Jim,

Thank you for all you do for us vets . I am a disabled vet trying very hard to make ends meet . I live from check to check . Im just one check away from being homeless . I have had my electic turned off twice . And about a month ago they have turned off my cable . Its still off . I have an appeal pending for a hundred percent . But we all know how long that takes . So far its been over a year . And my lawyer said it could take up to two years . I dont think I can hold out for another year . By the third week of every month , Im broke . I have borrowed money from everybody I know , including relatives . With the promise of paying them back . I had tryed to get alone from banks , but thats not happening . Not with my credit rateing . Thats in the toilet . I just thank God that my truck is paid off . I almost lost that a few times . Im just at the end of my rope and dont know what I can do ....

Reply:

I wish I had some good news for you. I'm afraid I don't.

You aren't alone. Many Americans, both veteran and civilian, are in a bad financial situation these days. The rate of joblessness is very high almost everywhere and having a disability doesn't help when we look for work.

I advise veterans to rethink their finances today as if this recession were never going to improve. Many will have to get used to the fact that things like cable TV or even a cell phone aren't going to be affordable. Tobacco and alcohol are among many luxuries we can do without.

I advise veterans who have applications for benefits or appeals in process that they will probably wait at least 2 years. Veterans should plan to be denied and never receive the benefit money that they hope for. Most applications for benefits and appeals are denied. Planning to pay off accumulated debt with a windfall check from VA isn't a good idea. When the denial finally arrives, it can be a crushing blow.

There is no way to hurry the VA process along. If the VA looked at all the waiting applications for benefits and prioritized all the applications where the veteran really needed the money, nothing would change. Every veteran needs their disability money. VA doesn't make decisions based on financial need, they make decisions only by the eligibility of the veteran.

Don't be too proud to check with the social service agencies in and around where you live. The cost of food makes the charitable food banks look really good these days. I know a lot of people who spend a few hours each week as volunteers for these charitable programs. Not only do they help others, they discover new ways to help themselves by getting involved.

That you have some steady tax free income as well as good VA health care puts you in a pretty fortunate place. As tough as it is, there are others who envy that.

Good luck.