Got a shock today

[Enjoy Your Day]

If you can't vent here, then where else can you vent so please don't apologize.  My "it's not fair and I want to kick some butt" mode is kickin' into gear- let me at 'em.   Please stay strong and be good to yourself so you can be there for your hubby as well as yourself.   

Tomorrow, please try to find at least one thing to enjoy for the two of you even if it's only for a few moments.  Sometimes those moments can buoy the spirit more than anyone can imagine.

[Kim]

Praying for ya'll. 

The insurance stuff is what gets so many people.  And when you have healthy issuses, it's all that more important that you not have a break in coverage.

God bless you and your hubby.

[Cricket]

Thank you everyone for your responses, it sure helps when you are down.

Well this week is a week of sorting things out.  Tomorrow we have appt. at social security to gather more info.  My brother told us that is the best thing to do as everyone's situtation is different so we need to get our own info., also taking care of some other paper work for cobra.

We will be able to get cobra for 18 months (maybe more), which we only need it for 2 yrs. and then I will be on medicare.

My daughters are such blessings.  Both have offered to to give us money if we need it.  My oldest brought dinner tonight, and a few frozen homemade ones.  Tonight she made us a huge pot of chicken soup, sine I have not been able to eat anything without getting sick and have had diarrhea since Monday.   My 8 yr. old grandson came after school on Monday and told his papa he wanted to help him, so he gave him a dollar........how cute is that.    So I feel very blessed because I have the best family, and I am glad my husband is going to be home, cause the last year has been very tiring for him, he also has a defibrillator and mild heart issues. 

My new saying is "If God brings you to it, he'll bring you through it."   Will keep you posted on what all agencies have to say.

[irish]

This happened to my hubby many years ago when the economy was very slow and no jobs anywhere. His company went belly up unexpectedly and he was 100% vested in his retirement. He got 4,000$ which is diddly squat. Everyone else got about the same amount. We also had to get Cobra.

The sad thing was---the chief financial officer walked off with all the money but they didn't have enough proof to sic the law on him. Some of the staff had heard the guy talking on the phone with people and the parts of the conversation were pretty incriminating. We all hope that he lives to be an old age and has to be in a nursing home, in pain, with his mind still intact. lol

Anyway, I feel for you and knowing how this can upset your family. I would think that he can apply for early social security and be able to receive pretty close to what he would have if he had worked the next 2 years. He can also work a part time job that won't interfere with the social security(check with the SS as they have the figures as to how much you can earn before you have to pay taxes) and you could pay for your cobra this way.

After living through some of this stuff that you think will never happen to you, I have learned that where there is a will there is a way. I have also learned that one must always check out things and find the whole story so that the finances are put in jeopardy. If one person tells me one thing at the social security office I would double and triple check to make sure I was given the correct information. Also, you should be able to go on medicare in 2 years or when he would have naturally retired and then you can get a supplement.

Let yourself grieve for a few days and then get a pen and paper and the newspaper and after hubby has checked out the job situation in your area and made a decision of how he plans to handle this, he might want you to go with him to the SS office.

Men really take losing a job hard as it really is how they define themselves. Women are somewhat the same but we have other things such as mother and chief cook and bottle washer that define who we are. It is tough but you will make it through. Having less money is no fun but there is always a way to survive. Happiness doesn't come with a job or a paycheck, it comes with the love of family and friends and having a roof over our head with enough food to eat. We aren't made to need all those big things, that is man's doing. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers. Irish

[Cricket]

Thanks for all the suggestions.  I feel like I have calmed down somewhat, but I still have diarrhea, 7th day!  I also have another infection in my partoid gland, so I have antibiotics to take.   

Oh well this to shall pass!!

[Katybarstool]

Cricket

My heart goes out to your an dyour husband. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that this will be a temporary situation for you.

Hugs

KAthyx

[Meld256]

Cricket,

What an awful shock for you and your husband! I hope by this time you've gotten some information from Social Security and are able to know somewhat how to proceed.  Just a thought, couldn't he also apply for unemployment benefits in the meantime?

I understand what a difficult time this must be for you both.  Something similar happened to my husband 5 years ago.  It was a challenging time in our lives, but with God's grace and love from family, we made it through.  Sounds like you certainly have 2 wonderful daughters there...and your grandson, how cute and how sweet of him! 

I like your new saying "If God brings you to it, He'll bring you through it".  So very, very true...This may well be a blessing in disguise after all, but I know it's VERY disguised right now!
Take care.  My thoughts and prayers are with you.

Melinda

[Cricket]

Well we did go to Social Security and have decided to try and make due with unemployment for a year till he is 66 and then our monthly income would increase by 250.00.  It will be more than tight but we have to.

It was strange today was the first time we went for groceries, and I had to think "Can I afford to buy this, do I really need this?"  I guess we can do it just need to think before we buy.

Thanks for all your support, do not know what I would of done without all of you.

[Enjoy Your Day]

Cricket,
My husband and I have hit the wall of " not working/savings gone." I almost feel like I did when we were engaged, just starting out, and trying to save for the wedding and baby etc.  If I look at the situation in a negative way I get stressed then sick. So, we've tried to make a game of it and pretend like we're starting over again and in a funny way we are.

Instead of working, my job is to save. Coupon clippings are treated as paychecks and any other savings are considered my income.  If I iron instead of the cleaners, the money saved is income.

Even though you don't know me please know that you have on more person on your side hoping for the best.  Keep us updated as to how things are going,

Enjoy Your Day

[Cricket]

It is funny you should mention coupon clipping, I was watching extreme couponing and told my husband we should try that.  S we are gonna give it a try,  thanks for your support.

[Carolina]

Dearest Cricket,

All that stress and then health problems flaring up.   Makes it harder.

Your family sounds marvelous.  The biggest blessing, as ye sow, so shall ye reap!

There are lots and lots of ON LINE coupons.  If you are going to spend money on ANYTHING, check for a coupon or promotion code on line.

You won't be eating out a lot probably, but there are lots of sites with super discounts for every kind of place to eat.

It is just so unfair that we don't have a better support system when companies clearly don't treat people fairly.

Get well, Cricket.

Keep us posted.

Hugs

Elaine

[Meld256]

Cricket,

Wanted to tell you I'm keeping you and your husband in my continued thoughts and prayers. Hope the support here can make things just a bit easier on you. 

I know; the Extreme Couponing show is something else, isn't it? Don't know if I could (or would want to be) that dedicated to it, but I admit I clip coupons a lot lately. I match up to the store specials and if I can take advantage of them both together, it can save quite a bit!  My husband teases me, but not after he sees how little I spend. 

I buy things differently than I used to; I get a huge bag of dog food for our one little dog. It's much cheaper in the long run, and I buy when I have that coupon. Again with coffee; wait for the coupon and buy with the store sale.  Bulk pack of chicken on mark-down; put it in the freezer.

[Eileen]

I know this post is late, but I just saw it today. My husband is 63 and lost his job a year ago. He still hasn't had any luck finding a job, not even a part time job.
He took an early retirement last month and we found out Social Security doesn't consider unemployment as income. So, you can collect unemployment and retirement at the same time.

I wish I had known that earlier because we could have been paying down our debt all this time. Then when the unemployment stopped we would be in better shape and wouldn't miss that two hundred dollar lose.

He has spinal stenosis, so he filed a claim for disability. If he gets approved, we'll get the full retirement rate. If your husband has a "recognized " health problem, he may want to go that route. You can always put your claim on hold, if you get employment.