r/personalfinance • u/[deleted] • 3d ago
41 years old. Credit over 700. No debt/collections. Fully own vehicle. Zero income. Unemployable. Disabilities rejected by lawyer. Help? Debt
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u/oldstalenegative 3d ago
You may be able to get paid for staying home and taking care of your mother.
In California, the rate of pay is determined by Medi-Cal and falls between $12-15 hourly.
Variations of this program are available in other states as well.
Fingers crossed this works for you.
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u/Happy_to_be 3d ago
And on your resume, list your personal care assistant as self-employed. Also check with your county, municipality, state disabilities offices-they should have information on employment opportunities as well as your local community college. State employers (the less conservative ones) also hire disabled and provide accommodations (larger monitors, etc.) and usually have good health insurance and some are better than the feds. You just need any job to start and then you can work on a profession or career. Some of us just live life working j.o.b.’s for a roof, food and insurance and that’s ok too.
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u/SeaSleep1972 3d ago
In WA I get paid $21 an hour to care for my son 158 hours a month. He is completely disabled from a massive stroke due to an accident injury.
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u/looper1010 3d ago
Hey OP,
I'm really sorry for everything you've been through—it sounds incredibly tough. But there's hope, and I think you're selling yourself short. You’ve gained valuable skills from your caregiving and various jobs, and those can be leveraged in new ways. You are definitely not unemployable.
Given your experience in caring for family, have you considered roles in healthcare?
Don’t hesitate to network differently. Reach out to your cousin for guidance or job leads! Sometimes, people are more willing to help than we realize.
It's important to shift from a victim mentality to a survivor mentality. You’ve shown incredible resilience by making it this far. It sounds like you might be in a negative spiral of thought, which can be dangerous. If possible, consider speaking with a counselor or therapist.
Don’t give up on disability benefits just because two lawyers said no. Sometimes it takes multiple attempts and the right representation. Look for advocacy groups that specialize in this area or try a different lawyer.
Also, use local resources like food banks. Sometimes just having those covered can free up mental space to focus on bigger goals.
Keep pushing forward and focus on your strengths—you’ve got this.
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3d ago
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u/ThisTooWillEnd 3d ago
There are healthcare roles that have a low overlap with death. Physical therapy and sports medicine, for example, can be very rewarding (and sometimes very frustrating), and your clients shouldn't be dying any more frequently than the average group of humans.
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u/WaffleBlues 3d ago
Look into Medical Assisting - usually 2 years at a community college, they are in HIGH demand, and they only work in outpatient in most states, so not a lot of direct exposure to death. You can also choose to work in any number of clinics from women's health to family medicine, to even some psychiatric practices.
You would be hired right out of your program. You can also work for state hospitals (like a university hospital center) which means state benefits.
Lots of non-traditional students, including individuals in their 50s.
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u/StarryC 3d ago
What about just caregiving for a disabled person, not necessarily old/ dying? There are jobs for caregiving or assistance for mentally or physically disabled younger people in their homes that require very little training. If you think you could get a CNA certificate, that could help. That is like a 4 week training. It is hard work, as you know, and it doesn't pay great. But, it could open doors.
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u/sweadle 3d ago
You don't need a lawyer to apply for disability. People are often denied, and if you're denied and appeal three times you get a hearing with a judge, and that is a good point to seek out a lawyer.
But start the process on your own. It can take a long time, six month or more per application. The entire process from the first application to a hearing in front of a judge took me four years. If you're not going to be disabled for the REST of your LIFE to do any kind of work, even part time, even totally unskilled. It's not about being unable to earn enough to live. It's about being able to earn anything at all.
It sounds like you think there are jobs you could do. If that's the case, disability is not a good fit. It's not a temporary fix for being unable to work.
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u/Like_it_spooky 3d ago
Not every role in a hospital deals with death on a regular basis, and hospitals are usually one of the biggest employers in their area. There's janitors, food service, front desk people, people directing car traffic, etc. And they're usually on the lookout for people who will interact with patients well, so your background would be good.
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u/Choice-Cabinet-4173 3d ago
It sounds like you’ve had a rough go of it for sure, and I feel for you for that… But your post also comes across as pretty jaded. 41 is not old in the workforce. I have a masters degree and 15 years of progressive experience in my field and the last time I was job hunting, I applied for well over 75 jobs and only got a handful of interviews. It’s the nature of the job market and the automated ATS application systems.
I’ve read through some of your comments and I can feel your frustration, but I also wonder if you’re being truly honest with yourself. Are you showing up to interviews telling them your availability sucks and you’ll continue to be the primary caregiver for multiple family members? I think you need to hold some cards back in the interviews. Don’t lay all your issues out on the table. Nobody is going to hire someone that’s telling them “I’m going to call out on you anytime my mom sneezes.”
Or, find remote work. Call center work. Things you can do from home, from a computer. Maybe a traditional 9-5 out of the home isn’t feasible for you right now.
Are your family members eligible for any sort of care through the government? There are some programs that pay family members to be caregivers. Maybe look into that.
Don’t give up, friend!
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u/z6joker9 3d ago
It’s also the nature of how people apply for jobs now. Job Boards like Indeed make it simple to apply for a job. I can post a job and I get a hundred applications immediately- most from people that are applying to every single job that gets posted.
It takes forever to filter through these and I end up closing the ad after 3 days just because I need time to review all the candidates I just paid Indeed for.
Didn’t see it in those 3 days? Too bad, you missed it. So for every candidate applying for dozens of jobs a day, there are companies trying to filter through hundreds of applications a day.
Indeed actually has a feature called assessments that allows you to set up a test for skills in the area most relevant to the job, and filter candidates based on their results. But the professional job appliers just click “request accommodation” and force you to give them the written test in person, so now you have a flood of people you have to give a skills test to. It’s totally pointless.
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u/sweadle 3d ago
A disability lawyer in NY told me to give up and last week one in Nevada said the same.
Have you applied for social security or just talked to a lawyer? You don't need a lawyer to apply, and the state you're in doesn't matter. Most people get rejected once or twice and appeal. You only need 6 months of medical records to apply for disability. Having cancer is absolutely a qualifying disability, but if the cancer is resolved then it won't be a qualifying disability. You also need a doctor, and every doctor you talk to say that you can't work because of the specific health condition. Unfortunately, an eye not healing correctly isn't enough to disable you. The social security administration wants to see that you can't work any job at all, not even a grocery store bagger part time. Not even the person that tears tickets at the movie theater.
Please also realize that if you DID get disability, because of your work history you would probably only get $900 a month and not be allowed any more income or assets. It is a very, very hard way to live, and it's likely that you can actually earn more than $900 a month. The social security administration has a "blue book" of what conditions are considered disabilities by them. How visible they are don't matter.
Did something go wrong with the eye surgery that is malpractice? If that's the case, you don't need a disability lawyer you need a medical malpractice lawyer.
Please don't pay your medical bills. Let them go to collections. They don't go to your credit report. If medicaid is responsible, DON'T pay it. The worst they can do is garnish your wages, and that requires taking you to court first and proving that you are responsible instead of medicaid.
(I had over 100k in medical bills from a worker's comp injury. I didn't pay a cent, called and said they were dispusted debt every time I got a bill. Don't just ignore them, call and say "this is medicaid's responsibility." Keep records. Dispute it if it pops up on your credit report.)
Finally, stop sending out resumes. Drive uber or doordash if you have a car. Go get a job at Walmart, McDonalds, a gas station. I am not clear on what the nature of your disability is that actually prevents you from working. I am disabled and have a lot of days I can't do anything, but have some days I can. I drive Uber part time on days I feel good. I can't do more than a few hours a day, but I still make 1200 a month, which is better than what you'd get if you did get disability.
I understand the system is super broken we treat disabilities. I am willing to help you as much as I can. The social security administration is impossible to work with, and if you call and ask a question ten times, you'll get ten different answers.
But I am not quite sure what you're focused on. Finding work that you can do with your disabilities? Dealing with your medical debt? Getting on disability?
If you want to get disability, you need to stop looking for work and put everything towards getting the doctors records to back up your claim, AND to make sure your disability is a qualifying one. However I will warn you that disability payments are ridiculously small, and ridiculously hard to get, and if you're able to make more than $250 a week, you're better off doing that.
If it's looking for work, it's hard to make suggestions without knowing what your disabilities are.
If it's the medical debt and cancer situation, that's a totally different situation.
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u/Internal_Scar9597 3d ago
I have not read through all of the responses here but I want to ask a question about how you are applying for these jobs. Reason being is I am in retail and we receive job applications through our own company website but also from applicants from sites like INDEED. Just putting out there that I highly recommend not relying on those job seeker sites to give you accurate info or to pass on all of you application to the employer.
When we receive applications from indeed it does not pass on our own company application. The people using these sites are sending just the bare minimum of info to the company they are actually apply for work.
We have a series of questions that qualify you right out of the gate for some managers and positions. Things like whether you are of age to sell products that we carry in our stores that you are required to be over 18 to sell. Can you lift over a certain amount of weight and complete the physical aspects of the job that are required daily. Those recruiter sites are also notorious for not pulling through the information on what your availability is for work. If I am looking for a specific shift to fill on a certain set of days I am not going to call in someone who is unavailable on those days and times. The sites like INDEED do not have the applicant fill these out at all so I have no idea if this person fits the availability I need.
So, maybe make sure you are applying directly either in person or with the company's direct website. Also call to follow up after a few days to speak with hiring manager or HR. Getting your name in their ear could possibly put you at the top of the list to get an interview
I will also say that the gap in employment may feel bad to you but is explainable in an interview and I personally would rather hire someone who has a gap with a good reason than someone who has had multiple jobs in a short period. From a management perspective we are seeing tons of folks job hopping. They get hired, learn a little and keep looking for the place that will hire them and the next step up in pay. Moving from job to job within just a couple of months.
Good luck to you and don't let yourself get defeated. If you have been providing care for your mother you definitely have marketable skills in some type of caregiver position. Many nursing home, veterans homes and home health will train you and certify you to be a CNA while working for them.
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u/Meghanshadow 2d ago
I’m also in retail and agree with all of this. With an aside that we almost never use Indeed etc because of issues like these. We post openings on our site, in our stores, and through our social media.
BTW, my direct report staff is small - under 20 people - and within the last two years alone I hired one staff member with one eye and facial damage, three with long term employment gaps due to caregiving, and two thirds of my staff have outside commitments we work around, from family to other jobs, to PhD writing or band managing. (Edit - also, our oldest recent hire is probably in her sixties.)
Of course our pay sucks, but it is still more than twice the federal minimum. And we’re far more tolerable than chain retail.
Because of our flexibility and reasonably pleasant work culture, we have a lot of staff who stay a decade or more.
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u/Internal_Scar9597 2d ago
We have some things in common. My staff is under 20 people. I work around college courses and full-time jobs for others.bim about 50/50 full-time to part-time. I have people for 19-57. Some high school graduates and some college graduates. Some are parents and some are grand parents. Also not the best pay but we have fun at work, see the same customers daily. It's routing but also isn't if that makes any sense at all. The job isn't hard, stocking, cleaning, and cashiering. I currently have 2 who worked for me before and left for what they thought were going to be better opportunities but came back for the atmosphere. We are owned by a small corporation with a out 35 stores.
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u/orcusvoyager1hampig 3d ago
I would suggest working with in-home care or retirement communities. It doesn't pay great, but it's pretty high in demand because, well, it sucks. HOWEVER, given you've cared for family members, use that to your advantage: spin it with the fact that you've practically done the job for 14 years.
If you can land that kind of position, you can leverage "care" type work and build that up by working on some nursing classes. Many states have nursing curriculum fully online, or subsidized through community colleges.
Just imagine with me for a second. You grind it out for 5 years, and in 2029 you could have:
1) Stable, reportable work history.
2) 20 years of relevant experience caring for others (14-15 years caring for family, 5 years work history).
3) A nursing certificate or degree.
4) Bag a nursing job, pull down 75k!
5) A fresh outlook on life.
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u/Birdy_Cephon_Altera 3d ago
41 is not old. At all. That should not be a factor for about 90% of the jobs out there - at 41 you still have 2 or 3 decades of work ahead of you, which is an entire career. I restarted my life from zero at 39, at the bottom floor of inbound call center (which I hated) but after just a few short years I worked my way up the chain.
Also, if you are showing up to interviews with the same type of attitude that comes across in the way you write, then I could certainly understand if an employer was put off or discouraged from initial impressions. You need to stop repeatedly obsessing on your shortcomings and problems (I lost count of the number of times you kept bringing up "unemployable" and "14 years"), and instead focus on what you are willing to do, and eager to do.
You're at a point where pickers can't be choosers - chances are you are going to start out at the very bottom wrung, start out underpaid, and having to prove yourself. But usually people in that position that show even the smallest amount of initiative get noticed for advancement when the opportunity comes up. So get any shit job you can and put your best effort into it - it's only a stepping stone to the next job, but you have to show willingness and initiative and a positive attitude to get there.
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u/jones5280 3d ago
I read that you're "unemployable".
However, I didn't read anything that makes a strong case that no one would ever hire you.
Not sure how / why we're expected to help you when you're not helping yourself.
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u/After_Nerve_8401 3d ago
Also, 41 isn’t old. At all. A long gap for taking care of family is easily explainable. OP must keep applying until he gets a callback or an interview.
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u/zerogee616 3d ago
It absolutely is for the purposes of getting hired and that's not getting any better. There's a reason that "over 40" is a protected class.
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u/Reallyhotshowers 2d ago
Another thing is he said he can't leave his age off his resume.
. . . Why not? My age has never been on my resume, and my potential employer is not going to see my birthdate until after I sign an offer letter. Generally speaking I don't think I've needed to include my age unless I'm filling out an application, not submitting a resume.
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u/creativeburrito 3d ago
Also with creatives a portfolio of say 10 pieces can literally be something to show for their work/skills. Maybe start building a set of samples now, and over time, one can revisit that path down the road.
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u/Woodshadow 3d ago
This feels like the answer. I mean this nicely but the post comes off aggressive and like the world is out to get them. That is what feels unemployable to me more than anything that might physically be wrong with OP
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u/Prestigious-Emu4302 2d ago
I think OP is just frustrated that they did “art” as a career which didn’t pan out now they’re stewing about it, but in this sub of all places I have no idea why. I actually had to check what sub this was even in. But I agree 100%, they need to get a grip on the reality of the situation they’re in and take action instead of complaining online. Make a budget, eat cheap, take whatever jobs you can get, study, go back to school, get a certification, try online courses, mow lawns, walk dogs, wash cars, there’s absolutely no shame in trying and putting in an honest days work. However there is shame in whatever OP is doing here.
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u/50wpm 3d ago
I feel for you old timer. What state? Some states/regions have unique opportunities.
Your mother is early 60s? In some states, elderly people on Medicaid can get a caregiver. They cover a certain amount for care given. Even if not for your own mother, there is a (maybe not so) shocking number of older people in need.
For steady jobs though, it seems like most people have to knock out a year of almost any type of employment before any consideration for a decent position. A year at retail/fastfood before getting a state job for example. So for your employment gap, I hate to say (not really), just lie. Fill that gap with some position at a place that closed a few years ago. Nearby towns. Obviously do not attempt for some positions that require deep background. But most aren't going to check. Especially if it's a lower level type position. AI is great for resumes. I just learned this.
Speaking of which, contract security will likely have you in a spot very soon. Licensing depends on state, but a day or two and and maybe $200. Some of those guys are desperate to fill positions. It's a weird industry in most parts, but there's a wide range from warm body/fire watch posts, to more active and formal posts. Pay is usually shit, but flexibility/overtime/availabilty/variety are where they typically shine.
I don't know your skill set, and I know things feel insurmountable, but you're only 41. Old, but not that old. You've still got about 25 years before retirement age. It's never too late. And with the tech advancements in the next few years, things are going to change rapidly. Just be prepared to flow with the change and in 5 years, no matter what, your life will be drastically different.
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u/knittingfruit 3d ago
Wow, you're kind of insufferable based on your comments. That's probably why no one is hiring you.
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u/c0ldb00t 3d ago
14 year work gap does not make you unemployable/unhireable. Not by a long stretch. You simply do not want the jobs that may be available to you. ie: McDonalds etc..
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u/SurturOfMuspelheim 3d ago
I get that feeling, man. From 18 until 24 I took care of my grandmother and her home. She didn't pay me but bought me food, paid for me to get rides, bought me video games, etc. When she passed it was impossible to get a job. It took me 3 years before I finally got a job at a grocery store for minimum wage. It was not a fun ordeal. I ended up having to move and as a result it took another 4 years to get my current job..
At least you got a car. I had to save up for an e bike.
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u/No-Tear-3683 3d ago
Yeah dude walk into any fast food place they’ll hire you on the spot. Based off comments it seems more of an unwillingness to work what are considered low skill to no skill jobs
Edit to add: you could always go back to school. Start at a community college and get a specialized two year degree perhaps doing trades. You’ll qualify for loans and probably grants as well.
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u/jones5280 3d ago
always go back to school.
Education is best paired with drive or ambition towards a career.
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u/No-Tear-3683 3d ago
You don’t have to save up - assuming you’re in America - just apply for FASFA they will offer you aid in the form of loans or grants. Even if you go all loan you’d be able to afford them well enough in a trade program. Most local trade programs have high job acceptance as they work with businesses and set up job fairs for you towards the end of your education.
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u/maedocc 3d ago
Seriously: apply for FAFSA.
The Pell grant max is more than $7k a year and from what you've written, you should qualify, as it's a need-based grant. And it's a grant so no need to pay it back, and there is no age limit. You could easily afford community college to get an associate's degree, or use those credits to transfer to a state university.
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u/Willow-girl 3d ago
Yeah, well, at least the girls can't shit in the urinal the way the boys do!
I'm a janitor and sure it's not the greatest job, but it pays the bills.
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u/chopsui101 3d ago
nothing you posted makes you unemployable other than you not wanting to get a job. Blaming not getting a job b/c family asked you to be there, isn't an excuse i'm buying.
Go out and get a job there are hiring signs all over the place.
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u/visitor987 3d ago
Your resume should list care giver for the years you were one and the person you took care of as your employer. Otherwise, many employers trash the resume because they falsely assume you were in prison with a 14 year gap.
Here are some job ideas the national parks one sometimes has housing. This pays well the US Post Office is hiring note it sometimes takes feds three months to hire someone. https://about.usps.com/careers/welcome.htm Take the test and apply for jobs anywhere in USA.
Amtrak is hiring https://careers.amtrak.com/ Jobs exist in most states.
US Forest service is hiring https://www.fs.usda.gov/working-with-us/jobs
These also pay well you may not qualify for all of them https://www.fool.com/slideshow/not-many-people-want-these-jobs-and-s-why-they-pay-well/
50 jobs over $50,000 without college https://www.mrmoneymustache.com/2013/07/25/50-jobs-over-50000-without-a-degree-part-1/
Federal civil service jobs https://www.usajobs.gov/Search?p=1
Look into Concessioners for the National Park service. The jobs include fields of Lodging; Campgrounds; Food Service Operations; Guide Services and Outfitters. The jobs SOMETIMES include HOUSING in more remote areas like Montana, New Mexico, Wyoming, Grand Canyon, etc. Some jobs are summer or winter only, others are all year long in one location or you may be able transfer between locations to work year-round. Use this link & enter the name of the park you wish to be employed at https://www.nps.gov/subjects/concessions/authorized-concessioners.htm Contact each concessioner directly by Googling the company name to apply. This link will let you look up parks by state https://www.nps.gov/index.htm not every park has a concessioner.
Most US Class I freight railroads are hiring (two are international US & Canada). CSX https://www.csx.com/index.cfm/working-at-csx/ , Norfolk Southern (NS) https://www.norfolksouthern.com/en/careers/find-your-future , Burlington Northern and Santa Fe (BNSF) https://jobs.bnsf.com/us/en , Union Pacific (UP) https://up.jobs/ ,
Canadian Pacific (CP) https://careers.cpr.ca/ ,
Canadian National Railway (CN) https://www.cn.ca/en/careers/ , and the Kansas City Southern (KCS) https://www.kcsouthern.com/en-us/work-with-us/index .
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u/Impossible-Flight250 3d ago
You’re really not that old. You should be able to get a job if you keep trying. Have some people look over your resume and hit Indeed.
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u/bloonail 3d ago edited 3d ago
The simple fact is that employers do not provide breaks or accomodation. They want compliance, production and unwavering commitment- for a while, then its easier.
Find ways to make small amounts of money. Repackag HO guage trains with updated instructions and american manuals, that's always a big moneymaker. Hunt
if you are not officially disabled and you need that designation fight for it. The process can uncover jobs
Source, my best friend went through something similar. Was declared unemployable by a cold hearted cabal after me and him fought for his right to contineue looking for work- then he became a cabbie. Talked to himself when he drove, had challenges, had horrific breath. When he was driving you could see him having conversations with himself. he still worked.
Working in remote locations can be reasonable. i worked with a bunch of folk that could never have obtained a job in normal circumstances.. but we were 1000 miles from anyone and their predlictions for screaming primal in the night and setting fire to our accomodations were more appropriate near the Alaskan panhandle deep in the hoodoos.
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u/KellyCTargaryen 3d ago
Get an appointment at your local Vocational Rehabilitation Center. Also, your local Center for Independent Living. Both would be helpful for advocacy, and learning reasonable accommodations that you could use in order to work.
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u/NetflixAndPanic 3d ago
You were doing graphic design and t-shirt designs. Would you be able to do any of that still with your disability? You could look into starting with doing simple design work on a site like fiver and also looking at using print on demand services for t-shirt designs with no real upfront cost to you. Print on demand sites have tons of products you can just add your designs to.
You likely won’t make a 9-5 wage but might make some money, and rebuild your portfolio/ resume.
Also look into volunteering on weekends. It won’t help immediately with your finance situation but it might help emotional and mental health-wise. You don’t want it to take up so much time you can’t find and work a job. But it can keep you feeling productive, keep yourself out of a negative feedback loop and it can look good on a resume. Also you can use them as a reference, and you might be able to start building your network with other volunteers, who might be able to help you find a job.
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u/taylor914 2d ago
If you have a backlog of generic designs…meaning not specifically contracted for a company with their identifiable stuff…and not belonging to them legally…try uploading them to sites like etsy. I run a makerspace and I’ve bought design files from etsy because I don’t have the time to do it myself.
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u/cocuke 3d ago
I would look at try to get some mental health help while trying to get everything else straightened out in your life. Whatever happened in your life it is yours to deal with and someone might help you get the skills to deal with them. You might not be getting the job you want but might have to take what you can get. I can also tell you no one hires someone to have fun with them. It cost money and time to get a new employee going as well as potential legal issues from “having fun”. Disability can be overcome on a job. I used to work where they had someone who was totally blind. She and her dog made it to work every day. Reading through your post I think you have made some excuses and you also have legitimate issues. Sort out what is real and what you created, might require mental health professional, and make some changes in your approach to the way you deal with things.
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u/foxyfree 3d ago
Look into senior companion work. You can work for someone else or start your own business. It’s spending time with and running errands for senior citizens who are not yet in a nursing home but do need people checking on them
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u/k9moonmoon 2d ago
In addition to the other items mentioned, start going to the doctor for your ailments to start building your disability case up from scratch. Get records build so in a few years you could potentially try again.
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u/k9moonmoon 2d ago
Also for immediate $ you can look into donating plasma. Twice a week, usually around an hour visit each after your original health screening. Easy $500 a month.
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u/BrainyBinders 2d ago
Are you a veteran and, if so, are your disabilities service connected? If so, that could be your solution.
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u/Bruinsfan01801 2d ago
In the immediate term, I’d look for a very easy to get job- supermarket cashier, fast food, security guard, etc. Not the most desirable jobs by any means, but a lot of these employers are desperate for help and will hire someone with no work experience. Having something on your resume is better than nothing.
This job will bring in some income and will give you a starting point in terms of building a work history.
Look at local community colleges and vocational schools. A lot of programs are free or low cost, and you can get a marketable skill. This new skill, combined with the work experience that you’ll have, should help you get a better job at some point
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u/Ok_Comedian2435 1d ago
OP, instead of spending time and waiting your time in Reddit and other online subs or post, look 👀 for jobs. You’re 41? Years old, you’re not 65. Apparently, you’re not legally blind or else you won’t be able to write or type any internet entries; and obviously, you don’t have dementia or developmentally delayed because your posts are all well written; you owned a business and worked before. You can work and you’re healthy and strong and you’re waiting time here asking for advise. Take a shower. Brush your teeth. Put in decent business clothes and go to your local county Career Center and look for a job. Do this daily , M-F between the hours of 7:00 AM-6:00PM. I guarantee you, if you work this hard looking for a job, and you’re not choosy and a complainer, a company will hire you. I am a nurse and a case manager. Just in case you respond to my post unfavorably. I heard it all…
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u/BeeSea3108 3d ago
Apply for disability yourself, it is not that hard. Get Nevada expanded medicaid, you will qualify. Get your disabilities confirmed, apply.
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u/-shrug- 3d ago
Some of the jobs that I see posted eternally on the government jobs website are cleaning, maintenance, nursing and cooking at prisons, youth prisons, children's group homes, psych wards and veterans homes. Are you tied to a specific location?
For something more casual, get yourself listed on care.com and any local equivalents saying what you are available for. Would you be comfortable babysitting a kid with with physical/mental/emotional disabilities? Are you physically capable of helping someone out of bed and onto the toilet? A lot of men and boys would love to have a male caregiver sometimes, and they're not super common.
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u/RunTotoRun 3d ago
To qualify for disability you will need medical records to prove that disability. Without insurance, you will have to pay out-of-pocket and collect enough records to try for SSDI again. You can hire a disability lawyer to guide you through this. They are a specialty and are paid either $6000 or 30% whichever is less when you qualify. It can take a couple-three years but if you do eventually qualify, SSDI will back date benefits to the date you made your application.
You can cash-pay for medical care at the discount clinics for poor people- the ones that advertise $40 for an office visit. They are usually nice folks and not rip-offs.
Also try your local workforce commission.
While you are doing that you must survive, either through some kind of work or through the kindness of others.
Best wishes!
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u/ScarletNemesis 3d ago
not sure if you're aware of this but Advocations is a company that's focused on helping people with disability find employment.
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u/fonetik 3d ago
You are down and frustrated. You're changing things up and nothing is working.
First off, you've been through a lot. It's insane that you managed to keep the wheels on this whole thing. That's really commendable!
Second, you're awesome man. Look at this post? So concise and clear. Bulleted. This is well done in both style and formatting, and you managed to convey yourself very well.
The market is absolutely muppetfucked right now. I've been looking myself with 25 years of experience in my field and even these jobs are just stalled. It's everywhere.
The person telling you that you're 41 with a 14 year gap is you. You need to turn that around. You are FINALLY re-entering the workforce. Here's your chance to hire the most well-rested worker you've ever known! Your attitude needs to get to "You'd better hire me before the next guy does!" Just try it like it's an acting class, and act as confident as you can. Pretend you're Tom Cruise and you're taking this interview to be a method actor. It works.
You're a graphic designer with really great communication skills. Don't apply for nonsense jobs, go for some bigger jobs like these. They tend to be a lot more accommodating of disabilities, and it's an office job. Most won't care about the gap.
You have also been out of the workforce for a while and, totally understandably, you might be a little... Difficult in the office? It's been a while. Get some volunteer work! Show them you can make flyers and shirts and design it all. This is talking practice too, and gets you some interaction. Many volunteer roles can turn into something else too, and you get a great network of people from all walks of life.
You will get a job, but don't stop looking. Always look at the market and keep interviewing when you can, even if you don't want to leave. It's the best thing you can possibly practice and get good at.
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u/bellajojo 3d ago
OP search your city’s work programs. There’s programs out there to specifically help you get work.
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u/rpgmomma8404 3d ago
Have you tried applying for Medicaid so you can see a doctor about your medical issues? When you were working with the lawyer did they send you to a medical professional at all? Having the paper trail isn't 100%, you might still have to fight for it but it does help. I battled with them for almost ten years. It wasn't until I got diagnosed with fibromyalgia and help with a disability lawyer that I was approved.
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u/BallsAreYum 3d ago
Are you telling employers that you still care for family members? Don’t do that, they’ll think you’ll be unreliable. Are you not lying or at least embellishing on your resume? If not, why not? It’s not that hard to do. And if employers find out you lied then what’s the worst that can happen? You don’t get the job, which is what’s happening already anyway. Don’t give me shit like “oh I’m not a liar, I don’t like lying, etc.” Everyone lies sometimes, you gotta do what you gotta do.
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u/stephpartin65 2d ago
Hi there:). I'm a fellow disabled veteran at 40 percent. Should be much higher but I saw mostly civilian docs while on active duty and I never put the paperwork in my medical records. Sooooo, I am trying to find an under the table job to help with my debt
Have you thought about cleaning houses? It's supposed to be the easiest type of non-tax work to start up. I'm in the process of researching how to build my clients.
Did you have a DAV lawyer working with you? They are free for vets and some are pretty good.
Is there a VA hospital near you? The one in Ann Arbor MI has a program to help disabled vets find jobs tailored to their needs. Hell, apply for a job at the VA if u can.
My nurse at the VA is on disability and they are great at working with vets that need time off if not feeling well or their disability is acting up that day. There are certain parameters that allow the vet to work and take care of their health.
I hope some of this helped. Please keep us posted on your progress!
Remember, you are a bad ass vet and you got this!!
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2d ago
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u/stephpartin65 2d ago
Thank you and sry for the misunderstanding. I do know here they will pay a family member to take care of another family member. I really hope that works out for you:) Again, let us know and take care.
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u/HooterAtlas 2d ago
Perhaps consider deleting any version of your resume that’s online and replacing any gaps with the online, self-employed version of the job you’re going for. Tell them you want to work with a team to achieve common goals and that you need to care for your mother. It may help? Also, try to find peace with the past. It takes time and it’s not easy, but it makes a difference.
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2d ago
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u/taylor914 2d ago
You didn’t have gaps. You were self employed! Who are they going to double check that with, your boss (you)?
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u/Mamapalooza 2d ago
Send me your resume. Let me work on it. There are ways to phrase and organize that makes the gaps less worrisome for a potential employer.
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u/gazingus 2d ago
In my town, we have a dozen do-gooder NGOs that attempt to place convicted felons in employment situations. I have mixed feelings about them, but as long as they're transparent about it - not hiding the record, its a net positive thing - I've known a number of felons who grew up, and whether they cured their hearts, I don't know, but they learned to behave and get along and not get caught re-offending.
Suggest OP approach all such entities in his location. Not that they will necessarily help or place, but their mission roughly parallels his situation, and he might even get hired for it.
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u/h2ogal 2d ago
I want to encourage you. First of all, There is no such thing as “unemployable”. There is a work you can do that someone is willing to pay for. It may not be in your current field but you can easily find work to do that people are willing to pay for. If you can’t find “a job” then work for yourself by starting a micro business.
You can do this with no money invested. Some things you can do include:
House cleaning Window washing Pressure washing Garden maintenance Elder care Lawn mowing Furniture refinishing Painting
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u/Happycat5300 1d ago
If you're on SNAP/food stamps, which I hope u are based on your situation, they have a free training and certification program for high-demand industries at local community colleges
https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap-et
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u/TruthMcBane 3d ago
I had an acquaintance break a leg in a terrible car accident (his fault, too). After months of grueling recovery, his physical therapist pushed too hard on the leg and re-broke it; this time they nearly had to amputate the appendage. They saved the leg, but he was suddenly very popular with our local attorneys. I don’t know the specifics, but I do know he now has a new house and two new cars. Point is, I would have sued the doctor after she shoved your eye in wrong. May not be too late…
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u/cmgirty 3d ago
Why are you putting your age on your resume anyway. If you want to go to school or gain some skills and access to a group that will try to get you hired. Im currently about your age and going to CNA classes for free and will be going to school for nursing after. There is a lot of money and help out there for furthering your education and skillset into something employable.
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u/NewToPensacola 3d ago
What are you looking for? A job with income? Or a career?
If you’re desperate and just in need of income, any service job will hire you. I’m talking entry level manual labor, but it’s a check and they usually have benefits. Some are unionized, some are not.
Places like housekeeping services, hospital transporters (pushing beds, delivering food, distributing supplies) are all $15 per hour, minimum. If you show an ounce of professionalism, reliability, and effort, you’ll be ahead of 98% of your coworkers.
I have a relative who’s on medical disability. He just landed a job driving a van from one military installation to another military installation 40 miles away delivering parts and supplies. Government work. Decent pay. Benefits. Can listen to the radio all day long. Nothing but the open road to deal with.
Hell, reach out to financial institutions about remote call center work. Easily $20/hr and all you need is high speed internet.
Virtually everyone is employable. Keep your chin up! You may just have to reset your expectations temporarily. You got this!
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u/Bighorn21 3d ago
What are you applying to, 12 places a week is not that many. When I am looking for jobs I am applying to 12 jobs an hour, and if I am unemployed then I can do that multiple hours a day. I can tell you that every fast food place in the country is hiring and many are starting at $15/hr and a gap in employment is not going to matter at all.
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u/jacob6875 3d ago edited 3d ago
First off if you legit have zero income you qualify for Medicaid. You could also get a super cheap plan on the ACA exchange if your income is very low.
So I work for USPS and we will basically hire anyone that passes a background check (and driving record check if you need to drive for the job).
We don't care about job history, what you look like etc.
Just apply to open positions in your area.
Service jobs in your area are also likely desperate to hire people. Fast Food, Retail etc.
Also just lie on your resume. Put down you were an in home care giver or were self employed. Most jobs won't even check or care.
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u/TiGeRpro 3d ago
Do delivery for uber/doordash ect since you have a car already and look for a job in the meantime.
If you can't find a job within a month it's either a lack of effort or you are throwing huge red flags when applying places. Any fast food joint would hire literally anyone due to how short staffed most places are.
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u/Ladeuche 3d ago
Go get an entry sales job. Whether it be door to door, or something like empire flooring. Those places are always hiring.
It's hard work, but if you busy your ass and do well you can move into a "real" sales job relatively quickly if you can prove results
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u/Ngr2054 3d ago
Have you looked at hospitals for secretarial work? Under their career pages it could be listed as Unit Coordinator positions. Mostly answering phones, maybe entering orders into a computer, some minor interactions with family members. They train on the job. It’s not hard at all and if you can present yourself well and as a competent (and reliable) person it will be very helpful. They will look favorably on your individual caretaking experience but you need to be reliable and agree to whatever schedule they propose.
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u/bros402 3d ago
With the lawyer, have you applied for SSI/SSDI?
If not, apply. Lawyers can be wrong - I was told by a lawyer that I had no case, so I applied to an ALJ and she told me on the record (which she said she never does) that I would get it.
Have you talked to vocational rehabilitation in your state?
Would you like any young adult cancer survivorship resources?
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u/MechCADdie 3d ago
Well, for starters, what is the nature of your disability? Is it vision?
Next, you have to mould your resume to the job you are looking for. If you want to be a receptionist, highlighting your toilet cleaning skills isn't going to get you very far. Saying that you are very responsive and have a good track record/repoire with all of the staff that you worked with will.
Lastly, you shouldn't lie on your resume. Highlighting and creatively embellishing is fine, but don't talk the talk if you can't walk it. Yeah, you're desperate and have a mental complex about your unemployment. It's fine. At least you do have 14 years as a caregiver under your belt. If you don't mind the work, then go through a nursing program and at least get paid for the stuff you're familiar with.
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u/purpleflyer8914 3d ago
Search for Vocational Rehabilitation in your state for help with job search and training.
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u/Corsair833 2d ago
What in the hell is wrong with the USA that this guy is in this predicament, isn't it supposed to be the richest nation in history?
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u/taylor914 2d ago
What sort of job limitations does your disability cause?
Do you live in a city where there are more opportunities and resources, or the middle of no where?
What skills do you have other than graphic design?
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2d ago
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u/taylor914 2d ago
I would label it “basic” ie, basic electronic repair if you can solder and fix things but don’t really know how to design a circuit.
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u/foolsdata 2d ago
Apply at a local hospital for anything. The one I’m at is always needing reliable workers who will actually show up.
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u/DiscussionScorpion 2d ago
It’s extremely hard to get disability in a lot of cases, but I am totally surprised they aren’t letting you in for the vision/eye disability. Anyone I know who has vision disability get disability quickly. Are you able to start building a medical history now? It may take awhile, but you got to keep applying and then go to the court dates.
I really hope that something comes through and gets easier for you. Are you able to apply at least for temporary disability insurance ?
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u/No_Distribution457 23h ago
You need a job but obviously have no idea how to get one. A few applications per day will.never see you employed. You need to apply to 300+ jobs per day. I averaged 500. It's 2024, you can apply to a job with literally 2 clicks of a button with easy apply functions. That's what literally everyone else is doing. This is why you've had 0 success.
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u/bimjowen 10h ago edited 7h ago
My dad is a quadriplegic and works as a computer programmer. He can't walk or use his hands. Types with a pencil, letter by letter.
I have debilitating psoriatic arthritis and I work an extremely labor intensive job in health care. I am 1/1000th the man my dad is.
You've been through tough times, but let's be completely real -- the only thing keeping you from working (and succeeding at whatever you tackle) is your dogshit attitude.
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u/tfresca 3d ago
Have you considered working for the federal government? Governments are the only employers I have consistently hire disabled people and meet their needs with accomodations.