Posted by JohnLA on April 26, 2012, at 22:48:40
In reply to Disability? How do you survive?, posted by Phil on April 17, 2012, at 12:27:17
phil-
very sorry to hear about your work problems. unfortunately i am in the same boat.
i was just put on 'early retirement' at age 49 after being a teacher since i was 22. i rarely missed work. (yes, i know teachers get a lot of time off.) i, too, started working when i was 12 delivering newspapers. then, on to high school jobs. i even had 2 jobs during college. i never realized how much self-esteem comes from work until i stopped working. argh!
i was on long-term disability for 24 months before my 'retirement.'
i will say this; if there is anyway possible that you can stay in the workplace, even part-time, my recommendation is do it.
i can't tell you how worse i think i am mentally/physically from not going to work each day. let alone the drastic drop in income/benefits.
still, if you can't work that is totally understandable. but, please keep a seed of hope that you'll be able to work again. that's what i'm hoping and praying for.
john
ps if you do go for ssdi i recommend using a lawyer.
poster:JohnLA
thread:1015812
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20120425/msgs/1016521.html