Does Amy Slaton Have Money Problems After Extraordinary Weight Loss Milestone?

Summary

• Michael’s controlling behavior over Amy’s bank card during their split was a red flag. He may have had money worries.
• Amy revealing her vision issues and disability payments shed light on her challenging circumstances.
• Amy may not be wealthy, but she’s taking control of her finances and health post-divorce.

1000-Lb Sisters star Amy Slaton doesn’t exactly seem wealthy after losing 176 pounds, and there are signs that she may have money problems. During season 5 of the show, Amy divorced Michael Halterman – the couple share two sons, toddler Gage and baby Glenn Halterman. Amy bailed out on her marriage because Michael never helped her at home – he wouldn’t even look after both kids at once. For that reason, Amy always had at least one child with her – she could never really take a break.

The events that led to Amy and Michael’s split during 1000-Lb Sisters season 5 were traumatic for Amy. One of those events was linked with money. Michael wouldn’t give Amy her own bank card when she wanted to go shopping. He was strangely controlling about the debit card, which raises questions about their finances. Was he afraid she’d overspend? Maybe there was another reason why he denied her access to the card, but his actions were bizarre. What he did set the stage for a split. Most would say Michael had it coming.

Was The Bank Card Issue About Amy & Michael’s Slaton’s Money Problems?

Amy Slaton Shouldn’t Have To Ask For Her Own Bank Card

When Amy wanted to purchase baby formula and Michael wouldn’t give his own wife her bank card, things got heated (and frankly a bit scary). Tempers flared and Amy decided that she’d had enough of the odd man she’d married. Not only was he very little help with their very active kids (looking after two kids under two isn’t easy), but Michael’s controlling antics seemed creepy.

Amy’s his wife, not his child, so why would he feel that he had the right to deny her access to her debit card? It was mind-boggling. Did his fears about money drive these weird decisions? Maybe.

After the season, Amy was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Some people with this mental health issue are prone to overspending. If a person with Bipolar I is in a manic phase, they may feel overconfident and hyper-stimulated. Basically, during a high, they feel fantastic and indulge in spending because they think they’ll find ways to pay their bills later. They can pull out the plastic and really do some damage. When Britney Spears lost control of her own finances, that might have been one of the reasons why, as she’s also bipolar.

Presumably, if Michael and Amy were rolling in cash, he wouldn’t be so stressed about the bank card. While denying her access to the debit card might have just been a control thing, it’s possible that they didn’t have much money. He could have been watching every penny like a hawk.

Amy & Tammy Slaton Never Had Money While They Were Growing Up

There Wasn’t Exactly “Old Money” To Fall Back On

Some families have money and others don’t. On 1000-Lb Sisters, Amy and Tammy described themselves as:

dirt-poor

Their hardscrabble background set the stage for the weight problems they’re still dealing with now. Yes, they’ve lost a lot of weight, but technically, they’re still too heavy. In time, they may fall within the normal weight ranges for their heights.

When they were growing up, their mother Darlene, who can be quite cold with her “girls,” was frequently away from home – she was out in the world, working jobs to make ends meet. She had to support the household, and they didn’t have much. Alone in the home, Amy and Tammy ate cheap and unhealthy foods. Maybe nothing better was available because they were poor.

These are the women that some trolls make fun of now. Instead of going under the surface and considering the root causes of Amy and Tammy’s obesity, which might not even be their fault, some critics attack them. They trash Amy for being a bad housekeeper and mom-shame her. Tammy gets shade for her missing tooth and excess skin issue. Yes, some fans love them, but the bad apples are vicious. Tammy felt suicidal because she was so heavy. Amy lives with mental health issues.

This kind of trolling isn’t harmless. Fans should stop mocking Amy and Tammy as what they do really hurts the reality stars.

Amy and Tammy’s problems started in childhood. They were left alone too much and developed bad habits. When they reached adulthood, they didn’t have family money to fall back on. Luckily, the two women were creative. They went on YouTube, making popular videos that people loved to watch. That was the catalyst for reality fame.

Sure, they earn money when they’re doing the show, but sometimes, reality stars get paid much less than people think. The money they earn online may not make much of a difference. It’s quite possible for reality celebs to have money problems.

Amy Slaton Said She’s On Disability

Amy Has Serious Vision Problems

The reality star has a YouTube channel, and in the clip above, Amy discussed her vision problems. She said she has

scars in my eyes.

Her vision problem is known as

toxoplasmosis.

According to Mayo Clinic, Amy is infected with a parasite. She may have contracted this illness because of exposure to cat feces – the parasite might also have entered her body when she ate meat that was too raw. There’s also a chance that Darlene passed the parasite to her when she was pregnant with Amy. With regard to vision, this infection can cause (as per the same source):

• Eye pain.
• Poor vision.
• Floaters, which are specks that seem to swim in your vision.

This is why Amy’s eligible for disability. She’s legally blind. Amy can see from one eye, and she’s partially blind in the other. This is very sad. She’s looking after two children while living with bipolar disorder, legal blindness and more. Is it any wonder she cried in season 5? Of course, these are serious burdens. Now, according to NerdWallet, the average disability payment per month for a Kentucky resident is $1,446.53.

There’s no proof that she gets a certain amount, but she might get that much. So, that money would help her to pay the bills.

Amy said onscreen that she gets disability payments, so that’s a sure thing. She does have income for that reason. People with disabilities can have a lot of trouble functioning in the work world. It’s not typically a level playing field for them. That’s why disability checks are given to those who need them. Amy appears on reality TV, but that’s different from doing a job where 20/20 vision is needed – it’s a lot different.

So, 1000-Lb Sisters star Amy isn’t rich. That’s certain. However, she may not be “dirt poor” anymore. Like most people, Amy probably worries about money. Kids are expensive. Now that she’s single again, she can take care of her own money, rather than being bossed around by a controlling yet insecure man. Hopefully, she’ll make smart spending choices. Amy looks fabulous lately and deserves the very best in life, no matter what she weighs.

Sources: Amy Slaton/YouTube, NerdWallet, Mayo Clinic