Unemployment Compounds Widow’s Plight

Yama explained that her deceased husband may have entrusted the inheritance for their children to his sister because at the time of his death, they were separated. She said that she is not sure how much money the policy covers, and that her sister-in-law has been brushing off the children. Yama says that she was reliably informed not long ago that there is still money in the account. She turned to the Legal Aid office, but the attorney that was dealing with her matter has informed her that she will not pursue it any further. And what has now compounded the situation for her children, who must return to school in a couple months is that she has lost her job and was given a letter of eviction for missing payment on last month’s house rent. Yama says she and her children are barely making it because she decided to sell some of their home appliances to them to survive for a few weeks.

 

Voice of: Claudia Yama, Accuses Sister-in-Law of Refusing Her Children’s Funds

“I have a voice recording where I record her when I call her and she strictly told me when my daughter asked her to please give her the money for her braces, she told me that she thinks there’s not enough money at the bank. Even though the lawyer has asked them, they refuse to give the lawyer that actual information as well.”

 

Marion Ali

“And then your lawyer has also abandoned the case?”

 

Voice of: Claudia Yama

“Yes, she did. It’s not really a lawyer, it’s a legal-aid attorney that she said that she’s not taking it to the court. She’s not doing anything. She’ll just leave it right.”

 

Marion Ali

“Did she say why?”

 

Voice of: Claudia Yama

No, she said that, said why is the reason. She just tell me like that, that she’s leaving it and she’s not fighting for the case anymore.”

 

Marion Ali

“Then you’ve received a notice to move out.”

 

Voice of: Claudia Yama

“Yes, I did. I have been sent a note for me to move out. I was actually working and I got laid off from my work because things are really slow and they don’t need any kind of worker right now. And due to that, I haven’t paid one month of rent.  And I don’t have any place to go with my kids. I need back money to pay back fees, registrations, back to school, uniforms, all of that. And I don’t have that money. Two weeks ago when we went to inquire once more at the insurance place, the person from the insurance told us that all what the trustee needs to be doing is deposit X amount of money into my bank account for them, my kids, every month to deposit certain amount of money for my kids into my bank account. And I told her she is not doing so. I guess maybe he never trusts me with the money. That’s why he left his sister in charge of the kid’s money.”