Anonymous wrote:Please help. I need urgent advice.

I (single mom of 2) live here in VA. My mom (65 yrs old single woman) lives in CA. She used to work at the airport but lost her job at the beginning of this month due to COVID-19. She immediately filed for unemployment but the unemployment system is overwhelmed and she has not heard anything back.

My uncle in a different state (mom's brother) suggested that she file for early retirement social security benefits, which she did. I believe the age is 66 to get full benefits but since she's 65 she can file now and take a reduced payment.

My mom has been corresponding with the social security retirement benefits fits people over the phone and they have indicated that her first payout will start in May.

In the meantime my mom has lost her apartment and she is currently homeless. She has been sleeping out of her pickup truck but it broke down yesterday. She rented a UHAUL and slept in the UHAUL while the truck was getting fixed at the shop. She picked the truck up from the shop today and drove it for a few hours before it stopped working again this evening.

She is currently sitting in a shopping center parking lot inside of her disabled vehicle. When I pressed her for details about her truck mom says it's a 2010 GM Canyon with 253K miles on it. WTF!!? When I asked about vehicle history mom said that the truck has started to break down alot over the past couple years and that she's put approximately $5K worth of repairs into it. When I strongly suggested to my mom that she purchase a more reliable used vehicle cle with less mileage she responded that a) she has no job and no place to live at the moment and b) in order to collect her full social security retirement benefits she cannot have more than $5k in assets(ie bank accounts, cars etc.)

My mom is literally homeless and living out of a broke down truck right now and I'm freaking out. I'm trying to see how I can help her but it's hard being all the way over here in VA with limited financial resources.

I drive an older model paid off car bc I didn't want a car payment but right now I'm thinking the best thing I can do for mom is to buy her a used vehicle and make the monthly payments for her so at least she has a reliable vehicle to sleep in. What I'm trying to figure out is if I buy the car online and have it delivered to her in California will she have trouble registering the car in CA and obtaining insurance since the title will be in the banks name until I can pay it off and then ultimately in my name since she can't own assets over $5K?

I literally can not sleep from the stress of this situation and to make matters worse my mom told me that she's been riding the LA public transit buses to pass time since she has no where else to go. I asked her to please stay away from the public buses as they could be breeding grounds for her to catch COVID-19. This whole situation is a mess and I'm trying to figure out the best thing to do to help my with limited financial resources s while being all the way over here in VA.

Can anyone offer advice or suggestions?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Stop picking this poor woman apart and send her some cash, DCUMs!!!!

You can afford it, FFS! Take some of that HHI you constantly brag about and do something worthwhile With it for a change.

C’mon, help this woman out!!!!!


I’d do it myself, but I’ve been laid off since the first week of March and I’m almost broke myself. But I know there’s plenty of people here who are working from home and still making their regular salary.

What a poor attempt at trolling. Throwing money at OP's mom will do nothing to solve the situation. She became homeless before being laid off - there are clearly some issues at play and OP is looking for advice to help her mom achieve some stability.

She’s asking for some cash. Not your best attempts at an “Ask Amy” column.

Either send her some money, or STFU and keep your advice to yourself. She doesn’t need advice. She needs cash. And some of you here are perfectly able to help her.

So will you?

Anonymous wrote:Isn’t airfare like $80 bucks. Fly her here. Put the masks on and voila our new normal.

Op I empathize but I’m so desensitized now. I feel like we are all screwed.

Anonymous wrote:This may feel urgent to you OP because you just heard about it but has been your mom's life for a couple months.

What does your mom want to do?

Does she want to move across the country? Does she want to get connected to services where she is? Does she just want to get her truck fixed and carry on for now?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:First of all, I just wanted to let you know OP that you are in this situation.
It must be so stressful on top of all of your other daily stressors.

I live in CA & do not recommend living across the border.
Living in Mexico (especially not knowing the language or anyone there) could prove very dangerous for her.
The crime rate is very high plus it is a pain, especially now (!) to cross the border.

US citizens can still cross unimpeded. Millions of older Americans live safely in Mexico. It’s a lot better than living in a car! This really is your best choice, OP. Has she ever been there?

I live in S.CA about a thirty-minute drive from the border.
I would rather sleep in a car here in the U.S. vs. living in Tijuana, MX.

The police corruption + the drug cartels make it very dangerous to even visit.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:First of all, I just wanted to let you know OP that you are in this situation.
It must be so stressful on top of all of your other daily stressors.

I live in CA & do not recommend living across the border.
Living in Mexico (especially not knowing the language or anyone there) could prove very dangerous for her.
The crime rate is very high plus it is a pain, especially now (!) to cross the border.

US citizens can still cross unimpeded. Millions of older Americans live safely in Mexico. It’s a lot better than living in a car! This really is your best choice, OP. Has she ever been there?