The last time I posted was on March 13, 2015, The thread title was "I could kick myself in the ass!". The month after I posted that, I found out that my husband had cancer, and passed away on June 10th of this year. He fought the Beast (that is the nickname for esophageal cancer), but we knew it was just a matter of time. He couldn't work for over two years so we depended on his pension and social security to make ends meet. The medical and travel expenses were astronomical. It wasn't until he passed away that I went into his office and found over $100,000. in credit card bills, some of them in my name. On top of our mortgage payment, that left me with almost $400,000. in debt. I don't get his pension and I am not eligible to receive his SS for two years. I have a small pension of my own that will pay half the mortgage payment every month. So, as you see, I am in deep you-know-what! Okay, now the good news. My husband finds out through a friend that he may be able to be awarded compensation from the Dept of Labor for his illness. He files the paperwork and is awarded $150,000. My husband didn't want me to tell anyone, including the kids, about this money because he said I was going to need it. He left everything to me in his will, but told me he would like his son to have his rifle/gun collection, which is worth a lot of money. Then another letter came stating that he may be able to be awarded up to $250,000. more. So this letter came about three weeks before he passed away. I told him if I do get that money, I would give the children something (I didn't know the debt we were in at the time). He told me not to be too generous because I was going to need the money. The evening before he passed, his son comes from NC. He wasn't in the door two hours and he is staking claim on our possessions. I caught him in lies, for example, telling me he wants my antique tractor because he goes way back with the "old man" and has a lot of memories. It was impossible because I bought the tractor with my money. That's just one of many lies. His father gave him a Harley worth of $10,000. before we moved to VT and he ended up selling it. He also lives in a development and has no use for a farm tractor. We had a huge argument because he feels the guns are a "given", not part of inheritance. Since my husband passed away, the Dept of Labor will only award his surviving spouse $125,000. but now they are saying that my SS is getting half of that because he is a disabled veteran and can't support himself. BTW, the day before my husband passed away, my SS got wind of this possible settlement and called a lawyer friend of my husbands. What I am upset about is that my SS is getting 100% disability pay and up until last year his wife was getting caregivers payments every month. He wasn't hurt in the service but somehow was able to play the system to his benefit. I have been with his father for 16 years and I am not aware of him ever fighting for his country. He also works off-the-books and pays no taxes. He is a alcoholic, drug addict and womanizer. Does anyone have any advise that would help me. Does it sound like I'm being greedy. I hope not...I am just hoping I can keep my head above water. My SS has been given a lot of money from his father and his grandmother over the years. His sister is very wealthy and has paid both his children's college educations. I do have some ideas, like writing to my senator. I do have a lawyer, but I don't think she will look beyond what is written in black and white.