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My father did make good money but his SS check is low. He is 86 and needs help financially.

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i dont understand that . at 86 yrs old a person should have been downsizing for the last 20 yrs .
maybe he could rent out his house and live in the basement , garage , or shed .
the renter might even perform some caregiving for reduced rent .
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Not sure havering her father live in the garage or shed is a very good idea. Perhaps it is time to sell the house and consider moving into a senior appartment.
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Dooley, generally if someone makes good money while working, the SS reflects that. There's a dysjunction in your statement that he did well while working but now has low SS. Are you sure he's getting the correct amount? Your assertion doesn't make sense to me.

As to supplemental insurance, is he getting Medicaid to help with his medical bills? If not, start researching your state's Medicaid contacts, get your data together and apply for it.

Unfortunately, a lot of us are in the position of needing more money. What you can do is research what other sources are available to him....food assistance from food pantries or a Bridge card (f/k/a food stamps).

What can he cut back on? What bills can he reduce? Has he considered selling his home and downsizing to a smaller one?

Have you contacted county social workers to find out what else might be available to him?
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Was he a wartime veteran? If he was, call the VA.
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I see you're in Michigan. Have you contacted the Elder Law of Michigan agency and asked for information on what's available? If not, that should be a priority for you.
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dooley, I agree with the others here, time to sell the house. It doesn't make sense to keep living in a place that has become too expensive to maintain. Curious why at 86 does your Dad still have a house payment? Did he refinance? Is there any equity in the house?

As for his supplemental insurance, it doesn't matter if he owns a house or not, that isn't even related to this issue. And I am also confused if your Dad made good money why is his social security check so low.
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Hi - I'm having to help my parents with the same thing. Naturally - they don't want to sell the house. They have done a few things - 1) looked at VA for possible benefits 2) contacted local agency on aging for what services they might qualify for 3) looked at what they can sell - my dad has a whole workshop of tools for example 4) downsized to one car 5) worked with social services to find assisted living. NOW if they will make the move. But it doesn't make sense for 1 person (your dad) or 2 people (my parents) to continue to live in and pay for a huge house and yard that they can no longer maintain, or frankly, get out to enjoy. Time to face reality and look at making a transition while they have choices. Before choices are made FOR them.

You DO NOT pay for his insurance. He needs to make some changes & you can help him with that.
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VA is a great idea, if he qualifies for VA medical he won't have to pay for insurance at all. If your Dad's SS is low look into Medicaid for his supplement or
the Extra Help program for Part D through Social Security. Can your Dad rent out his garage to someone to store a boat? That could bring in extra money each month.
Good Luck.
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