I am grateful that after not working for a little over 2 years I finally got a job at the end of July 2010. I am now working for a major Midwest grocery store chain. While this is not the best career for me, nor is it in the field I studied in college, one has to pay the bills, put gas in the car, let alone maintenance, and eat. Right? I work 20 hours a week for $9.30/hr which comes out to be around $167 net. Yes, about $20 from each check goes to the government, the city where I work, the state, and Fed, this because I am single with no dependents. Between this and another small income, I live on about $1200 a month. While I was on unemployment for my last job, I lived on about $1600 a month. But the bright side is $1200 is better then nothing.
Now if I decided not to work, and go on total SSD, I would get $982/month this is $782 from SSD, and $200 in food assistance and have all my health insurance covered by medicaid and medicare, because I have a documented disability to my back and legs. In deciding to work, I get to pay medicare a monthly premium and still have bills from my doctors office that aren’t covered. So right now between working and not working there is a $218 difference. So I can sit on my butt all day at home for $982 or go out and work for $1200. What would you chose?
Choosing between the 2, I chose to go to work. If I sat at home, I would just be depressed, want to eat, and then gain weight, making me heavier then I already am. By going to work, I have already lost over 25 pounds. I am pretty happy. My feet, legs, and back hurt by the end of my shift, but I have made an honest living. Not lived off the government or tax payers.
I have watch some of my own lazy family(cousins) members sit at home collecting money from the government, by having babies, declaring mental illness, or some other disability, when they are well able to go out and work a job. I know the job market is hard, but I have watched them over the years grow fat and spoiled by the system. One thing, the system makes it hard to get off of it. Makes it too easy to sit home and chill.
I do feel sorry for those with legitimate disabilities who are trying to get SSD and keep getting denied 3 and 4 times being thrown into the street, because they can’t pay bills. They can’t work, nor can they get any assistance. It is a sad thing. Our government system is so wacked. They can send millions over seas, but they can’t help give a hand up to those here at home, or those with legitimate medically documented problems. Especially in this economy. They can bail out Wall Street, but can’t bail out the family next door who is almost homeless.
I am grateful to be working none the less. I feel better, good in my spirit for it.
June 20, 2011 at 11:50 pm |
I am struggling with this dilemma of not knowing how I can get a job. I’m currently receiving SSA and SSI. Though, I want to become a worker. Because I am depressed all the time and I sleep til the night. The nights have become my days. Because I am too ashamed to be out during the day. And plus its really hot. Now a days. I like to exercise and doing this at night can be so much more peaceful. I want to earn an honest living but I don’t know the steps in order to do that. I feel like I’m stuck in a rut. I don’t really know how this works but as I began to read. It sounds just like me and some knowledge of the right approaches would be beneficial to the beginning roles of one of my personal goals.
June 21, 2011 at 3:27 pm |
One thing you can do to get started is to brainstorm. First get a good notebook or journal.
Write down all the skills you think you have. Write out what you like to do, also your goals, dreams, and vision. Work on writing out all past work history. See how to turn this into a resume.
In the journal also list your education. List even self taught things. In doing this you can see what you might be good at.
Next see if there is a Vocational Rehabilitation office in your town or the closest one to you. It is usually located in any State office building. Or look up on the net for you state or county. They are usually good at getting you started in the right direction toward training and services to get you working no matter the disability.
Something else, if you like volunteering, you can always get out with some good community orgaization of your passion and help them. Good place to start is with http://www.volunteermatch.com
They can help find something that interests you there. Also find an interest group at http://www.meetup.com, this site can help with finding group of interests so you can network and meet people.
I would say try what I have listed, and may blessings follow you.
Cate