Family Forum / Parenting / Adoption / August 2004

I am desperate and don't know what to do.  I am disabled and confined to home.
I have Post-Polio Syndrome and Cancer.  I'm confined to a wheelchair.  A court
order has attached my Social Security Disability.  They took $510 of $920.  

In 1976 I was divorced.  I was paying support, then my ex-wife took the kids
and skipped town.  To this day, I don't know their whereabouts.  I was given
what turned out to be some bad advice.  I was advised, since she skipped town
with my kids, just don't pay your support.  That advice came from a case worker
at social services.

Now, 30 years later, they have decided to come after me for the back support.
What they have taken from me leaves us destitute.  My wife is 63 years old and
works in retail.  Her income is no where close to a livable income.  

When we pay our bills for rent and utilities we have no money left for food or
medications.  I'm on 17 different medications.  Those medications cost us over
$400 a month, and that is just the CO-pay.  We can't get help from the drug
companies because my wife has insurance.

I have no money for an attorney.  Legal Aide will not help.  I have written to
the court and got no reply.  I have contacted my Congressman and Senators.
I've got no help there.  I've been told by Social Security that I have no right
to appeal.

If you could help us with a gift of any size we would be grateful.  As little
as one dollar would be gratefully received.  Write to me by email, do not post
to this news group.  

Deanshafer@aol.com  

Sincerely,
Dean Shafer