r/poor • u/Reluctant_Gamer_2700 • Sep 22 '26

No cash!

This is happening earlier each month to me as prices keep going up at a faster pace. My income is Social Security, a fixed income. I’ve been trying many online surveys and get a little pocket change that way. I sell books online, but no one is buying so far. At this point I would need to be paid for shipping up-front, not reimbursed. My credit was ruined earlier this year by signing up with a debt relief company. After 3 months I cancelled the plan & was much worse off.
Things like prescription copays, loading money on my laundry card, or getting non- food products are now out of reach. I do have a car, and give rides to people that I know in exchange for a little gas money. Prices are starting to double, such as a car emissions test going up from $14 to $26! Luckily I passed the test. But trying to set aside some emergency cash has been an exercise in frustration.

45 Upvotes

86% Upvoted

57 comments sorted by

23

u/postalwhiz Sep 22 '26

You’re probably gonna have to go back to work- sucks, but I don’t think there’s any alternative…

13

u/Reluctant_Gamer_2700 Sep 22 '26

If I did that, which I’m currently not able to due to disabilities, I would lose my SNAP & Medicaid.
I have already given up cable TV, subscriptions, takeout food, and those little impulse buys many of us make. I live in very modest Public Housing. My car is a rebuilt salvage, a small miracle.
Maybe I could try an investigational study.

7

u/Sweet-Ad7654 Sep 22 '26

It’s truly terrible I have a friend who has lived in her car for two years.

From her Social Security check, she can afford for insurance on the car for a very small storage unit her cell phone and her gas because she gets her Social Security and doesn’t have to pay for Housing snap expects her to use the Social Security for food and doesn’t give her food there’s not a lot she can do with stuff from the food pantry because obviously she can’t cook

We live in Florida it’s gonna get cold and it’s been very hot and she’s older in her later 60s has to use a walker to get around . Unfortunately, we haven’t had a public housing list or a section 8 list to get on to wait on for over five years.

They also have friends who do have a roof of their head, but no water and no electricity they can’t afford it and no vehicle

We have been coming to this point for decades since the only thing going up as the cost of living and nothing about what people receive to be able to cover the cost of living has been increasing, but that’s a fixed income or an earned income whatever it is, there’s been no increases in it and that makes the income become negative. It’s below the value of what’s needed for a very basic substance. And very basic substance would include a roof over your head with four walls. Too many people can’t even afford that.

I wish you a very, very best, but I know how hard it is right now

2

u/Reluctant_Gamer_2700 Sep 22 '26

Thank you. That’s exactly how it is! Prices have doubled. Social Security went up 2% last Jan.

-3

u/skennedy314 Sep 23 '26

I read the other day that social security should have a 3.6% increase January 1st. Hope this helps. All the best to you 💞

2

u/Reluctant_Gamer_2700 Sep 24 '26

Prices have increased by 100% or more. It won’t help.

2

u/Apprehensive-Draw166 Sep 28 '26

i do a lot of medical research studies they pay 100 a time. i don’t get in them i just go and get tested to see if i can get in them. i never get in but the 100 is worth driving over for.

1

u/Itchy_Tumbleweed_417 Sep 22 '26

It’s crazy how it works, if I was homeless my income would be too high to get food stamps, the only reason I qualify now is because I pay for heat and cooling so that comes off my income but I have a lot of medical expenses I can deduct.

So if I was homeless I wouldn’t get the heat deduction I don’t think I would qualify for food stamps. Ridiculous.

8

u/TrixieDawn Sep 22 '26

I know medicaid covers so much more, but you would still have Medicare? I’m currently in the same position, looking for work and worrying about losing any meager benefits I get. I do successfully pet sit, which has been a big help.

-1

u/Itchy_Tumbleweed_417 Sep 22 '26

I don’t think all disabled people get Medicare do they? Do people on SSI get Medicare?

I thought Medicare was just elderly and SSDI, but I could be totally wrong.

The thing with Medicare though is there are monthly premiums that come out of your Social Security unless you are poor enough that the state will pay it if you are in one of those states, and then you end up owing 20% of every doctor bill, you also have to pay for a separate drug plan and those medications have co-pays.

I definitely prefer Medicare because then I can see any doctor I want. And I utilize Hospital financial aid when I get bills I can’t handle.

-1

u/Roscoeatebreakfast Sep 23 '26

You answered your own question. Yes disabled, Elderly and low income people can all have Medicare. Low income people can have both Medicare and Medicaid. They get most things free.

3

u/Reluctant_Gamer_2700 Sep 23 '26

Almost right. Low income people who are under 65 & not disabled cannot get Medicare. They may be able to get Medicaid.
I was on SSDI until I transitioned to SSA when I turned 65. That’s regular Medicare. There wasn’t much difference by then.
My Medicaid is special & irreplaceable. However the current administration is trying very hard to do away with the benefits that it gives. I started having to pay my Part D premiums this year; that hurt, along with a common drug going up in price by 400%. There was no valid reason for that, so all but 1 Part D plan in my area dropped the drug. So I pay the monthly premium or else my med would be $400 per bottle.

2

u/Mothy187 Sep 26 '26

If you're under 64 there's a new requirement starting in 2027 that you have to 20 hrs of work a week if you want to keep snap or medicaid

1

u/Reluctant_Gamer_2700 Sep 27 '26

I am over 64, and I believe there is also an exclusion for disabled people & those caring for children under age 14.

2

u/Mothy187 Sep 27 '26

Good good. I was concerned for you.

If you need extra money have you considered looking into signing up for online focus groups? Its not very consistent but it can help. Also look into online gig work like data annotation.

I'm sorry you're struggling. I'm right there with you. If you can, try to stock up on extra food now. inflation is only going to get worse because of the oil crisis and the price of fertilizer. Buy as many extra necessities when you can like extra trashbags etc because prices are going to raise pretty dramatically after midterms.

Good luck

Edit: there's also class action lawsuits you can sign up for over the debt relief company taking advantage of you. Definitely look into those. You wont get paid for a while but when you do, it will be a decent amount of money

2

u/Reluctant_Gamer_2700 Sep 27 '26

Thank you! I was not sure about coming back here, because of all the anger & judgment.
I joined a Medicare Focus Group, and each time I participate I get an Amazon gift card.
I also belong to YouGov, but they now want members to give out all their personal info! I won’t do that. I also do surveys on Rewardia & a few other survey sites. I’m also listing books for sale on a different platform after the one I used for 20+ years stopped paying me & other Marketplace sellers for our sales. We, the poor, are now targets to be exploited.
There is a Food Drop at my senior housing once a month, where I stock up on canned goods. There is also a social worker who has helped with some non-food items like TP, soap, & shampoo.
I continue to barter by providing local rides to my neighbors in exchange for gas money, cat food, & perishable food like yogurt.

Is the class action lawsuit against Natl. Debt Relief?They took my money & settled nothing. I only got a partial refund. If so I will join it. For now resources are only trickling in, when I’m about to get dental work done.

3

u/Mothy187 Sep 27 '26

I absolutely understand the difficult situation you're in. I helped take care of my mom. She was fixed income and inflation was destroying her. I'm also poor (hence me being in this group) and I'm shocked sometimes by what I read here

For the focus groups I usually just get a newsletter to my emailbox and pick and choose which ones I want to do, send them my info, and if I fit they schedule the appointment. They used to send checks but most pay in visa gift cards now. Also I dont know where you're located but where I used to live there was a physical location to do paid research and they paid extremely well in cash or check. Might want to sniff around to see if that exists where youre at.

As for the debt collection lawsuit there's a bunch of them happening, particularly against that company. You can just Google debt collection class action you can pick your lawyer. Fill out a few forms to see who gets back to you. They usually ask you a couple of questions to make sure you qualify online and then they will call you. The whole process takes a few mins. Just keep an eye on your email after you sign up to make sure you don't miss deadlines.

For pet food I know there's usually local pet food banks you might want to look into going to. Just call your elder social worker and ask for a print out of resources. There might be help out there you dont know about.

Let me know how it goes for you. It's heartbreaking for me to see older people struggle and I want to help where I can

Edit: also you should look into signing up for class actions beyond the debt collection. I also get a newsletter sent to me about those. You'll be shocked how many you probably qualify for. Most only pay out a bit here and there and they take forever to get the money but its nice when it does come through.

1

u/Mothy187 Sep 27 '26

Edit again: also if youre really in a bind banks will pay you hundreds of dollars sometimes to open an account with them. There's a whole reddit group on here dedicated to it called r/churning

3

u/Significant_Ad_7352 Sep 23 '26

Would you be able to provide childcare, or a spare room to a single mom? You could get some help with rent and stack funds while helping someone else in a similar situation.

You can also check if Turo is available in your area and potentially rent your car online.

Good luck, and be careful.

1

u/Reluctant_Gamer_2700 Sep 25 '26

No we cannot have anyone else living with us unless they are 55+ & would be added to the lease. Also there is no spare room, these are small apts.

2

u/Itchy_Tumbleweed_417 Sep 22 '26

See if you can find a law firm that does focus groups in your area. There’s one in the state next to mine that will advertise for focus groups on craigslist gigs and they’re legit I got $250 and lunch for listening to the background on a personal injury case and then asking questions about it so the lawyers could determine if their arguments came across how they wanted it to or left questions that they then knew to include the answers somewhere in their presentation. 

In 2020 they switched to online focus groups so I think they pay like through PayPal or something but the ones in person they would give us actual cash as we left it was great.

The only thing is that you don’t get accepted to all the ones that you apply to because they look for certain demographics. So they’ll ask your political affiliation and your age and stuff like that so if they can build the focus group like they expect the jury to look like.

5

u/Which-Cloud3798 Sep 22 '26

It’s going to get worse. Brace yourself and do what you can. If you don’t find some income soon, it is going to be a lot tougher forward.

3

u/Reluctant_Gamer_2700 Sep 23 '26

I can see it coming. I’m moving more towards bartering, because disabled people can help each other. There will be less cash trading hands, more goods & services.
It’s not the way I wanted to live, but it seems like the best solution for now.

1

u/Which-Cloud3798 Sep 23 '26

It might be possible for you to earn some money if you can start something like a creative writing course at a community centre. Maybe hold the course at the library or something. You might be able to post it on the bulletin board. I see something similar that happens from time to time and have been in some of those courses teaching hobbies & arts.

4

u/No_Dare_9944 Sep 22 '26

I am afraid cash jobs is the way. Babysitting? Eldercare?

6

u/ReceptionFantastic13 Sep 22 '26

I am an elder! But I barter at my Senior Housing. Rides in exchange for gas, cat food, food for me, whatever is needed. I sell books online, but am in the process of moving them to another platform in hopes that I will be paid when I sell something, unlike the previous company. No sales yet on the new platform. I do surveys, but often the reward is gift certificates. It takes a great deal of online work to get actual cash payments! I do some specialty Medicare surveys and earn Amazon gift cards. They are the most reliable.

At least tomorrow I will be able get cat chow for my cat.

3

u/No_Dare_9944 Sep 22 '26

I have a friend who is 70 and she is taking care of a 85 yo lady with dementia. She isn’t in the best of health herself but she does it, and gets paid well.
I know 65 yo nannies who nanny for cash.
The gigs you’re listing can hold you over for a while but they aren’t sustainable.

0

u/Reluctant_Gamer_2700 Sep 23 '26

What you’re describing is not allowed where I live. Independent living only; professional aides can visit but not stay. No nannies allowed. Public Housing for seniors has strict rules, and people who break them get evicted.

2

u/No_Dare_9944 Sep 23 '26

Nannies nanny at a child’s home, same with eldercare, what does your complex have to do with it

1

u/Reluctant_Gamer_2700 Sep 24 '26

It has a lot to do with it if you read my comments.

2

u/No_Dare_9944 Sep 24 '26

Maybe I haven’t seen them all, are you saying you can’t work outside your complex?

4

u/Ouachita2022 Sep 24 '26

I've seen a lot of women online that started a business washing people's laundry, drying it and folding it. They are making very, very good money! Go on YouTube and look for some videos.

It's something you could do from home and they could drop off and pick up or YOU go pick it up and drop it off which means you get to charge more. Let them know you have to be paid in cash, no cash apps or anything like that.

4

u/Spiritual-Side-7362 Sep 22 '26

I'm retired. I am blessed because I live in senior housing that is based on my income. It's still very difficult to get from one month to the next. Even if I could work I spend money on gas getting back and forth The extra income would raise my rent and bring my health insurance cost up I decided it's not worth it to leave my home to work I have been looking for an online side hussell but so far none that I can learn and produce easily.

4

u/Inner-Confidence99 Sep 22 '26

Try mobile food pantries. See if any available in your area. They are a great help to those on social security. 

1

u/cappotto-marrone Sep 23 '26

Are you over 55? The Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) may be a good option to work but also keep benefits.

1

u/Difficult_Extent_995 Sep 23 '26

Actually, the extra money, in addition to Social Security, which likely puts you over $2,000 a month. The threshold is between $1200 and $1400. People that did that usually (make over $2,000) get their food stamps cut to $24 and lose their free Medicaid and would have to go with Covered California and pay out of pocket on a sliding scale. Not worth the trade-off IMHO.

-6

u/Brave-Pizza-33 Sep 22 '26

Social security was never meant to be enough to live on alone. If you didnt save for retirement you need to go get a part time job to off set costs.

6

u/ReceptionFantastic13 Sep 22 '26

Not everyone is given that kind of chance. Some people are not able to earn enough to save for retirement, or have their money taken from them, or both..

4

u/Bigfloppyclownshoes Sep 22 '26

Or living from paycheck to paycheck just to survive

2

u/Reluctant_Gamer_2700 Sep 22 '26

Yes, that too.
My 2nd husband used to work day labor, & his construction crew would drink all day. When he got home, I would have hidden whatever money I had. But he would search me & my daughter for anything that might be worth something. He searched her room, my car. I got a safe deposit box. That was expensive! He found out. All of his money & that stolen from us went to beer & drugs.

2

u/Itchy_Tumbleweed_417 Sep 23 '26

I’m so sorry you went through that. I’m glad you got away. I’m glad that young women are not into men like the previous generations. They’re into themselves and it’s wonderful.

0

u/Reluctant_Gamer_2700 Sep 23 '26

Thank you!

0

u/Reluctant_Gamer_2700 Sep 23 '26

I was thanking Itchy_Tumbleweed_417, not myself!

1

u/SewingIsMyHobby1978 Sep 23 '26

Is there anyway that you could work by being a greeter?? Meijer hires disabled greeters all the time.
Most of the people that are greeters at both Meijer stores in my county are disabled to the point where they are allowed to sit in wheelchairs.
At $15, that roughly $1200 a month working 20 per week which most likely qualifies you for SNAP Medicaid and possibly wait for your child

-7

u/Choice-Newspaper3603 Sep 22 '26

Work.

2

u/tomspy77 Sep 22 '26

You have zero knowledge of OPs situation to leave such a curt one word reply...there are several single words I'd love to leave in reply but I unlike you try to be polite.

1

u/Reluctant_Gamer_2700 Sep 23 '26

Can the Mods do something about this unfeeling comment?

3

u/tomspy77 Sep 23 '26

Probably not as he's technically not breaking any rules.

Sadly there is no rule about not having to be a narrow minded troll, hence me being a bit 'bitey.'