Editor:
I have been amazed at finding out how long it takes for someone to receive disability payments from either Social Security or the Veterans Administration (VA).
My friend John Peters is a 16-year veteran of the Army. His active duty was as the senior NCO of the 3rd Battalion 6th Infantry in Berlin, Germany.
He was honorably discharged as an enlisted person. He then was an officer in the reserves and was called up for Desert Storm and Grenada. He was then honorably discharged as an officer. He is now awaiting a decision on his request for disability payments from the VA.
A disabling illness can strike any of us at any time without warning. That is exactly what has happened to John Peters.
John is a registered nurse and a graduate of Oregon Institute of Technology. He most recently was employed at the Oregon State Hospital in the maximum security ward.
John now has peripheral neuropathy, which causes him to fall without warning.
He also suffers from a degenerative disc disease and congestive heart failure.
He had to quit working last September. His wife, Kay, is a certified nursing assistant and is his caregiver. In addition to the request to the VA, John has a disability claim filed with Social Security.
Now John and Kay are in that waiting period when neither government agency has made a decision on his disability payments. They have no income.
Like most of us, they did not have enough money set aside to carry them to this point. Rent is still due. Utilities must be paid. Car payments are past due.
John has been an active volunteer in the Boy Scouts, specifically 16 years with the Crater Lake Council of California and Oregon. He was medical director for Camp McLaughlin for five years and Camp Baker for one year. He and his wife have been giving for many years to their community.
Now, I and some other friends are putting together a fund-raising event to help them get through this difficult time while they wait for the Social Security and VA to make a decision on his disability claim.
For those who would like to make a donation, an account has been set up at Wells Fargo Bank in Sweet Home in the name of John and Kay Peters to receive donations.
Thank you for your assistance.
Bob Hartsock
Cascadia