My 10,000th post.

[TexasTowelie]

I was going to come up with something cute, but the truth is that nothing really good is happening with me. I'm stuck in a small town with no friends around, minimal job prospects, and hoping that SSDI will be approved since it looks like the only possibility to regain my independence and be with my pet cat AC that is pictured in the lower left corner.

I'm still looking for employment even though it would probably work against me as far as trying to claim SSDI. However, I've only had one interview via Skype in the past three months and nobody follows up on the other job applications that I submit. I've fallen a generation behind on my technical skills as a data analyst due to the gap in my employment record. There are very few mid-level career opportunities available with most job openings wanting people with 2-5 years of experience and I have over 20 years experience. Combine those factors with an unemployment rate of about 13% in the IT sector and it seems reasonable to believe that no opportunities will ever develop in my career field.

My overall health (both physical and mental) remains in poor shape. I've been running out of breath when I go for short walks or bike rides and make frequent stops to avoid fainting. When I arrive home from my excursions it takes about 20 minutes sitting in front of a fan to cool off and for my heart rate to drop, then I end up collapsing on the air mattress to sleep since I'm exhausted. My mental health situation is also aggravated when dealing with social services and medical practitioners since I seem to fall through the gaps for social programs. I'm about to enter the gap where I will likely lose SNAP benefits while I wait for the determination of SSDI benefits.

In addition, when I spoke with other people seeking SSDI, I learned that some of the applicants waited 3 to 4 years before approval. Needless to say, this added to my deteriorating mental state and intensified my depression. After hearing those stories I hired an attorney as an advocate. SSDI benefits will not provide for a lavish lifestyle, but if they are approved I should regain my independence and not be a burden on my family.

I'm surprised that I made it through to my 10,000th post after my episode back in early April. Several people here at DU have been very helpful to me and I appreciate all the assistance and support that they provided. This is one of the few places that I can turn to and be involved with people who shared wisdom, lived through similar experiences, and are of like philosophies. I'm doing my best to remain hopeful and be patient. In the meantime, I'll conclude the post in LOLCatese and say kthxbai!

[Squinch]

1. Texas, here is hoping that things are looking up by the time you have your eleven thousandth post!

[bigwillq]

2. Congrats on 10,000 posts!

[Curmudgeoness]

3. Congratulations on making it.

I do hope that things work out for you. It sounds like you are stuck in a bad place. You never know what is in the future...none of us do. I will say that I have a neighbor who got lucky and was awarded SSDI quickly. It does happen.

[hrmjustin]

4. You are always in my thoughts and prayers.

Congrats on 10,000 posts my friend.

[femmocrat]

6. Best wishes to you, TT.

I hope things begin to turn around for you and soon.

Congrats on your 10,000 post.

[Gothmog]

7. Congrats

I have been spending some time on the discussionist but enjoy your posts.

I am sorry about your health and other issues. Keep the faith. We are pulling for you

[jeff47]

8. Congrats and a couple suggestions

First, congrats!

Second, a couple suggestions you've probably already heard on the job front:
-Put something in your sig indicating what you're looking for. You never know what job openings other DUers know about.
-Any possibility of getting out of the small town? I vaguely remember there was a family tie. If you can move, there are certain places in the country that are desperate for data analysts.
-Might want to see about freelance jobs in the short run. Brings in some money, and keeps the resume up-to-date, and usually can be done remotely so being in the small town doesn't hurt.

Sorry if you've already heard these a billion times. Hope things improve.

[TexasTowelie]

16. I've held off on placing anything in my sig line.

I thought that when I read the DU rules it prohibited any type of commercial advertising.

It's unlikely that I can get out of this small town since I don't have a vehicle. The nearest city is Houston and it would be extremely difficult to leave this town in the morning and get back to it during the evening. I've received some emails about jobs available in the Minneapolis area, but they were three-month contracts for companies that are being mentioned as possible bankruptcy candidates. I'm not very interested about moving from Texas since the few friends that I have are located here. I also don't know how to get my pet transported to me without significant expense if I do move.

I'm not adverse to freelance jobs and did some consulting with a start-up business about a year ago. Unfortunately, the company never really got off the ground and I never was paid for my work. I didn't press the issue since it was a college buddy and the amount was very small. I've kept in touch with him and I'm using him as a reference, plus filling in the gap as a consultant on my resume. It wasn't worth losing a long-term friendship squabbling about the amount owed. I've also did apply for some tutoring positions since I have a degree in math, but for the most part it looks like they want tutors to have the equivalent of a teacher's certification now. It would be a great way to earn supplemental income if I receive SSDI, but it wouldn't be sufficient to regain my independence.

[jeff47]

19. Yeah, talking about a much bigger move.

The DC area hires tons of data analysts. If you can get a clearance, you'd have a job pretty quickly. If you can't or don't want one, there's still vast swaths of the federal government that employ analysis directly or via contractors. Demand is high enough that you may be able to negotiate relocation assistance from the contractors.

May be able to solve the car problem via the Metro, but that still leaves the transporting the pet problem. May be able to solve that by traveling with someone moving from one of the bases near San Antonio to DC - maybe pay for some of the gas or food, if you can.

On the freelance front, have you tried sites like Elance, oDesk, Guru and so on?

Anyway, just brainstorming a bit. Really don't know you well enough to know what may work and what may not. But I've found myself living in a place where I was utterly unemployable, so I've got an impulse to try and help. I'm also quite aware of just how many people try to help with ideas that won't work, so please feel free to tell me to go away.

[brer cat]

9. You are an asset here, TexasTowelie.

I hope that your situation will improve soon.

[oldandhappy]

10. Congrats re your 10,000 posts and

lots of good wishes for a brighter future. Sounds as if life is a struggle right now. I send hope.

[Solly Mack]

11. Sending you lots of cyber hugs!

(Just keep hugging yourself for me)

[Half-Century Man]

12. Mazal Tov, Omedeto, and Congratulations on your 10,000th post.

Getting an attorney without first being denied might be an issue. That goes against common advice. However applying for SSDI has been made all the greater obstacle by Rethuglacan lead de-funding of the agency (The local office has cut back to being open only 4 days a week with a staff half of what it was 9 years ago). So, don't lose hope.

You are a strong voice for Texas here on DU.

[TexasTowelie]

15. The biggest drawback about hiring an attorney is that they get a percentage of back pay.

If they can help expedite the claim or get the claim approved on the initial filing then it will be worth the financial fees.

The people that I spoke with when I applied for indigent care recommended getting legal representation. I also have a friend that had a stroke a few years ago and his brother (a lawyer) also got a disability attorney involved so he received approval quickly. Since the attorney acts in an advocacy role for the claimant rather than an adversarial role like an attorney would in a tort claim, I don't believe it is a significant issue. In addition, if I waited until a denial came then hired an attorney there would be a loss of about a month in time.

Due to the current living circumstances, I really need this situation to be resolved before the end of this year because I'm living with my brother who also found out that he was diabetic a month ago and he filed for unemployment three months ago since his hours were getting reduced at the hospital where he works. Lately, he has worked a decent amount of hours since one of his colleagues is getting old and ill.

I'm familiar with reading legal paperwork and doing legal research, but due to the personal involvement I felt that it was best to obtain an advocate who can work to expedite the claim. Dealing with Health & Human Services, the Texas Workforce Commission, Social Security the Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services, and the local indigent care office is aggravating and stressful. Then there are the other duties of looking for jobs for both of us, filing for his unemployment benefit checks, and cleaning the apartment since my brother is a slob. I seem to spend a lot of time working on various projects for someone who is unemployed.

[Half-Century Man]

18. One of the facets of poverty I have found particularly annoying

is constantly have to prove (or reprove) being impoverished. As though the pennies available per person were worth staging some grand deception. Living under a sword of Damocles, with utter banishment from the system, if found out abusing the system.

What kind of human thinks of this? Only an addict holds their substance of choice so tightly. To begrudge sharing even a tiny bit so much, you have to set up a an everlasting "gotcha" mechanism. Those who turned a social service program into a swamp of red tape or their masters are money addicts.

[NCarolinawoman]

13. I am very sorry you are going through all of this.

I appreciate the update on your situation. You are much in my thoughts. Wish I could do something more.. Others here seem to have a lot of wisdom of a practical nature. You are right--this is a great community of people.

[Algernon Moncrieff]

14. A rec, a wish for luck, and congratulations on 10K

[longship]

17. Your posts are pretty damned great, TT.

And you are very well loved here.

[defacto7]

20. Congratulations on 10K

I can see from the posts here that you have a lot of support. That's something people earn, and earned it you have. I wish you all the best in your endeavors and please be well!