ANA Discussion Forum

AN Community => AN Community => Topic started by: Dantheman on December 30, 2007, 05:51:46 pm

Title: Retired!
Post by: Dantheman on December 30, 2007, 05:51:46 pm
That's right...on Dec. 22, 2007 at the age of 44 I am officially retired! Merry Christmas to me!

I worked 17 years in a law enforcement position and due to my age I am leaving only 6 yrs prior to when I was first able to retire. Fortunatley, because of the physical nature of the job, the government offers disability retirement.
Profound deafness and balance issues could possibly put myself and others at risk.

I'll get my retirement credentials in a week or so and an AARP card down the road! ;D

Dan
Title: Re: Retired!
Post by: Boppie on December 30, 2007, 07:21:53 pm
Stay busy Dan.
Title: Re: Retired!
Post by: nancyann on December 30, 2007, 09:09:45 pm
I WISH I COULD RETIRE!!!!   Maybe you weren't ready to retire yet, but I wish you all the best.   I'm so tired of working, I go back 1/2/08 & believe me,
I'm not looking forward to it (though I can't afford NOT to work....).
Title: Re: Retired!
Post by: lori67 on December 30, 2007, 11:00:00 pm
After 17 years in law enforcement - I'll bet you deserve to retire!  Good for you!  I hope you are able to keep yourself busy and enjoy it.

I would imagine deafness and balance issues would be a bit of a problem in your profession!  You might do worse on a sobriety test than someone you've pulled over! I know I'd never pass!

Enjoy!!  You still have a way to go before you get that Senior Citizen discount at Walmart though!
Lori ;)
Title: Re: Retired!
Post by: Brendalu on December 31, 2007, 06:34:33 am
Dan,

Didn't you get turned down for SSD a while back?  Now is the time to go after it again.  I'm glad that although you can't do what you did before in law enforcement, I'm sure this "time off" with pay will give you the opportunity to find something new and more exciting to work on.  Congratulations and have a Happy New Year!
Brenda
Title: Re: Retired!
Post by: Gennysmom on December 31, 2007, 12:20:10 pm
Congratulations Dan!  My other half is almost at the 30 year mark in LE and 52.  I'm not letting him retire till I can in 12 or so years!  No fair him off playing if I can't!  Right now he's got a desk job (accreditation) so he's fine with staying.

Enjoy some time with your family and have a great 2008!

Kathleen
Title: Re: Retired!
Post by: Dantheman on December 31, 2007, 01:01:23 pm
Dan,

Didn't you get turned down for SSD a while back?  Now is the time to go after it again.  I'm glad that although you can't do what you did before in law enforcement, I'm sure this "time off" with pay will give you the opportunity to find something new and more exciting to work on.  Congratulations and have a Happy New Year!
Brenda

I've gotten a lawyer and we're going for a hearing. The SSA didn't send for information from my disability insurance company. The insurance forms are filled out by my attending Dr. and are very detailed about my physical limitations. Much more detailed than anything the SSA sent me. The Dept. of Justice says I'm disabled, a very large national insurance company says I'm disabled but the SSA says I can go to work.

Hopefully the lawyer can convince the hearing officer otherwise.

Dan

 
Title: Re: Retired!
Post by: Jim Scott on December 31, 2007, 04:25:52 pm
Hi, Dan:

Congratulations on your retirement from your law enforcement position. 

I retired from a desk job in 2005 at age 62, and a year later my AN was discovered.  Surgery and radiation naturally followed.  I always figured that in a sort of perverse way, that worked out rather well as I never had to deal with work issues or apply for Social Security Disability and the attendant hassles involved. 

Best of luck pursuing Social Security Disability status.  I expect you'll win an 'award' (benefits) but it takes time and determination.  My wife has been on it for 10 years and it took well over two years for her to finally prevail, as it were.  Fortunately, she also has disability coverage from her former employer and is still technically employed so we can retain her excellent medical coverage, allowing me, as a covered spouse, to avoid Medicare, even though I'll be 65 in 2008. 

At 44, you may get bored with retirement but I haven't, yet, so go for it - and enjoy!  You've earned it.  :) 

Jim

Title: Re: Retired!
Post by: Brendalu on January 03, 2008, 10:31:49 am
Dan,
I was a month away from my hearing after being turned down twice.  All of a sudden the "board" changed their minds and decided I am disabled.  It took twenty-six months altogether.  I was shocked when I got the letter in the mail, the same day I received the letter from SSD is the same day  I got the one from my attorney.  He had never had that happen in all of his years of practice.
Good luck with your retirement and SSA.
Brenda
Title: Re: Retired!
Post by: Battyp on January 13, 2008, 08:41:22 pm
Dan congrats on your retirement...where and when is the party!

I just had my ssd hearing last Friday after a 2 year wait. The hearing lasted about 20 minutes. My file which was handed to the judge was 3 1/2 inches thick. I'm hoping for a speedy outcome. I was told 6 weeks to 6 months before I'd know for sure. In the mean time I'm working on a masters degree in accouting. I figure when I go back I'm going to make the big bucks and work less than work harder and make little money  ;)
Title: Re: Retired!
Post by: Dantheman on January 14, 2008, 12:54:22 pm
Don't know when the party is yet. Soon.
The Warden will give me a picture of the prison on a plaque and then they have a chit hanging ceremony. Chits are round pieces of brass with our names on it. They are used to draw keys and equipment. If anything gets lost, they know who to come to. Equipment and tool accountability.

They have a retirement board in the main lobby of the prison with the retiree's name and dates of employment...and a hook to hang a chit on... for the last time.

Usually some of the guys will buy some beers at the local watering hole after the ceremony. I don't have enough rank to warrant a party.

Dan
Title: Re: Retired!
Post by: Brendalu on January 14, 2008, 01:23:21 pm
BP,

Good luck with the results of your hearing.  If anyone deserves to be approved you do.  I cannot understand why it takes so long in Florida and the Carolina's for a decision to be made after the hearing.  Maybe the fact that I called them up and said I would probably be dead long before they approved me, might have sped up the process ::)!

Brenda
Title: Re: Retired!
Post by: Captain Deb on January 14, 2008, 02:56:16 pm
Brendalu--that's actually what they hope for--that you'll either give up or die. I've been waiting for 10 1/2 months since my hearing.

Congrats Dan! Now you can take that pottery or watercolor class! Yahoo!

Capt Deb(http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee60/Captdeb_photos/pirate2.gif)
Title: Re: Retired!
Post by: Battyp on January 14, 2008, 04:59:15 pm
Brenda I have my fingers and toes crossed the verdict will come soon and be approved.

Dan may you at least get a goodbye. My company let me go without telling me for 6 weeks I was terminated. They were not very understanding of my inability to return to work.

Deb what dance do you think we need to do to get yours approved?
Title: Re: Retired!
Post by: Brendalu on January 15, 2008, 06:30:19 am
Capt Deb......I told them one of my problems was that I had severe depression and that was causing suicidal thoughts and I PROBABLY wouldn't be around if it took much longer.  The guy got very nervous and asked if I wanted to speak to someone from the suicide hotline! ::)
BrendaLu
Title: Re: Retired!
Post by: lori67 on January 15, 2008, 10:31:39 am
Dan,

A few guys and a few beers sounds like a party to me!  Enjoy it!!  They may not be celebrating your departure - but you sure will be!!

Lori