Quite a dilemma

Ok i am faced with a really tough decision. Over a year ago, fell 20 ft from a ladder at work, landing directly on my right leg with all weight (230 pounds) and all momentum. surprisingly didnt break any bones, but caused significant bone bruising, damage to the tendons, and my right leg is now a inch shorter than my left. Since then been plagued with constant pain that increases the longer I stand and walk, and hampered by a never ending limp. Being classified as physically disabled, ontop of a ****ty job market has rendered finding work in what I did/do impossible. Job I had at the time screwed me out of the job to get out of the workmans comp stuff 6 months later, while still sidelined. ATM got 2 dif lawsuits going against them ect, to reinstate workmans comp, as well as another for the damage done. Well ive been scraping by with what little income I now get (220 a week down from 800 a week) and now my car faces reposession...


heres my options..

I can sell my 1903a4, 1919a4, m1, m1 carbine for a good chunk of $$ to get me out of a hole, and suffice for a couple months tops, but will be back in same problem at that time as things are still a long way off of being settled. Id also loose atleast 2 very hard probably impossible to reobtain firearms both in avalibility and costs...

Or just say F it keep the guns and let them take the car ect, and one big expense gone a month, still got my collectible and fun toys, and can continue living without being so far in the red... But will be vehical less for god knows how long.

What would you do in this situation?? :surrender: :sos: :banghead:

Keep the guns. If things are as bad as you say you'll only delay the car repo by a month or two. The guns will then be gone as well.

When I was sidelined for a few years, my reserves ran out and I had to re-fi my house to boost them back up. It was enough to hold me over until I qualified for my pensions. I still have my guns.

Matt, I am sorry to see that you are in such a tough spot. Your question is difficult (for me) to answer without knowing more about you. Are you single? Married? Children? Are you renting or do you own your home? How badly do you need the wheels? If your car goes do you at least have a way to get to the grocery store? If you have a family then of course there is only one answer. But if I were single with no dependents, I think things would have to get pretty tough before I let go of any guns. I have had vehicles I was attached to, but more so with guns. I think I would rather replace the wheels than the guns, especially if selling them would only temporarily forestall the situation for a month or two. This is not that great of an answer; I guess it's a matter of your priorities and your outlook. I feel for you bud, I hope you find a way out soon. GasMan.

are there other sources for money like a 401K or other retirement account. Being disabled may allow you to draw on those accounts now. check into this for added income.

I am single, and got a son, whom I have on weekends. I do have fam nearby if I do need a ride places. Only thing I wouldnt like is being trapped, as there are days id just hop in the jeep and cruise just to get out. I dont own, and rent where I am. As for 401k ect, being 29 when this happened, want built up that much, and did tap it when I lost my job, as they fought to block unemployment on me too, which was overturned 2 months later by the state.

I know its a really rough road atm, but from what I hear the light at the end will be worth it (back pay from workmans comp alone will be 5+k once reinstated). Just getting there that is hard.

Fam and a couple friends said to sell the guns ect, but they dont understand that they arnt exactly run of the mill modern readily avalible and affordable pieces. Sure I can replace the carbine somewhat easily, and the garand, but the garand was my first firearm and have alot of sentimental value, and the a4, 1919 ect those cost a pretty penny to replace, and arnt easy to get any more.

Thanks for your input.

Keep the guns,it is a hobby you will always enjoy,if you still have them. Dump the car payment,it's one of the worse investments a person can make. This of course does not include classics or vintage muscle cars. Those vehicles appreciate unlike the modern day garbage which is nothing more than a fire pit to through your hard earned money into. Collectible guns also appreciate in value.
Find a cheap clunker to run until things get better and learn how to do your own repairs.

"A wise man adapts himself to circumstances as water shapes itself to the vessel that contains it."

Something you might want to check into with Soc. Sec. Office,just call Soc. Sec, and reuest info mailed to you about .S.S.I. benefits,it's a form of supplemental income,don't remember everything about it any more,been years since my son signed up for it,it's a temp. thing but every little bit would help,don't know if you would qualify,laws changed over the years but it wouldn't hurt to look into it.

RayP.

I thought about that, and seeing as many people as I have abuse it, I wouldnt feel right. I had no intentions of touching that till was retirement time (though prob long gone by then).

talked to my parents and grandparents, they too are all struglging, but they are willing to try to help so I can keep both. Its yet another thing I dont want, as I never asked for help from anyone or anything... Mybe its just my pride of being able to be totally self sufficiant but may have to swallow pride at this point...

Matt,

what I'd do is lose the car, get a bicycle and some rain gear. Think of the guns as your ace in the hole, for when you **really** need the cash.

If I lived on N. Shore Mass, I'd consider doing some fishing. I knew guys in Philly did that, they'd go to the Jersey shore with rod and reel, catch a big mess of fish, then sell them in the neighborhood. Maybe buy some too, off the guys coming in from party boats.

Just a thought. Lot of people make a pretty good living subsistence hunting, fishing, trapping, gathering wild plants for sale. It's all off the books.

Anyway, good luck.

jn

If you were hurt and you can't work you have every right to apply for Social Security Disability. You were charged for this coverage and you don't need to feel bad about collecting.

Believe me they don't just give this to people. It could take up to four or five years to collect. Get the paper work going and hopefully you will get better and be able to return to work. If not you have a plan B for the long haul. Most likely they will turn you down the first or second time then you will have to hire an attorney. Social Security will give him a cut of you settlement and if he loses he doesn't get paid.

Bad part is Social Security doesn't pay enough to support much of a life style.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Matt Wolff

I thought about that, and seeing as many people as I have abuse it, I wouldnt feel right. I had no intentions of touching that till was retirement time (though prob long gone by then).

talked to my parents and grandparents, they too are all struglging, but they are willing to try to help so I can keep both. Its yet another thing I dont want, as I never asked for help from anyone or anything... Mybe its just my pride of being able to be totally self sufficiant but may have to swallow pride at this point...

---

Matt,

SSI is not welfare. It's insurance and you only get it if you are disabled and qualify. If you apply for Social Security Disability and are eventually granted, then the SSI benefits will be repaid from your Social Security back pay.
The longer you wait to apply, the more money you are leaving on the table. It can't hurt to at least go down to the SS office and find out.

hmm ok guess I can check that out in the morning. thanks for you input guys. gave me a few ideas and backed up what I was originally thinking. See what I find out tomorrow.

Get the SSI! YOU are the guy it's there for, not the "Welfare Mom's Kids"! As for the 401(k).....Mr. Wolff....you put that money there for a "rainy day" right? Look out the window....it's pouring!

Second...if you've got a lawyer, you've got a bad one....fix that! If you don't, get a good one NOW! No one is going to give you a damn thing...you're going to have to fight for every nickel, and you need an attorney that sees it that way. 29 is WAY too young to be busted up on a job and unable to work without getting some significant help.

Third, get someone that knows what the hell they are doing look at your leg! Without a significant fracture, you shouldn't be having these kinds of problems. Get to someplace with an International reputation like the Cleveland Clinic, et.al. to look at and probably fix your leg properly. I fought a debilitating hip problem locally for over a very pain-filled year, only to have one of the specialists at the Clinic fix what had everyone around here barking about a hip replacement in 15 minutes!

Matt - I am sorry to hear about your predicament. I agree with the others....keep the guns if at all possible. Those are rare and going up in value every year. Dump the car and look for a good used high mileage 90s vintage Honda (with a manual transmission unless your injury makes that difficult) if the math allows you to pocket some money from such a transaction.

You would be amazed how much money you can save by judicious grocery shopping too. Dont go out to eat, even fast food, unless its absolutely necessary. When you are out of the house, stop at as many grocery stores as you can that are on your way home to check for "Buy One Get One Free!" specials....they always have something. A lot of canned goods (like stews and raviolis, etc) that are reasonably nutricious and tasty can often be stocked up on in this manner. When skinless chicken breast is "Buy One Get One Free!" my wife and I will buy 10 or 12 packs and just deep freeze them.

Good luck, God bless.

Keep the guns. I had to sell my previous collection 20 years ago. Value of them has skyrocketed since. Wish dearly I had kept them.

Yes I got a workmans comp lawyer, and a injury lawyer working since January on things. Unfortunately things dont happen over night.

I do see a good doctor, actually have seen 3 different ones for dif opinions, and the problem they have been trying to address is the tendons, as bone bruising, especially significant takes a long time to heal and go away, and the loss of a inch not too sure what they can do about that. As for the tendon, one solution was a shot, but thats a temp fix, as ill have to keep going to get it every few months. Another is some new proceedure using forget the name, but is used to break up gall stones. Non evasive, which sounds nice, but not a guarentee fix, and a major prob is med insurance doesnt cover it, and i dont have 2 grand to pay out of pocket, especially something that may not work. thirdly is surgery that was told has a 70% chance of fixing it, 30% making it worse or not do anything at all... as they will have to detatch the tendons ect. which is the route im eyeing now. Only real prob to that is, last couple surgeries I ever had, always had some serious seizures comming out of the anesthesia.

One thing all the docs agree on, is I would have been far better to have broken my leg, as it would have been a quicker and easier fix...

A few years ago, had to sell 70% of my collection on the old csp forums, to fund my custody fight for my son. In the end was worth it, just kick myself still as I know I got rid of alot ill never replace. Like I said end result was worth it, just wish I went about it another way.

Well Matt I do not know anything about how that stuff works down there so I cannot offer you any advice. But I will offer you my good wishes and hope that things turn around real quick. I will say one thing though and that is being with your son is more important than anything else, especially in trying times.

Good luck,

KTK

I wish you the best of luck Matt. The SS interviewers are most informative and helpful. You'll get honest answers to any questions you might have and they'll even answer questions you didn't know to ask.

On the other hand (and they'll probably tell you this) a claims reviewer whom you will never meet will most likely reject your first claim. Don't be disheartened as there is an appeals process. Two friends of mine were both rejected first time around even though they had cases of terminal cancer. They finally got it but it was a lengthy process. You might expect the same.
Stick with it and don't give up. If your attorney is unfamiliar with SS claims, find one who is. Their fees will be deducted from your back pay settlement at a rate of somewhere between 10% - 15%. If you lose, it costs you nothing to try.

As John said...get a good lawyer!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Matt Wolff

I thought about that, and seeing as many people as I have abuse it, I wouldnt feel right. I had no intentions of touching that till was retirement time (though prob long gone by then).

talked to my parents and grandparents, they too are all struggling, but they are willing to try to help so I can keep both. Its yet another thing I dont want, as I never asked for help from anyone or anything... Mybe its just my pride of being able to be totally self sufficiant but may have to swallow pride at this point...

---

You wouldn't be getting something for nothing or abusing the system,you have paid for it with your taxes,it's not the Soc. Sec. Retirement program,it's a temporary program for people who have physical conditions that limit their ability to work and when you get back to work you will resume paying taxes for such programs(you're probably still paying even now).

My son lost his only kidney(at 36yrs. old,7yrs. ago),had him sign authorization for me to conduct his med/soc. sec. business,take all your medical recoords,Dr.'s reports,hosp. records,everything with you to Soc. Sec.(make copies first),Soc.Sec. will give you a receipt for your records,my Interviewer told me to take the receipt(make copy) to local Medicaid office as they might help with medical costs,I don't know if your state does that but my state does and did help son with med. bills.

RayP.

OK talked to a SSI lawyer, going in to start whole proccess on Monday. Thanks for all of the advice, as this should help out once it goes through.

Matt,

I agree that you keep your firearms. Just the thought that they are still yours gives you a reason to keep going forward with your life. I often pull mine out of the safe to just look at them. They are works of art and history that instill in me the same feeling one gets from visiting a museum like the Smithsonian, a temporary break from reality.

I'd go crazy if I had no transportation. A bike is fine but a motor scooter not requiring insurance or tags to putt around in would be for me if I could not get a car.

As far as making a few bucks for a six pack (of rootbeer, of course!), I'd seek a part time job anywhere (7/11, Highs, Home Depot) if physically able. I know when school starts, substitutes are always in demand at all grade levels. As a teacher substitute, you would not be on your feet all the time.

But before seeking and accepting a job, be certain doing so would not jeopardize deserved compensation benefits.

Seek counsel and advice from your pastor or religious institution or social services administration. Try out an employment agency. Keep looking in the Help Wanted section of your local newspaper. Put an add in the classified section advertising any service (work) you are capable of doing for others (handy man work, hang curtain rods, anything for extra $. Some adds seek persons willing to work from home on there computer for whatever!

You still have an intact mind. Use your imagination and never give up hope. There are many people with afflictions much, much worse than yours that have found ways to get through life. I know, I suffered major trauma with permanent disabilities at an early age. No one gave up on me so I didn't give up on myself. It wasn't easy, still isn't, but I found a way to be successful in life despite the resulting obstacles I encountered along the way.

Seeking the advice of all these great people of this forum proves you are on the right path. You are not alone, my friend.

Thomas

Ok alked to SSi lawyer today... Got another dilema..... He said the foot injury COULD get SSI, but be alot better chance if there was more to it. He said inperticular any phycological trauma that may have inccured by it. So reccommends me to see a shrink to see if there was any probs as a result of the fall, injury sustained, the lack of being able to do stuff that I was able to do before, being couped up at home so long ect ect.

Now I admit that since then I have been somewhat down cause of everything that resulted from it, but dont want to go see one cause of obvious reasons. All I need is to go see one, next thing I know they yank my gun licenses (am in Mass..). I dont think its bad enough to go see one, and not worth the risk of having one thing taken away, and hamper job search efforts later once and if I finally heal back up.

Just seems to get more complicated..

And to top it off, called one lawyer who was working on workmans comp to see how that was progressing, and he hasnt started it yet, concidering I was collecting unemployment, and said would be hard to get it reversed, to which I just flew off the handle "as only reason I collect unemployment is to keep a damn roof over my head, and the reason I hired you was to get the damn weekly benifits from workmans comp reinstated..."

Just really starting to get fed up with runarounds...

Hi Matt,

its easy for me to say, but keep the guns and dont make this psychological thing. For the moment it sounds good but it can be very harmful to you. As you said with the license and later for a job and so on. Wish you the power to hold on till things getting brighter to you.

Best Regards

Gunner

Hello Matt,
It may be better to file the first time without a lawyer. If it floats the first time (sometimes it does) and you didn't use a lawyer YOU get all your backpay instead of splitting with him. File as soon as possible because when it does get approved they will pay back to the date originally filed. I would stay far away from the shrink for the same reasons as you. If you have a good doctor that will help you by filling out the paper work properly it will help a lot. When approved you will eventually (it takes a while) be qualifyed for MediCare if you are still disabled.
I went through this several years ago, not with SS but with railroad retirement which is also government run and very similar.
Remember, lawyers are not necessarily your friend,
Good luck.

Matt 1st thing is dump the lawyer for Workmans Comp. Does Mass. have legal aid? Is there mental anguish? Most certainly when you are injured and can't work and are in pain there is depression. But for reasons stated I would put that avenue asa last resort. Medically speaking if there are no broken bones and you are having those kinds of problems there is something wrong. Your leg just doesn't get an inch shorter. I would suggest alternative treatment. Chiropratic and or massage therapy. I always say there are 2 schools of Chiropratic. There are the pushers and prodders and the rack and crack men. For the most part I stay away from the pushers and prodders as they will stretch things out as long as they can. The rack and crack men will put you back in place much sooner. Yes it will hurt but if you hurt already it will be over much sooner. I was having a pain in my shoulder that the doctors couldn't figure out, chiropractic didn't help and physical therapy didn't help but 5 visits to a massage therapist and I was good to go. What do you have to lose at this point.

And I agree dump the car and expense at this point.

Best wishes and Good Luck

I know it's late, but I agree with everyone else. your car will only be worth less with time, the guns will be worth more. Bicycle? If necessary, but a three wheeler so you can pick up groceries and other stuff or, if affordable, a second hand motor scooter.
My sympathies for your problem.