How to Cope With a Forced Retirement

To whom ever wrote this article I'd like to ask you if you have planned for an catastrophic illness that gives no warning to a seemingly healthy adult.

Because I was doing your so called "3 legged stool" I had a very good paying civil service job. I live on Long Island, and as you know it is one of the most expensive places to live in the US. So I had my salary, which we were struggling with but scrapping by. I was not at Top salary yet (which I would be now and with working OT I would be making almost 6 figures, and the job I had always had OT available as it was in the Emergency Services field) And I had Social Security as well as a decent some in a 457k. Plus my wife had just gone back to work after having our 3rd child. We had bought a modest home in the neighborhood we both grew up in before the market inflated. We lived a simple suburban life. Our older children were in middle school in one of the top school districts in the state. Things were tough, but we were getting by check to check like most people. As it stood I would have been retiring at 57 years old. I know that's considered young but I would have worked 30+ years at my job & I would have only taken 1/2 pension but the stress of that kind of work is not worth the money to stay another 5-7 years. With my credentials i could get a Part time gig in a local firehouse and set my own schedule.

In March of 2007 I suffered a catastrophic illness which left me totally disabled. I only had to wait 1 year for my social security to kick in. We cut back but by now the housing bubble had burst and we would have lost over 100k on the house. After 3 long years of fighting I received my pension at a rate of 1/3 my best three years. We lost EVERYTHING. I now make less then I did when I started with the County.

My wife and I split 3 years ago. Now we have to worry about 2 rents. I did retain my Health Benefits for my 3 children. My son is graduating in June, Fortunately for him he is receiving a nice partial scholarship to a small university in Nebraska. My middle daughter has BRAINS so she should do well for college in 2 years. The problem comes in with my 8 year old daughter. We're determined to have her go through the same schools that have served her brother & sister so well. When she graduates I'm moving to Las Vegas to join my folks out there in retirement. They had their rent DECREASED by $200 because all those foreclosed homes were bought up and are being rented for nothing. I, like my folks, have no intention of ever owning again.

But first I have to stay here and pay $800 for a studio that's about 350 square feet until my baby goes to college.

I just think that it is ignorant of you to write something that is almost impossible to do in this day and age. Most people are living paycheck to paycheck, and more and more their just thankful they have anything at all coming in. I know your just giving advice but I have to ask - To who?

Michael Rothbaum of NY 3:57AM May 25, 2012