Saying Hello & Working

[Guest guest]

Hi All,

As some of you may remember, I was very excited about my new job last March with

Abilicorp. Unfortunately I was laid-off in December as the company cut way back

and refocused on a specific project. I was fine with this because I knew it was

coming and was able to line up new work that began at the end of January. I

don't love being self-employed, but I do appreciate having a job despite this

difficult economy.

I am now doing contract technical assistance for the World Institute on

Disability. It's only 10 hrs. per week and I negotiated that I would do one

afternoon a week at the office so I wouldn't be working so isolated at home.

They don't have much space, but found a desk for me to share that's working out

well. I'm hopeful that after April I can add 5 - 10 more hours per week to my

contract. There's plenty of work, they just need to find the funding.

I doing 3 projects: responding to public queries about disability cash and

medical benefits issues, editing web site content, and organizing their internal

electronic library on state and federal public benefits programs. It's

meticulous detail work that doesn't require ongoing case management, which I

find to be draining. I'm not making enough to end my SSDI, but am making enough

to affect my Medicaid so am using a California work incentive program that let's

me keep my Medicaid until I'm earning well over $52k.

I'm wondering what other people are doing for work these days. Are you finding

work? Working from home or out in the world? Getting the accommodations you

need? Making enough?

Just curious. Also, I think it's good to share about as many different and

creative ways to make employment work as possible. Having the income beyond

what I get from Social Security has been great. I hope others can figure out

how to make it work, also.

Cheers!

Alana