'There Should Be a March on Washington for All of Us Over 60 Who Will Never Get a Job Again'

[StarzGuy]

84. I didn't realize it at the time that I was one paycheck away from disaster...

...one paycheck and major illnesses led to my demise. I once was a middle class member with a job that payed the bills. I am not saying that my employment did much more. After all back in 1978 with my first teaching contract I earned a whooping $10,400 while my roommate ended up with a great IBM contract at least 3 times more than I was about to earn. Yet, we both had the same level of education, both of us earned our Master's Degree, his an MBA, mine Educational Administration.

I never made enough to put away for retirement until way too late. After 35 years of teaching (never was able to land an administration job) I ended up disabled. I lost my home and had to use what little I had put away to survive until my disability was approved, nearly 9 months after I became disabled and had to retire. No income during the 9 month waiting period.

Now, with no additional savings and no prospect of ever reentering the work force I can't even make it through a month without having an overdrawn checking account. After rent, utilities and car payment there is virtually little money left for other basic like food, medicine, prescriptions, etc. Now, even St Mary's Food Bank have income limits. I am just a bit over the limit so I no longer qualify for food assistance.

The article speaks to me more accurately than you can imagine. The future is bleak for average persons in the US regardless who is elected president.