hubby laid off again LONG>

[lamoncha lover]

after 18 months laid off husband was offered a great job..but once he had his physical they pulled the offer due to pain meds or maybe his hep c..i really don't know. He managed to get a diff job from a guy who was his foreman years ago and they hired him in spite of his conditions. He worked there I think 8 weeks and was again laid off. We are in a world of hurt. It seems obvious to me he is not going to be able to do this work. With the meds he is on I doubt even Walmart will hire him.
Just wondering if anyone knows if he will be able to collect unemployment again..or if anyone has any suggestions. We are thinking about school? for something he could physically do....
Also...we have land paid for and a small started house on it. How awful morally is it in yours opinion to walk away from a house that most likely is going to suck us dry? We have tried to sell the other but the market is bad. And I hate to sell something paid for to keep something we are in deep debt for. Esp with money being scarve. This house needs alot of work and I doubt we could sell it for what we owe.
We both feel cornered...to the point it feels like we ought to chew our legs off to escape the trap but to behonest neither of us are thinking very clearly right now. Theres an awful lot of depression....

[jwal10]

You do your best and look out for yourself. I would walk to save what is paid for. Cut to the bone and live small.

I lost my job today. 16 years and all the thanks I got was "Thanks for all your hard work" Sweetie and I will enjoy our life here at the little cabin. The stress is over. I will be 55 in March, wanted 4 more years for 20....Oh well....James

[Queen Bee]

I wish I had answers that could help but I don't.. Maybe others will post.. First, have you contacted SS for disablity? Since I do not know your /dh history.. Start there.. Go on your state's web page and find out what your unemployement rights are. Good luck and many prayers for you and your husband.

[lamoncha lover]

Queen
Husband has not applied for ss disability. He did go to job service. He may be eligible for unemployment. But you can't draw it and be trying for disability. Not sure which direction to go.In my mind he is disabled, but since its such a fight to get it..before he would see a penny if he ever did win..we would alreay be in deep trouble.
James
I am sorry about your job loss. There seems to be little loyalty to employees anymore at all.After 10 years husband was laid off with no notice. It took the wind out of our sails for sure.
This last job I guess really is like the last nail in the coffin. I didn't originally post we are 48 and 53 years old. ( I am older..no not a cougar:>) LOL) and also have responsibility for 4 young grand children. If we go to the the other place..where I want to really be anyway, we could make it financially. But it would be hard on the kids. It has been a real struggle the past 4 yrs to get them even passing in school...We still have a lot to do to the country place...to get it liveable.Spose if I took a loan against it we could finish it off..but that defeats the purpose.

[GrannyG]

Maybe something like a telephone answering job ? I know the news talks about an electric company opening an answering service for their company close by us..some jobs around us have shut down as well. Welding is always needed....or what about a lawn mowing job for summer time, but our friend works summer and winter mowing lawns...what kind of jobs has he held so we might be able to figure something out ? Praying things go better for you both....

[lamoncha lover]

he has been a machinist for 31 years. he is on methodone and another narcotic for pain from 2 separate accidents commuting to his job. He had just had his surgery on his neck when he was rear ended again. His neck doesnt bother him all that much,but he has back pain with radiant pain down his leg and they have not been able to find what is wrong in the past 5 years. He is also getting carpel tunnel and arthritis in his knees. He is also pos for hep c.with some scarring and of course high liver enzymes. He did the interferon and other med treatment I think 5 yrs ago but he is one of the unlucky 50% the tx did not work for.
Hell i lovehim and I wouldnt hire him with all that

[SilverFlame819]

I have a friend on disability. Her family had to fight tooth and nail to get it for her, but trust me - once you get it (finallyyyyy) it will be worth it to not have to feel how you're feeling right now anymore. I'd try for it if I was you. Unemployment only lasts so long...

[Ann-NWIowa]

Do you have custody of 4 young children? Couldn't you get FIP, food stamps and Medicaid? Do not hesitate to apply for anything you are eligible for including going to food banks. Since your dh is basically unemployable I'd say apply for SSD and live on welfare in the meantime. Could you move to the place that's paid for in the Spring and camp in the house as you work on it? It would beat being out on the street or under a bridge no matter how bad the house is. If the kids are young enough it would be a big adventure for them. Prepare them by reading the Little House books aloud each evening.

[clovis]

I'm so sorry for the job loss.

It seems that there has to be a way that he can earn an income. Is self employment an option? Starting a small business that wouldn't interfer with the UI? eBay?

I'd hang onto anything that I owned outright...that seems like the best security you could want.

Praying for you!!!

[Grandmotherbear]

lamoncha and jwal- sorry for your and your husband job losses-don't know where you are but here when GFB started his small business subcontracting he lost unemployment. Second suggestion you apply for foodstamps and WIC if grands are under age 5. And medicaid.
Medicare turns down ALL disability claims first try unless the documentation is so immaculate even a layperson could see it was justified. Cost of a lawyer would be justified to help. Meicare just hopes people will get discouraged and go away. That is how it stretches its allotment.
Lamancha-can you get a job anywhere?

[lamoncha lover]

I have applied for quite a few jobs. I am pretty outdated as I haven't been in the workforce for quite some time. Unemployment is high in our area. Seems no reason to hire an outdated model when you have such a large pool to hire from.
I do however have kind of a plan.
My grooming shop (pre grandkids) made good money.Got an old camper here I started ripping apart for a mobile shop. Like everything else it will need repairs but if I can get it fixed up I think I have a way to make eough money to survive.ESp if we move to the land where our expenses would be minimal. It would create some cash and it would be flexible enough maybe going to school would be an option. Man it's all scarey. I never imagined in my mid 50's to be going through so many life changes. It's ez to sink into despair....if my head can only stay focused on options and not the clouds of doom.

[chewie]

i am so sorry. i know that doesn't really help, but i hate to hear anyone going thru this. we worked on the last ranch for over 10 years, then acted as a sort of agent, showing the house, ranch, answering questions etc. for those coming to look to buy it. then when they sold it, bam! we had 2 weeks to move, and they 'kicked us on the way out too'.

i don't know what goes thru those types' head, how they sleep i dont' know.

i don't know much about ss, but seems since hubby cannot seem to get a job cuz of his issues, then that would be a route to try. and yes, apply for anything and everythign that would help you with the food, kids, etc. again, sorry for your problems. i fear this is going to be much mroe common in the near future tho., many more will be in the same boat.

[fetch33]

Is your husband a veteran? The VA helped my brother-in-law get on disability on the first try.

[lamoncha lover]

yes he is a vet and has an appointment coming up. He is basically a minimizer of his health stuff. I have told him he had best be totally honest with the doctor as to what is up with him as if it isnt documented forget getting anyone to consider him disabled. Things like level of pain..if he was at a 7 all week but on appt day he's at a 3..don't just say 3! IDoes VA have social workers? Voc rehab? Surely there would be someone who canhelp lead us in the options available?
Thank you all. When I wrote this i was frantic...I appreciate all your input to help settle my thoughts

[Jan Doling]

Could you also park your mobile grooming vehicle at the flea market on weekends? You might get extra clients that way and perhaps pay for the table/booth fee....maybe even sell a few things from the garden as well. Is he able to garden at all?

[wifemommy]

What kind of machining? CNC? Could he be a programer or draftsmen? If he is not running machines maybe they can work with the med issues. Annie

[RebelDigger]

Originally Posted by Ann-NWIowa

Do you have custody of 4 young children? Couldn't you get FIP, food stamps and Medicaid? Do not hesitate to apply for anything you are eligible for including going to food banks. Since your dh is basically unemployable I'd say apply for SSD and live on welfare in the meantime. Could you move to the place that's paid for in the Spring and camp in the house as you work on it? It would beat being out on the street or under a bridge no matter how bad the house is. If the kids are young enough it would be a big adventure for them. Prepare them by reading the Little House books aloud each evening.

Exactly what I was going to post. Good advice.

[Ann-NWIowa]

You're right about him telling his doctors everything. Social Security disability is 100% dependent on what the doctor's reports say. On the other hand, I'd think if the doctors have him on Methadone they know what kind of pain he's in. Pain drugs like that are not given out lightly.

Be careful about going back to school. Investigate what grants might be available and avoid student loans. I see too many people struggling to pay student loans at all age levels. Student loans do not go away even in bankruptcy and I don't think you want to have your social security reduced to pay a student loan! When my dh was out of work for 3 years I got into a government program for displaced homemakers and was able to update my skills at the local community college at no cost to me.

I don't know the story with the kids, but is there anyway the parents could step up and take responsibility for at least some of their expenses?

[jlrbhjmnc]

Wow, that's a lot going on! I am praying for ya'll. I suggest this very seriously: give Dave Ramsey a call on his live radio show (check on daveramsey.com). I hear him counsel families in distress like yours all the time. He's really, really good at helping you get clarity on your situation.

Yes, the VA has social workers and rehab...I have seen them work miracles!