Unemployment sucks...

[StarCruiser]

I've been out o' work for almost 7 months now. Unemployment benefits ran our early this month. House is on Forbearance but, bills are still coming due that I now have little money to pay...

I've been in this state once or twice over the years but, usually had some money in reserve. This time is painfully different. Over 62, in the IT/Computer industry? Probably little chance of getting anything anytime soon(ish). Very age oriented business - especially for someone who's more of a generalist, rather than a specialist (not an expert in Cybersecurity or Administration, let alone "Artificial Unintelligence").

If I were a few years older, I could probably just retire officially and Social Security (until the Repugnicans try to nuke it) might be okay. I can't do that at 62 since that would seriously reduce what I would get ... permanently.

What to do - Gofundme? Most retail jobs pay crap and most wouldn't hire me since they would expect me to jump for the first proper IT job that comes along.

 

[auntiehill]

I am in the same place. About 5 months or so without work. Luckily, family have thrown a few bucks my way and my husband has a steady job---but we're barely scraping by. My foot problems have caused the biggest issue--I can't stand for very long. I'm thinking of applying for disability. The only jobs hiring right now that I might possibly have a chance of getting require the ability to stand for several hours at a time. I simply can't do that. I also can't afford the surgery to fix the problem--but the doctor says there's a chance even surgery won't fix it. So I am pretty screwed.

 

[StarCruiser]

Well, I did put up a GoFundMe today... Not sure it'll do any good but, gotta try something.

I don't think we are allowed to post those here though.

 

[The Salt Umpire]

If I were a few years older, I could probably just retire officially and Social Security (until the Repugnicans try to nuke it) might be okay. I can't do that at 62 since that would seriously reduce what I would get ... permanently.

The annual COLA's help significantly with that. Plus you get 5 years of income before 67. It might be a factor if your family is long-lived, but by then, it won't matter much

 

[Avro Arrow]

I don't think we are allowed to post those here though.

You're right, not allowed to post those, sorry.

However... if one were to put it as an unobtrusive link in one's signature line, that's typically not an issue.

 

[Kraig]

You can start Social Security at 62 and if you find employment, and you have only been on SS for 6 months or less, you would have the option to pay back all the SS you've received, and take it delayed or full at a later time. Information can be found here.

 

[bdub76]

Bogleheads is probably a good place to ask questions of this nature. But prepare yourself, it's a crowd that massively saves. For a more balanced approach on withdrawing funds, check out Erin Talks Money on YouTube.

At 62, you're old enough to withdraw from a 401k without tax penalty.

To get a better idea about social security, check out: https://ssa.tools/

I'd honestly look at applying for a couple of positions a week and keep grinding at it.

My biggest challenge with older workers is that they either come across as combative in interviews, or they flat out say that they're not willing to learn new stuff. As long as you're not doing those two things, then you should have a chance.

Right now, my role is kinda a split between IT and Finance. I code every day in SQL and Python. And now, we're using Claude as part of our workflow. Gotta keep learning stuff. This stuff is changing fast. I definitely wouldn't put down AI in interviews either. What AI has allowed us to do is create quality code as if we hired on developers without hiring on developers. It's not code that's good enough to ship in a product, but it's far better than what we have been producing in house before utilizing Claude.

And I have no clue what you mean by generalist.

 

[StarCruiser]

I'm not a developer/coder etc. I'm more on the user support hardware/software side of the business.

I've worked on every freakin' type of PC systems since the 1980's - laptops (including portables and old luggables), desktops, servers (all the way back to Compaq Systempros), printers, storage systems, network gear etc....

The problem with going to SSA, I wouldn't get enough to even begin to hold on right now and the '401K' from my last job was a joke. Already gone.

 

[camdudetenger2018]

there are dark sides to employment working and jobs too

 

[C.E. Evans]

About three years ago, I got congestive heart failure and was in the hospital and out of work for five months. My savings evaporated quickly, and everything that could possibly go wrong did exactly that. Got sued and taken to court multiple times for missed payments by my landlord and credit card companies, couldn't get back to work due to a ton of hoops I had to jump through first, and I didn't have a support system. Eviction papers were filed against me while I was still recovering, and the bank threatened to repossess my car. Tried to get some kind of public assistance, but all I got was the runaround or a dead end. While trying to get a loan to keep a roof over my head, I fell victim to a scam artist who pushed me even further into debt. At one point, all I had to eat was chicken broth and condiment packets, and had to ration those eventually. I went by a food pantry once, but when I saw mothers and their children standing in line, I couldn't bring myself to take food away from them and went back home.

The only thing that saved me was that my employer held my job for me until I could finish the red tape I had to swim through to get back. But being out of work for just five months ruined me financially. My once excellent credit went straight into the toilet, and debt collectors came after me one after another. I just couldn't get my head above water. When my pay checks started to be garnished, I filed Chapter 13 bankruptcy, which protected me from creditors, allowed me to keep my car and what few things I owned, and established a repayment plan that was a fraction of what I would have had to pay otherwise.

All that for me being too ill to work for only five months. My heart goes out to anyone who has been out of work longer, can't find work, or is physically unable to work. It's more than rough, it can be the worst experience of your life.

 

[The Salt Umpire]

It is

 

[1001001]

Well, I did put up a GoFundMe today... Not sure it'll do any good but, gotta try something.

I don't think we are allowed to post those here though.

Yes, as @Avro Arrow said, you're okay with the link you've put in.

That must be a very difficult situation.

Best of luck.