I posted this stuff at the Chronic Pain forum but I have some separate issues that need to be talked about only here.
There is a possibility that a job at my pain doc's office could open up. The front office person was fired and the office manager's daughter is there for the summer. I have been going to this doc for almost 2 years and it is a small office and they know me well. Part jokingly they said I could do this job and it would be nice to have me there. That made me feel really good.
I didn't say I would like the job or pushed for anymore details because I wanted to talk to Todd first. So there is no understanding and all I know is there is a need for a front office person at the office.
I went home very excited and couldn't wait to talk to Todd about it. When I did tell him via IM and phone (he was at work) he was very negative about it. He was worried about my insurance(Medicare) and about our finances(I have long-term disability and SSDI). I felt he was really jerky about it. This was the first time I have talked seriously about going back to work after almost 5 years and all he can say is that you will loose this and that. I felt stupid and like a chastened child. Like I didn't know what I was talking about. That I didn't know the consequences of going back.
I don't know what to do. Should I persue the job after I find out all the info or leave it alone? Then, what should I do about Todd? Why did he make me feel that way? It was so mean.

Oh Wendy, I totally understand how hard that was for you to have happen. TOdd is worried about your medical coverage and afraid that the job won't offer enough that having you working it would be lucrative enough that you should go for it. I don't think he meant it to be mean, it probably came off as mean though because he was at work. I am so sorry that you were shot down like that. (((((((hugs)))))))

I feel really bad for you that Todd was kind of rough on you about this, I can fully appreciate both sides of the issue having gone back to work for a year and then finding that my son was autistic and needed more then I could give him while working so off I went to take care of him and to see that he got his meds and was taken care of. It's not that he doesn't want you to work Wendy, it's that he's afraid for you of all that you'd lose if you did start making money. I DO think there is a program to allow you to retain Medicaid for a year at least if I remember right. SO don't give up, look into it on their website because the rules have changed over the years and it might just work out that you could get t his job.

Don't give up on it just yet okay?

Thanks Pam.....I left a message for my long-term disability person at the insurance company to see what would happen if I did go back to work part time or any time.
As for SSDI and Medicare, that is simple enough. I just look on the website and show Todd. At this point it seems too much trouble to even try.

I know how hard it is being disabled, not being able to work is just something I have had to accept because I doubt a job would let me take off work once a month for dr appts and then add in those I got to for my son, it just won't happen. I agree with you that it's like too much trouble to even try at some point. But if I sell some novels I've written then I will gladly go to work as in writing for a living.

I'm sorry that this hurt you so much today Wendy you didn't need to be hurt like this.

Yeah I feel really dumpy about it. I have IMed him some information that might make him happy but I doubt it. Lucky thing is.....the job would be at my pain doc office. I can get my shots and go right back to the front.

Right now...I can't even eat.

Oh, ((((((Wendy)))))),

He doesn't understand. Even if you end up not taking the job, the offer was the BIG THING. Even *I* know that Men can be so thick-headed sometimes. Apologies to any guys out there -- I know we're pretty thick-headed ourselves, sometimes

I think you've got a PLAN going already. Collect all the information and find out what the impact would be. I can understand hubby being concerned. We get used to the status quo and hate to think about giving it up, even when we're not sure what we'll be getting instead.

Medicare allows you to make a certain amount of money before they kick you off the program. I'm not sure of what the amount is. You can call 1-800-772-1213 and get more info. You're not signing anything or committing to anything, just getting info. If you have Medicaid, they've been keeping people right along the edges of eligibility so they can kick people off the programs, I don't know any details, but I do know that one of their focuses is to get people back to work and they'll help in any way they can. I actually got a phone call today from one of them. She wanted to tell me how I could avoid losing my coverage due to having $1 too much SSDI income. There actually are some government workers who try to help

I believe all the government programs have trial work periods, too. So you do maybe a shorter ramp-up time in the summer to see what your body thinks of working again

If you spend some time coordinating bennies and checking programs and setting this up to fit you in the best way, I think it's a fantastic opportunity. Just the praise and the feeling of being 'wanted' in the REAL WORLD -- feels pretty good, huh

Good luck. And don't be too hard on hubby, hopefully, he'll continue to learn Hugs.

Barb

Thanks Barb....I hope thats true....like I said it was sort of an offer. It was almost joking but they do need the help.
I will ask next appt.

Dear WEndy,
Oh this sounds like my sister who got offered a job at her pediatrians office...they knew her she knew them...talked it over with hubby and was hired.
Barb is right about the your other issues...you can earn so much it was $700 a month I think a few years back....before it effects your ssdi.
Call get the info...you have planted the seed about working and this is a great opportunity for you.
You must do this.
((((HUGS))))
bizi

Thanks everyone!
Like I said I am not sure it was just said as jest and fun because they have no one and I have outlasted them all, but I will talk it over again with Todd and next appointment I will talk to Deb, the office manager, in a couple of weeks. I have a resume so that is not a problem and they know why I haven't worked in years so that is taken care of......don't know.
I have doubts now.

I looked up the SSDI info. You can make $640 a month before it affects your monthly payments. It totally stops when you make $900 a month at your job. Medicare lasts for 93 months after you start working, that is including a 9 month trial run.
I have to talk to my long-term disability people to see how working again will affect that.

Hell this may all be a pipe dream. I feel stuck.

DO you want to work a full time job Wendy? Have you been thinking about it since before this happened earlier? I haven't been thinking about returning to work for years, I would consider writing full time if I manage to sell a couple of novels, but writing is what I love even if I haven't been able to write much these days being all consumed by the move. But I know that I will get back to it again soon as we're settled.