Reply #188: I lost my job in Jan. 2008 due to health problems and having a real jerk for a boss.

[Altoid_Cyclist]

Between my age (53 now) and a lot of health problems it was almost impossible to find any decent jobs to apply for that I could still do. I did manage to apply for (and get rejected) well over 100 jobs in the time since Jan. 2008. I was lucky enough to get a handful of interviews but age and health were not in my favor.

It wasn't my first choice, but I applied for SS Disability and early retirement. As is the custom. I was denied on my initial attempt. To say that I went through a lot of anxiety and depression for the last two years would be an understatement. I made a second attempt at retirement with the aid of an Attorney while continuing to apply for any jobs that I could. My appeal was filed in Nov. of 2008 and I still hadn't heard anything as of Dec. 18, 2009. That was the day that I had my second heart attack in three years. About ten days after the heart attack, my Lawyer called to let me know that the SSA Judge was going to rule in my favor even though they didn't know about the recent MI. That was a rather bittersweet moment. I have since received the 19 months of backpay (minus the Atty. share) and am now officially retired on disability.

The way that older workers are treated in this country now is a national disgrace. I would have preferred to continue to work, but I saw SS Disability as the only sure way to avoid losing our house. I might have lost the ability to do any physically strenuous work, but my mind was still functioning at a higher level that a lot of the people who interviewed me during those two years.

So technically speaking, I'm no longer unemployed. I still feel as though I was put out to pasture while still having a lot to offer an employer.