You should go pursue the SBA loan. Foe people over 65, the government does
have loans that are deferred and become payable by your estate or at the
time you sell your home (attached to the property not you). They also have
loans with a 1% interest and low payments (like $35/month) again attached to
your property. The SBA will help you figure out if you qualify for one of
these. Don't throw away help just because it says "loan". My grandmother,
also on a fixed income, used one of these to get her home a much needed
repair. We have since paid it off.
"JerryL" wrote in message
...
After Hurricane Wilma, I sustained a minimum of $14800 damage to my barrel
tile roof. After my deductible, the insurance company gave me 11535
(3265.00
deductible). My only income is from Social Security so I applied to FEMA
to
help me pay the deductible. I read in the papers and heard on TV how they
were giving away $2000 debit cards to everyone in Louisiana and
Mississippi
among other goodies. I understand that a lot of these people are on
Welfare
but I also understand their welfare checks are larger than my Social
Security check which I have to live on. At first FEMA referred me to SBA
for a low interest loan. I appealed and explained that there was no way I
could repay a loan on my income. They then sent an inspector down to
verify
my damage. A month later they determined that I didn't have enough damage
to
justify them giving me any aid. $14,800 damage isn't enough damage to a
person living on 1098 a month? Not only that, the lowest estimate I have
received to repair the roof is $17000. I'm trying to get my insurance
company to re-evaluate and give more money towards the roof but the fact
remains that I still have 3265 deductible which I can't afford. I don't
want
to wave the flag or anything like that but I served 4 years in the U.S.
Navy, I paid taxes all my life and never got anything for free from the
government. What is the criteria the government uses to determine who gets
and who doesn't get? I have the answer in my mind but I won't put it in
writing.