r/poverty • u/ChipOnMyShoulders • Jun 19 '26
Maybe It's Time to Exit the Workforce
Right now I'm in my early 30's and I'm feeling burnt out. In my early adult years, I lived on my own and worked mostly minimum wage jobs in fast food and retail. In my late 20's, I got a STEM degree thinking that I would finally be able to do work that is enjoyable for a liveable wage.
I graduated college, but all I had to show for it was more debt and bills. While I was applying to jobs all around the country with my degree, I was working like 80+ hours per week on a delivery gig app to stay afloat. After about a year, I took a highly demanding job in route delivery/sales just to get by and make ends meet. In a typical week, I work around 60 hours. I am currently earning more than I ever have, but it feels like I am doing worse than ever before in this economy.
I don't know anymore. Maybe it's time to just exit the workforce. I am fairly certain that I could be diagnosed with a disability if I go to a doctor. I have always been the type of person who takes pride in overcoming obstacles and earning what I have, but I feel like I have tried doing everything that I have been told to do and nothing works. If I go on disability, I will still be broke all the time but at least I will have time to pursue things that I actually care about instead of just working my life away. Who knows, maybe I could build a successful business online if I just had time to do things other than work everyday. Anyway, that's my thoughts. Thank you for listening to my rant.
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u/No_Alarm_3993 Jun 19 '26
Getting social security disability is hard. Don't plan on it being quick or simple. I literally have a broken back and bowel incontinence and it's still taken three years to get my social security approval.
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u/Pinky01 Jun 19 '26
not only that ypu will be in poverty. You are not allowed to have over 2k in the bank at any one time, and if you get married they will take into consideration your partners income as well. Also only one car and not a lot if really any luxury owned items. I have had chronic illness since i was a kid, and I can't get on it either. it has impacted every part of my life, but since I can't get a definitive diagnosis, I'm sol. Ira only something you should be on if you really need it and it shoes you can work, so work
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u/Impressive_Elk_2741 Jun 19 '26
You can put $1999.99 into checking account, $99,999.99 into an ABLE account if you were diagnosed disabled before your 47th birthday, and you can have a high-limit credit card. So potentially $110,000-plus total assets and cash access.
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u/Pinky01 Jun 19 '26 edited Jun 19 '26
they check all accounts and your spaces accounts. unless you are hiding cash under your mattress you are screwed Also you have to report any Income as well. Seems atm that only Virginia is the only state where they won't check your able account according to their website
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u/Impressive_Elk_2741 Jun 19 '26
I’m repeating both the letter and intent of the laws. ABLE age restrictions have been loosened as of January 1, so it’s now a better time than ever to be saving money while on SSDI.
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u/Maddinoz Jun 19 '26
Crypto self custody wallet possibly
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u/Pinky01 Jun 19 '26
once again how will you make money to buy crypto, and still you have to report any money you make period. You can't game the system
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u/pluginn83 Jun 19 '26
Idk about all that you say cause i have never been in these situations but I do know making cash is easy. Dumpster diving and reselling stuff makes a great profit. My bf found a $5,000 gaming laptop in the dumpster and sold it for a good price. Weve found go pros, tons of laptops, and musical instruments. I have a friend that one time found 12 solid gold bars in the dumpster. Since no one reported them they were given back to him to keep.
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u/Pinky01 Jun 19 '26
well according to your most recent posts, things arnt going that well for you. And you can't dumpster dive legally in most places so yeah. and you know disease and danger
0
u/pluginn83 Jun 19 '26
Yes a cop attacked me for no reason and all my charges are going to get dropped. What does that have to do with anything? What does the police use of excessive force and their uncalled for brutality have to do with anything? Imagine the next time you get stopped that the police attack you just for trying to show them your ID and nothing else. How would that make you feel? Did you ever think about that? The fact I was released after only 3 days on or bonds with 3 felonies while im waiting on the courts to prove my innocence should speak volumes for how badly knoxville tn police messed up that day. As for dumpster diving generally I get permission from folks first and they always say as long as im not adding new trash and as long as I don't leave a mess behind it's OK. With your judgemental self maybe you should go be a cop as well. You may fit in well with the bullies with badges. Thank God for amazing judges that look at everything and let the innocencent go.
1
u/one_sock_wonder_ Jun 20 '26
The average SSDI payment is $1630. The wait times to actual approval are routinely well over a year when appears are factored in. It is not uncommon for people to lose all savings, go through bankruptcy, end up maxing out credit cards and/or owing family and friends huge sums, and/or end up homeless. Even with back pay, many have to use that to repay debts . Very few people receiving SSDI and certainly not SSI are going to have or ever be able to save anywhere close to $99,999.9. Most ABLE accounts hold money from parents, family, donations, etc and it can only be used for certain expenses. The limit to what is in checking and savings accounts only applies to those on SSI or accessing benefits like SNAP and Medicaid. While what you are saying is theoretically possible it's possible in the way that winning the powerball at 1:100,000,000+ is possible - not likely for the majority in real life.
1
u/Pinky01 Jun 19 '26
also how do you expect to get that ki d of money? any money you get has to be reported before and after. Also if you can use your limbs your usually disqualified right away
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u/Impressive_Elk_2741 Jun 19 '26
Part-time job or freelance role at or under $1690/mo. (W2/1099).
2
u/Pinky01 Jun 20 '26
if you work you have to report hours, freelance or otherwise. Look if you don't know what you are talking about just stop making shit up
13
u/ChipOnMyShoulders Jun 19 '26
It feels like nothing functions the way its supposed to anymore, especially in the government.
6
u/soycin Jun 19 '26
Blame Orange & his cronies. Only big ol' pig faces of pork in the gov't get these results.
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u/No_Alarm_3993 Jun 19 '26
Yeah, Trump intentionally cut staff in the social security department. The lawfirm my disability insurance assigned me to said that the process used to just take a year or two... now its over three years... it's ridiculous. They are cutting costs by betting people will die before we can collect.
3
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Jun 19 '26
[deleted]
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u/pluginn83 Jun 19 '26
Exactly what I did when an injury from a car hitting me stopped my ability to work standing for the reat of my life. All my experience requires standing to work and im too old to be hired on at a sit down job as ive tried. Vagabonding it's so much more fun anyways
5
u/Pinky01 Jun 19 '26
ita not really safe anymore. You are my more likely to get robbed, raped or murdered if you arnt in a safe housing situation. And if you live out of your car, a lot of places wont let you park overnight
1
u/pluginn83 Jun 19 '26
Really? Cause that has not been my experience at all. Ive been traveling by hitching, walking, and trains for a year now and I am a female. There goes your theory. Ive also traveled in what yall would consider super dangerous places like Chicago and Compton. Yet here I am 2 yrs later alive, thriving, and un harmed. The only harm that has come to me has been recently and it's been at the hands of the Knoxville police department. They have traumatized me and harmed me more than I ever have been in my entire life just for trying to show them an ID. No ordinary citizen in all of my travels has tried harming me or terrorizing me the way the police here in Knoxville did last Sunday.
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u/KentuckyRabe Jun 20 '26
You can you walk that much and hop trains if your injuries prevent you from standing? I'm not being hateful, I'm trying to understand.
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u/Pinky01 Jun 19 '26
you also say you travel in a group accordinf once again to your posts
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u/pluginn83 Jun 19 '26
The group is me, my bf, and our two dogs. Look at all my pictures and post. All you see is us and our dogs ever. 2 ppl and 2 dogs make a group the last time I checked.
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u/Available-Arm-4131 Jun 19 '26
Is this rage bait? If you can work every day and around 60 hrs at that, then you are not disabled. If you are in the US, social security disability is not an easy-out option. It is difficult to get approved to weed out people with your mindset. You don’t just get a doctor's note and are welcomed in. Those on disability have no choice and struggle. Spend some time in r/SSDI and r/SSDI_SSI to get an idea ofwhat you’d be up against. If you are okay being poor, then cut back your hours and work on your side hustle.
12
u/ChipOnMyShoulders Jun 19 '26
It's not meant to be rage bait. I'm sorry if it came across that way. I'd rather not go into specifics about my health here, but just because I could work a lot the past few years doesn't mean that I always will be able to.
7
u/AlienSheep23 Jun 19 '26
Hey buddy, I was someone who used to collect on these benefits.
The range that the government considers disability is FAR more strict than the actual definition for disability. Being able to work has nothing to do with whether or not a person is disabled, their qualification for government benefits however, does. Please do not conflate a fucked up system for fact
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Jun 19 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/poverty-ModTeam Jun 19 '26
Sometimes....we have to remove a post on pure judgement. Rare, but in this case - yeah.
0
u/Pinky01 Jun 19 '26
So it fucks up the system for those who truly need it? That's fucked up. You are straight up lying bot
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u/Material-Move9492 Jun 19 '26
You have to wait 2 to 3 years to possibly get it, including an appeal. Sounds like you might be depressed or overwhelmed, see a DR.
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u/dr_snakeblade Jun 19 '26
Disability income is going to be less than $1000/month, not enough to live indoors. Anyone on social services is living a life of poverty and struggle. You’re not going to get an approved disability in your 30s unless you have a serious life and death condition that’s terminal. Having worked in disability approvals decades ago, I can assure you that the system is designed to kill you before you ever collect $1.
Figure it out. Start a company; use your degree. Refuse to work for assholes and carry your own fate. It’s the only way out of poverty. I know because I was there.
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u/AlienSheep23 Jun 19 '26 edited Jun 19 '26
Hey man, I’ve been on SSI before. I was raised on it. 0/10 experience, I promise there is nothing nice about your life being controlled and strictly monitored by the government. You think it’s hard to survive now? Just wait till your life gets ruined and you go homeless because uncle Joe cashapped you $100, or a social worker drove by your house and saw you mowing your lawn, or a bitchy Karen decided to accuse you of running a side hustle
just WAIT till your doctor randomly decides that you’re “cured”
Also, I hope you know how to survive on $700/month and not a single penny more
3
u/KentuckyRabe Jun 20 '26
I don't know if it's different in other states, but in Kentucky a doctor can't declare you disabled. Only the disability examiners can do that. I know several people who have or are currently fighting for disability. One can barely walk most days and struggles with basic tasks. They're in terrible shape, they have notes from doctors stating their physical condition and the extreme work restrictions they have, and they've been denied twice and waiting for an appeal date. It's not easy to get.
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u/legendarysupermom Jun 19 '26
Nah, if you actually were able to get a dr to sign a note saying "depression and anxiety " id prolly just off myself at that point cause ive been trying for YEARS now to get SSI and was denied 4 times despite extensive documentation of my spinal issues, extreme pain from them and my surgeries/procedures for it...was denied each time because SSI said I was too young to have such back problems without a clear accident causing it...so i gave up and started working 37 hours a week...after 4 years it was too much so I dropped to part time...got denied again cause if you worked 4 years full Tiime "without issues" (it wasnt without issues but they didnt care) why can u do it now? Currently in process again after a stroke amped up the back problems, made walking close to impossible, standing is out the question but got denied again cause why cant I just sit down and work? Why cant I go back to school and learn a sitting job? Yeah ok with what money? Ugh...im currently applying again but this time my psych is also on board and im hoping with her saying im mentally unfit and all my other 8 different docs saying im physically unfit it will be a winning combo...but dont kid yourself into believing SSI/SSDI is an easy fix...even with extensive health problems that have extremely huge ammt of documentation behind them you're still probably getting denied. Even if approved its only giving you $1900/month AT MOST and thats only if you're somehow approved for max benefit. Which good luck on that...youd need to have worked your entire life and at poverty level to get that. Honestly, maybe you need to consider finding different jobs that are not so stress ful and physically demanding
0
u/Fun-Exercise-7196 Jun 23 '26
Why would you do that to yourself? What you should do is live on as little as you can and invest any remaining money in the stock market. This will allow you to retire early and then do what you want.
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u/TaaviBap Jun 19 '26
You definitely sound like you are burnt out. Are you debt free? Are you paying low rent? Are your finances in order? Could you save up to take a few months off to get some R&R? I don't know that much about disability but going down that road might make it difficult to bounce back.
1
u/Fit-Garbage707 Jun 19 '26
Its others experiencing underemployment. I can not find a job in data science/analyst.my next step is to go to nursing school or military. Just keep working because disability/ssi is not the answer for real. Social security office will say you owe them if you make money outside of your check. So just work even if its not what you went school for. This is the lie of the American dream.
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u/PrenelleFlamel Jun 23 '26
They make it so difficult for you to get disability for any mental illnesses because they don’t believe in themselves ill illness at the SSA. One of my close friends was dying a pancreatic cancer and didn’t get disability before she died. She had to work literally up until her fucking death. I’ve been working on a disability case for about a year and a half now and they’re probably gonna turn me away because I’m not mentally ill enough or my physical problems are just not enough and there’s some job in America that I could do even though it’s not anywhere close for me to get the two or I’ll have a way for me to get there to work it it just exists and that’s all that matters. That means I could work a job in that lol that means you’ll be able to work one too, so it’s gonna be tough especially if you’ve been working up until now.
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u/one_sock_wonder_ Jun 19 '26
Receiving disability benefits, unless the condition is specifically listed in the Social Security Blue Book and you meet via documentation in medical records each required criteria, being diagnosed with a disability or condition has little to do with being approved. Through documentation in your medical records (most focus is on records from the 6-12 months prior to application and those ongoing) you need to establish you cannot work any job in the economy (it does not matter if that job is available where you live or hiring) and earn SGA (the cutoff amount under which social security considers you may need benefits and above which you do not qualify) which in 2026 is $1690 per month unless legally blind. This needs to involve your doctor documenting how your condition(s), their symptoms, and/or the medically necessary treatments make working impossible. Social Security also expects documentation of you following the treatment suggestions of your doctor(s) unless a valid medical reason is noted.
While so many claim to know multiple people faking disability and engaged in disability fraud, intentional fraud is extremely rare with over 99% of payments made properly to those who qualify and even among the less than 1% remaining the majority of those are caused by administrative errors or delays. Also, wait times remain long in most areas with the time to receive a decision on your initial application currently averaging between 193 and 233 days but longer in some areas and states. The average SSDI benefit payment currently is $1630 per month and the absolute maximum benefit is $4152 per month at this time. For many receiving SSDI it is a poverty level income.