A woman recently shared on Reddit that her father's refrigerator was almost empty. His toilet paper was gone. His rent had increased to $750, and his only income is a monthly disability check of $1,000.
She wrote about trying to assist him without causing humiliation. He never asked for anything, but he had not been eating. "He said he was humiliated and how this should be reversed — he should be helping me," she posted. "How he has taken food from my mouth."
She took him to a grocery store to fill the gaps. He permitted her to buy only a few items: milk, oatmeal, bread, bananas, and frozen burritos. He would not let her pay for toilet paper, so she purchased it anyway and suggested they split the cost. Before leaving, she discreetly placed a KitKat in his bag.
"I didn't get him much," she wrote. "But I need to make sure my dad isn't starving and he has his basic needs."
In a follow-up, she explained he had not applied for food assistance because the paperwork was too difficult to manage alone. "My dad reads at a 6ish grade level," she said. "So paperwork is hard for him to get done by himself." She helped him apply for SNAP benefits.
She is now using subtle methods to provide support without it feeling like charity. For example, she sends groceries to his house with the excuse, "Oops, it must have defaulted to your address." She also plans to give him gift cards as if they were work bonuses so he can shop privately.
She and her husband are working on converting a building on their property into a residence for him, but it is a lengthy process. For now, she assists from a distance, careful not to make him feel like a burden.
The Social Security Administration issued a 2.8% cost-of-living adjustment for 2026, raising benefits. The maximum federal SSI payment for an individual is now $994 monthly. For Social Security Disability Insurance recipients, payments vary based on work history, but the increase offers only a modest boost. Often, these increases do not keep pace with rising housing, food, and medical costs.
Rent is a major pressure point. The national average for a one-bedroom apartment is around $1,500, with some reports citing figures as high as $1,624. In more expensive areas like Massachusetts or New York, that number easily exceeds $2,700. For someone living on a $1,000 disability check, little remains.
Inflation acts like a silent tax on fixed incomes, reducing budgets each year. Essentials like groceries and home care continue to outpace general inflation, leaving many seniors and disabled adults with difficult choices: skip meals, delay prescriptions, or risk eviction.
Programs exist to help. Section 811 housing vouchers and public housing are available for low-income and disabled Americans. However, demand far exceeds supply, waitlists stretch for years, and the application process can be a barrier for those with limited literacy or access. Even when eligible, many never receive assistance.
For food, SNAP can help — the same program this daughter helped her father apply for. Medicaid provides healthcare for many on SSI or SSDI, and some states offer rent stabilization for disabled tenants. But support is inconsistent.