Pittsburgh Flash Fiction Gazette

The Old Soldier has made an important decision: to be far more pro-active in managing his personal finances.  I’m 65 years old.  I’m a Vietnam War Veteran.  My yearly income is less than $15,000 which makes me low-income.

 

I know there are a lot of writers out there who are senior citizens; who are veterans and who are low-income.

 

I also know that there are a lot of programs out there that we are eligible for that would either save us money or add to our incomes if we only knew how to find these programs.

 

 

My income is made up of Social Security, a pension from Giant Eagle and a pension from the Veterans Administration.  If it had not been for my older sister, whose husband is a Korean War Veteran, I would have never known that I was eligible for a pension from the VA.

 

So, I have organized all of my financial documents and put them on or in my writing desk.  And I have begun a methodical search for money that I am eligible for.  And when I find some money I will report back to you.

 

Now the Old Soldier has two missions in life: to publish the Pittsburgh Flash Fiction Gazette and to find us money or programs that will save us money.  I’ll put everything in a new category: Money For Writers.

 

Here’s what I have found out so far.

 

1. The utility company that I buy my electricity from has a program for low-income customers that will cut their electric bill a lot.  It has cut my electric bill by half.  And the company has a grant to pay your bill during the winter.  I’ve gotten this grant several times.  Check with your electric company to see if it has any programs like these and if you are eligible.
2. If you live in the State of Pennsylvania and you are at least 65 years old you can get a free life-time bus pass.  I have one.  Check with the public transportation system in your state to see if they have something similar.  Also, you may be able to get a nice discount even if you are not 65 years old yet.
3. If you were in the military during war-time and you are 65 years old and you are low-income you may be eligible for a nice pension.  Check with the Veterans Administration.
4. The State of Pennsylvania offers a rent rebate (or home owners rebate) for senior citizens.  I’m eligible for $650.  Check with your nearest Senior Citizens Center to get more information.

That’s it for right now.  Keep reading and keep writing that flash fiction.

 

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The Pittsburgh Flash Fiction Gazette is an online magazine of creative ideas, serious writing and brazen sexuality.

 

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Related articles

• Lawmakers scramble to stop vet pension scams (stripes.com)
• Local Program Helps Low Income Seniors (wibw.com)

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