Looking for oppinons

[kathysmike]

A year ago I was in the hospital for about a month 6 blood transfusions, an operation to remove an infection from my lung. After a short recovery at home, I returned to work only to find out I went back too early was having problems with my blood-pressure was way to low, passing out at my desk. Dr decided to take me back off work. My employer decided to end our relationship.

Unemployment has now run out. After consulting with our Bishop we concluded that since my health has declined and I am still in pain daily and do not feel capable of putting in an honest days work that I need to go onto Disability. This would leave both my wife and myself on SS DI,

not a lot coming in, we have my 15 year old son with us full time with only $50.00 a month Child Support from his mom since she has less money coming than we do. I personally am having a real rough time excepting the fact that I can't work full time to support my family. I have looked into a couple of work at home schemes, not sure which way to go work at home with SS DI or just Work at Home, or simply collect SS DI.

Currently we are getting help with our larger expenses from our families, and the Church is helping out with some of our other expense, we can't continue this arrangement for very long.

We are looking for advise, opinions, counsel, thoughts, and Ideas, that anyone may have to offer us. Thanks in advance for your thoughts.

Edited January 16, 2012 by kathysmike
Typo

[applepansy]

I'm sorry you're in the situation. Your health is most important. Can you and your wife switch roles?

Be care of work-at-home SCHEMES. That is exactly what most are and they give the work-at-home companies who are legit a bad name. Be very careful. A friend just before Christmas did a secret shopper thing and ended up losing $2000.

I'm on disability and I understand the emotional toll that alone can take. Its a difficult process and a difficult transition. Its hard to not be able to work. I miss it. Even though I'm accomplishing other things that are more important, its still hard.

[pam]

Social Security has a program that assists those find different kinds of employment that are on any kind of social security benefits. I'm not sure about at home jobs but I can find out. That is a project my employer currently has a contract with from the treasury department. At least I could get you a phone number to call. I don't work in that department but they are in the same room as the one I work in.

Edited January 16, 2012 by pam

[applepansy]

Social Security has a program that assists those find different kinds of employment that are on any kind of social security benefits. I'm not sure about at home jobs but I can find out. That is a project my employer currently has a contract with from the treasury department. At least I could get you a phone number to call. I don't work in that department but they are in the same room as the one I work in.

Pam, I'd be interested. I'm not quite ready to work again but I can see it happening in the next couple of years. I know I'll probably have to go back to school.

[Blocky]

My parents are both on disability. I think they get about 1600 a month and they have a 13 and 15 year old at home. Their rent is over a thousand, so you can imagine it's VERY tight. THey get about 700 for food stamps to cover food. They buy things at garage sales and the flea market and resale them on Ebay for enough money to cover gas and insurance. It's super tight.

There have been good and bad things about them going on disability. Pretty much, the month they got disability was the month they spent almost all their time in bed, watching tv, being depressed. They didn't have to go out and make the money, and so they didn't... but they didn't do anything else either. So, if you go on disability (that's what it's there for, you've been paying into the system), just make sure to still enjoy life! Don't get addicted to pain pills, even if you do need them, don't let them dull your mind and spirit until you're a shell of who you used to be. This can be an opportunity to take some of the stress off of you if you'll allow it. Don't feel guilty for that. As far as financially, do the best you can. When I grew up money was TIGHT. I am now a happy functioning adult who knows how to be frugal and I don't regret being raised the way I was.

[LDSVALLEY]

Realize that you are a business. Your knowledge, skills and experience allow you to provide a service to someone in exchange for money to support your family. Carefully take inventory of your business and ask others what they think are your business's strength's. Part of that inventory is your health. What can you physically and mentally handle? What types of work, duration and frequency can you reasonably handle? If you do have to go on disability what restrictions are in place that you need to work within. What assistance can your wife and son provide to your business needs? What income do you need to generate either within disability allowances or as a stand on your own operation?

Take some time to answer these questions carefully. Then look at what you can do and begin to research the market to find what needs you can fill and for what form of return. It is not always money sometimes you can deal for goods etc. Include your family in the entire process, it may be a family business that can be created instead.

The biggest issue is people get in these situations and understandably begin seeing what they can not due and focus on that instead of understanding what they might be able to do, ,then trying and turn that into can do. I won't promise that it will work in your case but I know of several individuals who followed this process and either got by fine or actually did better then before they had issues.

The Ward, Stake or Church employment specialists should be able to help you with the process and offer suggestions.

Another approach is maximizing what funds you do bring in. The only saying that 1 dollar saved is equal to 2 dollars earned is actually true. How you spend each dollar is very important. From examining what expenses you can cut to how to stretch your dollar. People try to save their credit rating often as they slip further and further behind. Take stock of what you can reasonably handle and the as hard as it might be cut what you have to. If you are struggling with mortgage payments talk to your bank, often if you can at least make interest payments they will let that continue for some time especially if the economy is bad. It is a hassle for them to repo your home and they loose money every time they do one. Check into Government consolidation agencies that allow a minimum payment that is dispersed to creditors. If you own a home you might have to consider selling it if possible. If you have expensive electronic subscriptions get rid of them, ,turn heat down a few degree's, cook more from scratch, sell off non essential items. etc.

It can be very hard and is very frustrating, especially when youth are involved. We like to give them all they want but reality has to come first. It is humiliating for us men to admit we can't do something anymore, it is hard emotionally and physically. Focus on what you can do not what you can't. What you can provide not what you can't. The upside of your new reality not the downside etc.

I hope some of this is of help. The biggest thing is do something no matter how small to work toward a better tomorrow no matter how long that day might take. Keep the faith, trust the Lord, and provide for your family as best as you can, seek help from the Lord, church, family and friends, don't try and do this alone.

Your family will be in my prayers

[annewandering]

Disability is there for people who are disabled. You can get disability then work on how to become self sufficient. Doing one does not mean you cant do the other. Education is a very good idea. Be very careful to be educated in something that is going to work for you with your disability and will actually make money. Lots of kinds of education are valueless in the job market right now so be careful to not waste your time.

If you are unable to find something that works then find a way to be of worth with what you can do. Indexing records is something most can do at home for family history. No doubt there are other things as well.

There is no one way. Find what works for you and your situation and realize what is not doesnt have to be forever in most cases. :)