The relief of disability
Well, I did it. Effective yesterday, I'm officially out on disability. And I have to say that I feel lighter, like a burden has been lifted from my body. I don't think I realized just how much the stress of trying to manage the workload was taking a toll on me. I knew it was, but now the difference is palpable. Now my primary focus is on my health and managing my care. This may be as close to actual retirement as I ever get, so I'll take it!
Gary
Comments
-
Good for you
So happy to hear that everything worked out for you. It's important to limit stress. Now go enjoy. Best wishes to you always. Stay well.
Cin
0 -
I'm amazed
It blows my mind how much better I've been feeling with that work stress gone. I really had underestimated the importance of focusing on myself full time. Thanks, everyone, for the encouragement and support.
0 -
so happy to hear this Gary
as you say, focusing on you and your health is number 1. I still toss this around each day, but so far still feeling so 'okay' that I am going to hang in there as long as I can. wishing you all the best!!!
0 -
Glad to hear
that you are going to have the time to live and work on your health. You did sound like you had a lot on your plate. I try to remember something a very wise coworker told me when I used to stress at work (big corporate 20 years). The graveyard is full of indespensible people. Eventually it clicked that work will always let you work, it's to their benefit. Only you can make the decision to step away and see if it is better for you. If you can make it financially on disability then I think it is a really wise move.
0 -
Yes, a little scaryAbunai said:Scary
What is your household dynamic, Gary?
Were/are you supporting a family still or have they all moved out?
Is it SSDI disability?
I live with my "spousal equivalent" - we really haven't found a better term for it. She works full time (works from home), so I'll be able to go on her benefits when mine run out. We've both been married before, but neither of us has kids. (Though don't tell that to the dogs; they think they're our kids.) In the short-term, if AFLAC doesn't approve me for short-term disability, I may have to pull something out of retirement. After six months, I should be able to get on my company's long term disability policy, which would be 60% of my salary until retirement age or death, whichever comes first. (I'm 53 and there's still no cure, so that one is a crap shoot.) If I'm still around at 65, then I'd take a "pay cut" and go on SS. There are quite a few "what ifs" in the equation, so nothing is in stone, which, given the situation, is rather fitting, I suppose. But yeah definitely a bit scary. However, based on how I've been feeling, I simply can't work right now, and I don't expect to be able to in the foreseeable future. So, however this plays out, I think it was the right call.
0 -
The right call.ImNotDeadYet said:Yes, a little scary
I live with my "spousal equivalent" - we really haven't found a better term for it. She works full time (works from home), so I'll be able to go on her benefits when mine run out. We've both been married before, but neither of us has kids. (Though don't tell that to the dogs; they think they're our kids.) In the short-term, if AFLAC doesn't approve me for short-term disability, I may have to pull something out of retirement. After six months, I should be able to get on my company's long term disability policy, which would be 60% of my salary until retirement age or death, whichever comes first. (I'm 53 and there's still no cure, so that one is a crap shoot.) If I'm still around at 65, then I'd take a "pay cut" and go on SS. There are quite a few "what ifs" in the equation, so nothing is in stone, which, given the situation, is rather fitting, I suppose. But yeah definitely a bit scary. However, based on how I've been feeling, I simply can't work right now, and I don't expect to be able to in the foreseeable future. So, however this plays out, I think it was the right call.
Sounds to me like you're right.
I've bee battling that choice for a while, but as a sole financial provider. If it were just me, My long term disability is only 50%
Anyway. Best of luck.
0 -
Good luck to you tooAbunai said:The right call.
Sounds to me like you're right.
I've bee battling that choice for a while, but as a sole financial provider. If it were just me, My long term disability is only 50%
Anyway. Best of luck.
You may want to look into whether that 50% is tax free if you pay the premium. I read something like that somewhere, but haven't had the chance to verify it with my accountant yet. Worth a look at any rate.
0
Discussion Boards
- All Discussion Boards
- 6 CSN Information
- 6 Welcome to CSN
- 121.9K Cancer specific
- 2.8K Anal Cancer
- 446 Bladder Cancer
- 309 Bone Cancers
- 1.6K Brain Cancer
- 28.5K Breast Cancer
- 398 Childhood Cancers
- 27.9K Colorectal Cancer
- 4.6K Esophageal Cancer
- 1.2K Gynecological Cancers (other than ovarian and uterine)
- 13K Head and Neck Cancer
- 6.4K Kidney Cancer
- 671 Leukemia
- 794 Liver Cancer
- 4.1K Lung Cancer
- 5.1K Lymphoma (Hodgkin and Non-Hodgkin)
- 237 Multiple Myeloma
- 7.1K Ovarian Cancer
- 63 Pancreatic Cancer
- 487 Peritoneal Cancer
- 5.5K Prostate Cancer
- 1.2K Rare and Other Cancers
- 540 Sarcoma
- 734 Skin Cancer
- 653 Stomach Cancer
- 191 Testicular Cancer
- 1.5K Thyroid Cancer
- 5.8K Uterine/Endometrial Cancer
- 6.3K Lifestyle Discussion Boards