Posted by Novelagent on May 7, 2012, at 6:30:47
In reply to Re: Disability? How do you survive?, posted by JohnLA on April 26, 2012, at 22:48:40
John--
You may benefit, if you have SSDI, by googling "clubhouse mental health" and contacting someone there about becoming a client. They can connect you with employers that are willing to hire someone for, say, 3 hours a day for 3 days, or something that adds up to rather little, like that-- maybe a couple of 4 hour shifts or so. It would be under $1000 a month, so you keep your benefits, but the key point is, you have something to do... Just an option. One caveat is that they may require that you have a state social caseworker assigned to you (at least that's the case with my state).
> 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:Novelagent
thread:1015812
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20120425/msgs/1017321.html