I lost my DH 24 yrs ago, surprising what you can learn to do without. Look at this as a great opportunity to try to do something you really like. Did SS approve you going out on disability? Around here it is very difficult to get on. I was going to suggest your ex's SS (nana did) if you were married 20 yrs I think you can get it even if he is remarried. Some TS's have amazing things from clothes to medical supplies to GJ. Have you got a garage full of stuff you never use- have yard sale,spare car needing fixing up-sell it! Look for cheaper housing, if house paid for, can you make taxes, ins. & repairs? Out here some people have group come that help seniors & they get work done free repairing house. If you car is costing you a lot sell it & get an older one ,if leased buy used 1 so it is your's! Have a mechanic check out car before you buy used 1. Shop 99 cent or dollar stores? check them out. Don't need to spend $4 for pretty paper napkins when you can get them for 99cents,they have mouthwash, toothpaste & all kinds of everyday things cheaper than grocery store of dept. store. Good Luck & there are lots of other ideas above, make a list, figure out grocery bill, cleaning bill, all that & look for ways to cut back. Do you drink a $ 4 cup of coffee,& have a donut for breakfast. Make coffee at home & buy dozen day old & warm 1- 10 sec. in microwave (freeze rest) make up dishes from scratch & freeze in portions size you would eat for 1 meal, spagetti with the meat & sauce, beef stew,chicken spagetti etc all freeze well,label & have at least 3-4 kinds made up so you get variety much cheaper & less sodium than TV dinners. With your condition should be on lower sodium diet & so much easier by making from scratch. Cook chicken breasts cut in about 4 pieces each(get done faster) in little butter & 1-2 qt water & use part of cooked chicken in chicken spagetti & save the water(broth) & rest of chicken for a hearty chicken soup by cooking up some kind of pasta,16 oz. reg. or wheat, 2-16oz pkg. mixed veggies plus 1 lb carrots, 6 stalks celery in bite sized pieces onion powder or cut up onions- cook those veggies in microwave & mix in with broth & diced chicken & the cooked pasta & some dried parsley for a soup you can almost eat with a fork,& pretty too, just simmer the mix for about 15 min. Precooking veggies in micorwave leaves the broth in tact so it doesn't all disappear. Freeze in 2 cup containers. Jan

Rusty, no problem. I thought the survey would be more inclusive re: the disability factor, and not just about cookware. This might be tl;dr! If so, disregard! I consider my height to be a disability (not enough of it), but as I said, I designed my kitchen around that. I have a couple of lowered counters that makes chopping, rolling and seeing into a pot or bowl easier for me because of that. One chopping block pulls out from the counter, so I can sit and chop from a chair if I need to be off my feet. My kitchen and dining room chairs all roll, so I can move them around more easily. We took the 2-inch base off my range so it would be lower, which allowed me to finally see into my pots. The controls under the cooktop are on the front of of the range. My wall oven opens from the side, so I can access the back of it, making it easier for me to take things out of a hot oven, or clean up a mess inside. That particular oven is mounted at counter height, which is easier to get into without bending over, yet low enough for me to see into and access easily. The oven on my range (below the cooktop) has a shallow door, which make it easier for me to get into, and no window to clean. The light switches and plug outlets are all about waist high so they're easy to use, or incorporated into the back splash next to the counter. The sink closest to my range is on the corner, and open on two sides so it can be accessed from the island, or the cooktop. Tapmaster allows me to use two hands at the sinks (handsfree) so I can get a grip. Because the stove is low, I'm short and my husband is tall, we put more cfm's in the hood than is normally recommended so it would draw better because of the distance between the cooktop and the vent. It all seems pretty basic, but when you start looking at all the different equipment available, the differences are huge. Regarding cookware, because of arthritis I do have some very thin, lightweight stainless lined copper pans (vintage pieces), which allow me to toss the items together (without the need to stir.) I was fortunate to find some thinner, lighter vintage cast iron pieces which I also like, as the pan heats more quickly and at lower temperatures. As I mentioned though, I don't think it really makes any difference for the general population who doesn't really cook. Of course helper handles make total sense, as do lids and pots with cool touch handles, but that seems like a no-brainer to me.

Thanks so much Amygdala.Yes my son does have coverage under dads insurance and always has.They have been great.They have paid unbelievable amounts toward Adams expenses but they can only do so much.Unfortunately sometimes even the smallest remaining balance after insurance pays can be a hardship when there is also medicine to buy and gas for trips to out of town doctors and physical therapy and such.I had no idea just how much the CIDC program actually helped until we no longer had the help and a year later the after shock starting hitting with all the unpaid medical bills on top of buying the necessary meds and all.And during this time my daughter was diagnosed with her condition also.It just put us in a desperate place.I did intend to go by the social workers office while we at Childrens Hosp. Monday but after trying to track down the Neurologist's office who had moved out of the hosp to another building I completely forgot.Their office is the office that originally got Adam approved for the program to begin with.But since then they have devised a waiting list policy and it is backed up 5 yrs from what they told me.The beaurocracy is just unreal.They first tell he has to qualify for the waiting list either by income or by meeting another spin down amt.which we met well above what we needed to.Then we have to apply him for the state organized CHIP ins. but had we accepted we had to drop medical coverage thru DH's employer( NO WAY).So we refused the program and I had to send a letter explaining why to the state office.I did this.Then after about 4 or 5 mths I just recieved a letter stating that Adam was accepted on the waiting list.(This does not mean he is in the program just on the waiting list).I call the office handleing his case to see what his status is on the list and I 'm told because they have not recieved a confirmation from the state office of my refusal to accept the CHIP program that he actually isn't even on the waiting list until they get that confirmation.I then call the state office to explain what I need and I'm told they will get one to me .Well that's been two weeks and I'm still waiting.On top of that by the time I got the actuall letter telling me he was on the waiting list the dates of acceptance were such that it was going to be void in a matter of 3 or 4 mths.THen I have to start the whole process over.First by applying my son for Medicaid which I don't even want but they tell me I have to in order to apply him for the CIDC program.Which is a total waste of time because in 5 yrs he has never qualified.Confused yet?I'm sorry if I sound bitter.But can't help it.I cry, I pray, and then I pray somemore.My DH is a hard working man and he is carrying a huge load.And I feel helpless!The sights you offered I will definitely check out.Any info is a step in the right direction.I can't just give up because I am my son's voice.But I never wanted to be a crusader either.Thanks so very much for letting me vent.Shelia P.s. I was just curious I have read many posts you have written and you seem to have so much knowledge of the medical field.Do you mind if I ask what your actual field is.Thanks

The one thing that I do know for certain is that you probably would not be applying for SSI which is for very low income people. I am not certain if Teamsters have a separate disability pension or not. Most workplaces that still have pensions for disability if you retire with disability you receive a larger amount than normal pensions. You have to check with your union office to find out. Depending on how bad your condition is you may or may not be eligible for SS disability. For SS disability you have to present to SS evidence that you are truely unable to work because of your disability. My Sister in Law received it for MS starting in her late 30's so you age is not a reason to not receive it only you and your doctor can convenice SS of how sever your problem is. On disability you will have to recertify your condition until you reach your regular SS retirement age.