What People Know and Don't Tell You In Pennsylvania
**Other states will vary **
Wow, I have had an eye-opener this past two weeks. We are trying to get a one-story house. I have called
every government agency, interest group, bank, and you name it. I called PHFA the agency that is supposed to help the
disabled with housing. The interest rate was 6.25% while Reliance bank was 6%. I asked them why the rate was higher
considering that they are the agency supposed to be helping us, not making money off of us. The next day I checked the
rate again and it was down to 5.75%. This to me is still not acceptable. I have called mortgage brokers and found
5.25%. Why does the government want to make money off of the disabled. I believe that the rate should be 4%.
That is a hand up not a hand out. Also, if you go to http://phfa.org you can read about the programs available. There is a home modification program, but the drawback to that is that
you have to have your first mortgage with them in order to get the "second". The second is money to modify your house.
It is 0% interest and you have to repay it when you sell your house. With the difference in interst by one-half of a
percent, just figure out how much more you will spend than the maxmum $10,000 home modification "loan". On my projections
for the house we want to buy over the life of my loan a difference of one-half of a percent equals almost $14,000. I
would give them a profit of $4000. Again, where do they justify this program as a helping program?
Also, there are programs out the to help with closing costs. The income limits are so small. Plus, you have
to be a first-time home-buyer. They don't realize that those of us who own homes bought our house first then ended up
having a child with cp. So, yes I am a first-time home buyer in the situation of having a "disabled" person living with
me.
Now for the other news that made my blood boil. I learned about a program right here in my town that if one year
and one day ago I would have started depositing money into an account, this agency would have matched it up to $2000.
This is frustrating to me. No one tells you anything until you don't qualify for it any more.
As for the diapers, all you need is a diagnosis code on a prescription, a pharmacy willing to participate, and an access
plus medical card. Try Weis Markets. Their pharmacy is usually good about helping us out.
WIC All special needs children are elligble for WIC. Daniel was. I didn't know that for the first two
years of his life. Pity. Look at all of the money I could've saved.
Social Security. Some children can get money through SSI. There are income limits. At age 18 depending
upon the severity of your child's cp, you can then get SSI. I suggest you do so.
Well, Daniel is waking up. I will try to write more details soon.
