Published: May 10, 2008 04:15 am         

Local Guest Commentary: Hard-working local people need assistance just to pay their bills

I thought about this idea for a long time. It's time for an awakening as to how depressed this area is.

I'm a single woman working full-time at Otsego Manor Nursing Facility, an Otsego County job.

I make fairly good wages, but by the time everything is taken out, I can _ almost _ pay my bills.

Out of a gross pay of $1,400 a month, I bring home $900 a month. This difference is health insurance, union dues, taxes, Social Security and a loan payment on my retirement (which I had to get to pay bills I can't cover in my regular budget.)

My monthly expenses consist of a car payment ($208), auto insurance ($164), energy cost ($368), and this doesn't cover gas for my car ($80). Food and medicine come last if there is any left.

I'm lucky to have health benefits, but dental isn't covered. I haven't been to a dentist in at least five years. I can't afford to go. I do the best I can with brushing, flossing and using temporary filling products from the drug store. I found you can fill a cavity with this and super glue and it holds for quite some time. Now, I am not recommending this as a solution, but it's the best I can do.

I turned 62 this year and decided to sign up for Social Security benefits. Because I make over $13,000 a year, they hold back over $2,000 before I get any benefits, so I won't get a check until October.

In the meantime, I need some surgery. If my insurance only covers 80 percent, I can't even think about having surgery. There is no way to squeeze any more money out of my account.

I don't use credit cards, I have no family to borrow from or go to.

I have three sons. They are wonderful, but they all have they can handle in their own lives.

I'm not writing this to have anyone feel sorry for me, I'm writing this because I'm not the only one in this position. I hear stories at work of many families struggling to pay bills. I can't imagine a family with children surviving.

Something has to be done to ease the burden of the working class. Many of us make in gross income too much to be able to get any help. Sometimes it is only by a few dollars.

I love my job and hope to be able to continue for a long time. If my hours were such that I could take public transportation, I would. There are no evening buses to Cooperstown, so I have to drive. This alone would save at least $40 a month. Also, my auto insurance would be lowered.

If my house had better windows and more insulation, my energy cost would be lower. Unfortunately, that costs money, so it will have to wait.

Oh well, enough. I've said what I needed to say. I hope someone is reading and all the working folks will some day get a break.

We sure could use it.

___

Wayand is a resident of West Oneonta.