THEN CALL THEM TO FIND OUT WHAT KIND OF HELP YOU CAN GET. THIS MAY ALSO HELP KEEP YOUR CHILD'S DAD OUT OF THE PICTURE AS FAR AS HIS GETTING CUSTODY. JUST BE HONEST WITH THE AGENCY YOU GO TO AND TELL THEM THE FACTS AND ANY FEARS THAT YOU HAVE.

YOU BLAME YOUR MOM BECAUSE SHE DOES NOT WANT YOU THERE, BUT THERE MAY BE A REASON WHY SHE WANTS YOU IN A SEPERATE HOME.  SIT DOWN AND TALK TO HER WITHOUT BLAMING HER AND EXPLAIN THAT YOU WANT YOUR OWN HOME AND MAYBE SHE MIGHT HELP YOU FIND AN AGENCY TO HELP YOU, WHILE YOU AND YOUR DAUGHTER VISIT WITH HER.  SOMETIMES MOTHERS (ESPECIALLY OLDER ONES ON THEIR OWN) CAN HAVE THEIR OWN FEARS AND DEEP DOWN ANGER AND RESENTMENT ABOUT SITUATIONS OTHERS KNOW NOTHING ABOUT, MAKING IT HARD TO SHOW THEIR LOVE AND CONCERN.IT IS THE MOST DIFFICULT THING IN THE WORLD TO SEE YOUR CHILD HAVE PROBLEMS THAT YOU CANNOT HELP THEM SOLVE.

I HOPE EVERYTHING WORKS OUT FOR YOU.  I REALLY BELIEVE IT WILL IF YOU CAN GET PAST BLAMING OTHERS AND GET RID OF THE ANGER THAT SHOWS IN YOUR NOTE.  SINGLE MOTHERS WHO ARE STUDENTS HAVE THE ABILITY TO GET MORE HELP THAN OTHERS, IF YOU APPLY.

LOTS OF LUCK, SHARYN

I AM SURE THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE THAT IS COMPLAINING ABOUT THE ELECTRICAL BILLS IN VIRGINIA.  REPORTS OF THE OVERCHARGING HAS BEEN ON THE NEWS QUITE A BIT LATELY.  ACCORDING TO SOURCES, MOST OF THE OFFICIALS AND  EMPLOYEES ALL RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL RAISES, WHILE OTHERS WERE BEING LAID OFF AND SOCIAL SECURITY RECEPIENTS DID NOT RECEIVE A RAISE.

OUR ELECTRIC BILL WAS $214 LAST MONTH - ENDING NOV. 26TH.  THIS MONTH, ENDING DEC. 31ST, IT WAS $584.  A BUDGET AMOUNT OF $200 A MONTH SHOULD HAVE TAKEN CARE OF THE BILL THROUGH OUT THE YEAR, WE ARE APPLYING FOR HELP THRU THE SOCIAL SERVICES, BUT THE REPLY HAS NOT BEEN RECEIVED YET. 

WHAT DOES IT DO TO MAKE THE GOVERNMENT STEP IN AND TAKE CONTROL  OF THE UTLITIES?  IT IS SUPPOSEDLY REGULATED, BUT WHEN THE ELECTRIC COMPANY WANTS TO RAISE THE BILL, THEY RAISE IT.  AN INCREASE OF 15% WAS TO HAVE TAKEN PLACE, BUT WHAT WE GOT WAS CERTAINLY MORE THAN 15% .  WE HAVE BEEN BURNING WOOD TO HELP WITH THE HEATING COST AND DURING CHRISTMAS, THERE WAS ONLY ONE STRING OF LIGHTS.  HOW DO YOU REDUCE THE COST.

HOW DO YOU ARGUE WITH THE SYSTEM IF YOUR REPRESENTATIVES IN WASHINGTON DOESN'T TAKE CHARGE AND FIGHT ENOUGH TO GET THINGS CHANGED FOR THE PEOPLE THAT THEY REPRESENT?

I WOULD LIKE SOME COMMENTS FROM OTHER VIRGINIANS ON THE POWER INCREASE.  I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE ARE ANY OTHER STATES THAT WERE AFFECTED BY LARGE INCREASES IN RATES.

Hi Samithius, 

Thank you very much for your kindness and support.  I think that this time of the year is the time when most people feel depressed.  I am sure that we are better off than a lot of people are now. I am sorry that you are disabled also. I found this site accidently and I am glad that I did.

After we filed bankruptcy, I began to receive coal royalties(a few hundred dollars to start) and was told that we would receive large sums of money thru out 2009.  The clean energy bill was put in effect, coal purchased from China, etc.  Anyway, we did not receive a penny after the first small check. My husband and I have both worked since we were 14 years old (both 65 now) and I can't help but feel a little bitter when I stop and think that if the government had not put a stop to mining that I would not be looking for a way to get 'free money'.

I went to the link that you sent and I had found this before.  The only problem is that either the page will be outdated or when you contact the correct agency, you get shifted to another department and then you get no answers.

We live in Bedford county, Virginia just in case you are surfing and see a home repair grant for the elderly.

I have one company to give an estimate, but I did not think about needing 2 estimates.

Best of wishes to you, Sharyn

Hi, We live in Bedford county in Virginia.  There are 3 in our family (2 age 65, disabled and a daughter who has mental disorders) and we only have social security for income, no savings and are almost low income, so repairing our roof or other home repairs would be out of the question, moneywise.

I have seen a home repair grant for the elderly and we qualify for it, but it refers you to the county you live in as a rural grant and I can get no replies to my request or I am referred to other departments - sort of shifted around. 

CAN ANYONE TELL ME HOW TO FIND THE APPLICATION TO GET THIS GRANT WITHOUT HAVING TO PAY SOME WEBSITE.  I HAVE GONE TO THE VARIOUS GRANT SITES, BUT WITH NO LUCK BECAUSE AFTER SEARCHING, IT REFERS ME TO THE STATE AND I HAVE HAD NO LUCK GETTING IN TOUCH WITH ANYONE THERE.

Our roof is in bad need of repair and is leaking in several places.  I have gotten some roll roofing and tar and we have managed to repair a couple places, but now we have another room leaking and I just do not know how we are going to be able to even buy a roll of roofing, now.  Moneywise, we are broke.  We have to pay almost $600 a month (this is not considered in an application to social services) to the bankruptcy court, besides our regular bills. We qualify for $105 in foodstamps and that is all.

Healthwise, we are doing as much work on the home as possible and since both of us have both heart, disc and arthritis, we are paying for the work with pain. My husband has to have surgery on his carotid artery in his neck, both legs have to have the veins replaced - all in January.  I have had neck surgery on 3 discs in 2006 and 3 disc removed from my lower back in 1990, plus a slight heart attack. We had to file  bankruptcy 1 year ago when the economy started going down, so no credit - can't make a payment anyway. 

My daughter has filed an application for SSI since she is bi polar, add and has a fear of being alone - 19, pretty, doesn't drive and stays home with us all the time.  If she gets this it will help ease the money problem a little. She helps around the home, but most things are difficult for her to understand how to do.  She can lift and do house painting very good, but gets sidetracked.

I am not trying to do a pity story, I am only giving a little background as to why I need to find a grant that I can actually fill out and get assistance with. When I found this site, I realized that a lot of other people need help also.  I am not the only person that finds the government grant site hard to navigate. 

IS THERE ANY SITE THAT HELPS FIND A GRANT SUCH AS HOME REPAIR FOR THE ELDERLY AND LOW INCOME - OR ANY OTHER GRANT FOR THAT MATTER, WITHOUT A CHARGE AND GIVES YOU HELP IN FILLING OUT THE FORM.  ALSO, I THINK THAT A ESTIMATE AS TO THE CHARGE FOR A ROOF OR A REPAIR WOULD BE NEEDED FROM A CONTRACTOR. 

PLEASE HELP ME.

SHARYN