Recently I had a client who decided that she wanted to go back to work, she is over 55 and suffered 2 major heartaches, she is on disability. She needs the medical coverage that goes with SSD so she could not take a job that would not provide benefits.
I got her involved in a program for people over 55, it is forgiving in some incomes. It will allow her to work 20 hours a week at $7.15 an hour without affecting her SSD or her medical coverage.
This is great for her and she still has major health issues. Since she has a really good work history, her entire adult life, this being disabled and being at home was not good for her mentally, she actually went into a depression and had to seek help.
She will start work on November 20th, a social security advocate agency is there to answer all her questions and the agency that handles the program will pay her wages. She will trained to be a receptionist, she is used to working road construction, which is physically demanding. We will have her at our office for 26 months. She will learn the skills needed to eventually move on to another employment area. We will have two of these individuals and since we recently had a cut in funding and had to let our receptionist go, it is a win, win. These two ladies will get the training in a real life environment and we have someone to answer our phones.
This is a federally funded program, so it should be available in all states.
With all the funding cuts and our higher ups dictating to us, our hands are tied, we can't hire but can use other resources. We hated to see our receptionist go, it was not our choice. We look forward to building a strong relationship with these two new ladies, we can train them for 26 months.
If you know some one in this situation and need more information, I will help investigate. This is a great supplemental income that won't affect their benefits.
That's wonderful!! I think many people on SS are scared to work because the fine line between earning and going over can be thin and of course it depends what kind of benefits they're receiving too. I know that when my dad went on disability (gosh it took a long time to get that) he couldnt' do a lot of things, little things like cut the grass, so my sis and i learned to do that stuff. i think that's wonderful that there's aprogram out there like that. it is depressing, not only being injured or disabled, but to be cooped up in a house all day long. went through that (not disabled) but when i was out of a job, and my depression set in and i was perfectly capable physically of doing anything! so i can imagine how depression can be a major factor. i'm really glad to hear that there's a program out there like that for people! just because people age doesn't mean their mind doesn't need to be utilized. also the social interaction your trainee will get will be beyond the financial benefits she'll receive in the program :)
Well we have two of them coming on board, we need one more and I have been looking. The right person will walk through the door one of these days. We need someone that is friendly, outgoing and can multi task at our front desk, it can get crazy there sometimes. I think the two we have coming on board will be ok, we will sit with them for the first month or so to get them used to everything. We don't want them running off, LOL. I think it is a benefit for both ends, us and them.
I agree it will be a symbiotic relationship for both you and your two women coming to help. I just heard of an elderly woman she's 91 who lives in her home is confined to her apartment and all she wants is some mental stimulation. apparently her daughters cut ties with the mail...all her mail goes to the daughter's house. some of this i understand with finances and such. but even when she gets cards or the paper, she doesn't see them :( i'm a little saddened by that. I'm really glad to hear that there's a program like this. I have worked with women and men age 55 and older and they work hard, love to socialize, are personable and all around a good person.
Their work ethic is incredible, they show up and don't make excuses not to come to work. We really look forward to having them. They will work different days, so they will only overlap on wednesdays, so that will be nice too.
That is really sad about the elderly lady not being able to socialize, I used to care for an elderly college professor in her last days, she had her friends come to the house, they were a hoot. You could tell they tore it up in their younger days. It is important for any one, regardless of the age to have social interaction, It sounds like neglect on their part if they don't do things with her. I understand the mail thing, the elderly professor used to be taken by scams or order incredibly expensive items that she really did not need, her care takers made sure her mail was screened.
That they are, they are very good workers. When I taught classes at our local university, I noticed that our older non traditional students just surpassed my 18 year olds. just a different frame of mind and they're fixated on their goals, means more to them i think. Now not all of my freshman 18 year olds were like that. but some of them. they get caught up in the frats and sororities and all the social aspects...I do notice a difference in maturity aside from the physical differences
I know what you mean, I know these ladies won't have a cell phone ringing in one ear while they are trying to serve clients, LOL.
It will be a great help to us, we are all so happy about it. We look forward to having them as part of the team. I stressed this to the staff that we need to treat them equally, everything we do for our staff, we need to do for them. The birthday cards, invite them to our holiday get togethers and summer cookouts that we have at work.
That sounds so nice, sounds like you have a good relationship with the people you work with. I work in a calling center and I used to answer phones to help with customer service and I noticed that our older workers are more dedicated big time. I also saw that they get more incentives and bonuses, they don't complain, come to work on time, and are PLEASANT to work with. I now work in the shipping department and I like that better, don't have as many older workers there, more so they're on the phones.
Today is our first day with one of them, we shall see, keep your fingers crossed! When she came in on Thursday she was so greatful for the opportunity, she worked for years and then became disabled and can't work a full work week, so this is perfect for her.
Nice let us know how all of you make out. I just read an article or blog rather that more and more seniors are staying at home working jobs from home! that's really neat never thought about that. So many can't retire at the typical retirement age. My grandfather still works and he just turned 80. part time for a resort but he enjoys it and it exercises his mind and body. Plus he and his wife go to the gym a couple of times a week. that exercise and stimulation is what's keeping them young! they are very sharp for their ages.
Ok, first day on the job for one of my ladies and the other will start next week. Got all the scheduling out of the way. She did great, pleasant to all of our customer, arrived to work early and worked the entire day with no complaints. I think if the first day is any sign of what the working relationship will be like, we have a winning situation here.
I am so stinky excited about this, I know these ladies probably think that I am a goofball, or I will tell you they have NEVER felt so wanted, LOL. This not having to be at the front desk and answering the phone has freed up so much time for me and the other staff members, the other staff members are just as appreciative as I am, so they are probably thinking we are a bunch of happy fruit loops. We have had to do this job along with our own program requirements for the last six months, believe me, we are greatful.
This is really great. Elderly people working after retirement is really exciting and you guys are doing a great job...
I think it is good for their mental health, I know ours will be in good hands. These ladies are only 55-58 years old, so that don't even seem elderly to me. I worked at another agency where we had an 89 year old working for us, she was wonderful.
89 is pretty old. Wow it must be fun with them. Elderly people are really great to be with. :)
This one now only 55-58, our 89 year old that we had at the other agency was great to work with, she had so much life experience to offer. She was like all of our grandmothers, LOL. We just loved her, she has since passed away.
Oh thats sad. 55-58..cannot call really old though. They must be smart?
Laura, what I think is sad is that the program considers anyone of the age of 55 a senior, heck I haven't got long to go, lol.
Never mind...its always the mind that stays young or becomes old.
Our other lady started today, we are so lucky to have the both of them, she did an awesome job. When I first walked in this morning, she looked very nervous, I told her to put her nerves under the desk, she laughed it off and got more comfortable as the day went on. By the end of the day, she said her butt hurt from sitting, I had to laugh, I have heard of your butt hurting from riding a bike after not riding for a while, but from sitting, LOL, never heard of that.
Dont say that Good. It does :(....keep sitting an for 6 hours at a stretch you will know. I have a problem though with my coccyx bones.
Good, if I sit for long periods my feet will go to sleep, I don't know if it is because I am so used to moving around or what, but I get very shifty in a chair if I sit for long periods of time. I know you are just joking around, but I have done that bicycle deal too, that one really, really hurts, especially on a bike with a small seat. I think the seats are made a little wider these days. The whole balancing thing would be my problem these days, hee, hee.
I am so impressed with these two ladies, I could not be happier. They have both been on for a very short while, one for two weeks and one for just a week and they are doing an awesome job, I could not ask for better help.
If anyone wants information on this program, it is a federal program so it should be in every state. It has to be a non profit or a government agency, let me know and I will find the information for your state and pass it on to you. It is a wonderful program for older workers and for the business that use the program too.
Glad to hear it is all working out so well for you and these two ladies, sounds like a beginning of a good relationship for all involved. goodluck.
Think they would like some popcorn balls, LOL. I am really happy with them and they with us. I am going to see if they want to be part of the staff morale team, they said they would do the decorating for christmas, as long as someone from the staff does anything that needs done on ladders. I will do that.
They may like popcorn balls, ask them. They may want the recipe to try with their own grand children. No harm in asking.
They will probably really enjoy doing the decorating and planning a christmas get together for the staff and they probably know ways to save money on the meal too.
They will probably pull out all the decorations for work sometime this week, we have these huge stockings with all the staff names on it, we need to change a few of them for people that have left and put thier names on them. That will make them feel part of the group too. It should be fun.
Good, I am sure these two ladies will have a great time decorating, and getting paid for it, wow. It seems like your whole staff has given them a great welcome and works with them really well.
What a day at work, only a few staff there, everyone is either out buck hunting or training. I was so happy to have one of our ladies there to help out. She did not stress for a moment, just moved on like it was any other day, I think we had about every scenario walk through that door this morning. We had the first plastic benefit question, we knew it would happen, LOL. We just helped the gentleman set up direct deposit so he would not have to mess with it. We made it through with out too much hassle.
You find it really good helping out and have fun as well :)
Sounds like everyone is having a good time where you work good, do you have any openings, I would be happy to apply. I will answer your phones for you and what ever else needs done, you can call on me, LOL.
Yes they are, they put up two trees and stockings for everyone, 24 to be exact, one is more into it than the other, but that is cool. The office is looking like the north pole, lol. I think this makes them feel more part of the team than anything, joining in and doing stuff like this. We will do an ornament exchange that will be fun. It ends up being the battle of the ornaments because everyone will be able to take from the other. It can get pretty wicked at times. We do it every year.
It is, it can get pretty carried away, we all pick a number from a hat and start with the lowest, then each person chooses a package and opens and has to show it to everyone else, if they want some one elses they take it, instead of opening a package, if you get nice ornaments it can be a lot of fun.
working old people
i agree with you good natured i too am a senior citizen who works and any one on ssd or regular ss can work part time and even 36 months before it affects any of thier benifits. the ss dept. will explain it to anyone its called ticket to work. they would rather have people trying to work and paying in to ss than getting ss and setting back on thier rears doing nothing. there are a lot of ss and ssd people who can and should be working part time. i know a few in my own family who should try it they wouldnt have so much time to get into all the gossip and be in the middle of every problem that comes along. i am proud to work ,ive worked since i was sixteen and can honestly say no man ever supported me ive always been the bread winner and wouldnt have it any other way. keep the imformation flowing so maybe more people will go back part time and our ss funds wont deminish, for the future generation. thank you for the great article.
You are exactly right dadummy, some treat it like a second form of welfare, it is sad. They are only hurting themselves, sitting around on your rear all day, LOL, is not real healthy, bet they have a ton of other bad habits they do while they are sitting around all day.
You just worry about yourself, it is all that you can control, no sense in getting all stressed out over something you can not do anything about, just come here to us and vent, we will always listen to you, may not always agree, but we will always listen. LOL :D
good nature im also a disabled worker i went through that work certified course so i could try to work without looking to old and dumb. i was shocked to say the least. we had all kinds of people takeing the course but the shocker was the welfare people complaining about everything i was just glad to have someone try to help me get an outlook on the business world and there they were wineing about what theyu werent getting and the best part they were getting paid to go. figure that one out they complained the whole 3 weeks it lasted and made fun of the teachers. you wouldnt believe it. they were so ungrateful. isaid you pay to go to college you pay for tutors, and vocatinal schools or any other training and here these people were paying them to get educated and all they could do is complain. i was very irritated to say the least.
The whole system is screwed up, it was supposed to be a temporary help. People used to show some shame, now they act as if they are entitled to the benefits, I don't know what makes these people think that they are owed anything, Get A Job already!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
These welfare programs have always been a sore spot for me. We get people who are mandated to come to our office and look for employment. They find a job and work it long enough to get the free car, get the car insurance paid and all the other freebies that come along with being on welfare. There is no incentive for these people to stay working and then come January they will get their rapid refund of $2000 back. I think that they should count this income and have these people all off welfare for one month, just for that one month imagine the money that it would save the state and federal government. I work with the county assistance office quite a bit and their clients do NOT have to report that $2000 refund, I just can not believe this. We have had people come in and actually get car repairs the same day they pick up their refund. The system is BROKEN!
well good nature hows the job going
. hope its working well for you and the older ladies. i would be miserble if i coouldnt do something and yes i know i worked for my pension and disability but i still need to feel useful. guess old age isnt what its cracked up to be.