<p>Thanks to the lovely financial meltdown that has killed our 401k (H is retired and we have been living ok on his SS pension and drawing on the 401k), plus the horrendous costs of my husbands prescriptions now that he has to go on Medicaire D (thank you rotten Oil company for screwing your over 65 retirees and dropping them from your medical plan after all these years), I am planning on going back to work. I have also started thinking of going back to school half time so I can eventually get a job other than answering phones at a local call center, or at a fast food place, or Walmart. I am actually kind of excited at the prospect despite my whinging.To cut a long story short, I worked for severl years as a certified accountant back home (England) but did not finish the certification (back then in in the UK you could work as an accountant while doing the training and exams - no degree required) before leaving the UK. I cannot get even a clerical job here. I am probably going to do the call center job (I had to go take the GED to even do that) to start with - Dental benefits - yay. I want something more satisfying long term so am planning to go to school but need a little financial aid to help with the tuition (refer back to whinging at the beginning of the post). </p>
<p>I have done FAFSA several times before for/with my kids but find I am a bit confused doing it for me. On FAFSA, for independent students, it asks about dependents other than spouse with the following definition
[quote]
Your children, if they will receive more than half of their support from your household between July 1, 2008 and June 30, 2009
[/quote]
I have 2 kids in college. We do pay some of their expenses - medical, insurance, books and some college expenses. The younger one lives here when not in college. They get financial aid including grants and loans, and she also has good scholarships. For tax purposes we claim her as a dependent because for tax purposes college scholarships and grants do not make her eligible to not be claimed as a dependent. Do not claim son on taxes as he was working full time before he returned to school this fall and lives full time in his own place. Can I show them as dependents for my FAFSA? I know they are considered dependents on their FAFSAs and are listed as members of parents household. Not sure if they should be on mine. At first I thought yes, but if half the support includes college expenses my daughter's scholarships and grants are covering more than half that. I am confused about what to do. Claiming them would make the difference between subsidized or unsubsidized loans</p>
<p>Hoping Kelsmom or Nikkil read this post. Or anyone with experience in this situation.</p>
<p>You get to list them as dependents. Your form will say 4 in household with 3 in college. Their forms will say 4 in household with 2 in college, because they can't include you ... but you can include them!</p>
<p>I sympathize with the insurance issue. My dad is a GM retiree who no longer has the health care he was promised when he retired, effective Jan. 1. My mom had to have major surgery, and they pushed to get it done before the end of this year for that very reason. Now they have to figure out which Medicare plan to use ... it's not fun.</p>
<p>As for going back to work ... I know about that! It is exciting, but it's also been stressful. After years of doing things on my own terms, it's not easy being tied to a schedule or being a peon (I was in control of everything I did as a volunteer!). But I know you'll adjust, as I have ... and you will begin to enjoy it for the new things it brings to your life. Good luck to you!</p>
<p>Thanks kelsmom - I was hoping you or Nikkil would read my post.
[quote]
I sympathize with the insurance issue. My dad is a GM retiree who no longer has the health care he was promised when he retired, effective Jan. 1. My mom had to have major surgery, and they pushed to get it done before the end of this year for that very reason. Now they have to figure out which Medicare plan to use ... it's not fun.
[/quote]
Sounds like we are in the same boat. Sickening isn't it? As an employee my H always understood that he was paying higher health premiums because the retirees were in the same 'pool', but that he would benefit once he was a retiree. Then they made the retirees a separate pool and our premiums shot up 2-300%. Now the over 65s are being dumped completely. The prescriptions are killer. Under the company retiree plan his copay was $2,000 a year. Under med D it will be $5,000 (including premiums depending which of the 49 companies in our State he goes with). Asked his doc this week about changing some of the higher priced meds and she strongly recommended against it (he has diabetes and heart and lung damage from a blood clot). Next year, providing no one gets sick, 2/3 of his federal pension will go to medical insurance premiums and prescription coverage. i don't understand how people do not see that something needs to be done. He worked all his life, took 1 day off sick his entire working life. Did what he was supposed to and paid into the system. Now we worry about medical costs all the time. Ugh. Rant over.</p>
<p>I *am *excited about going to work and to school (I really enjoyed reviewing the Algebra and Geometry for the GED - it was nice to realize I do still have a brain!). My biggest worry is the being tied to a schedule. My elderly Mom is in England. She cannot make it over here anymore so I go once a year for 3-4 weeks which is something any job would have to allow for (unpaid i know). But this last year she had some bad health issues which meant I had to go over 3 times, twice at very short notice (contributing to my need to earn money), to take care of her. That would still be a priority. I have been hesitant to make the job/school commitment because of this.</p>
<p>I don't know exactly how the family leave act works, but I know that my job allows me to take unpaid family leave time if I need it. That might be the case for you, which would ease your mind. My mom just had her surgery (I'm in MI, she's in FL), and I consider myself fortunate that my dad was there for her. I "could" have taken time off, but I am still probationary until early January. In this economy, I would rather not have to chance it. I will go once probation is up & I get a bunch of sick time/vacation that I can use. Before the job, I would have stayed down there until they got sick of me & sent me home.</p>
<p>Doesn't it just grind you when you see the record profits the oil companies have ... and then you have to deal with increasing health care costs? I think a nationalized system just has to come soon.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Doesn't it just grind you when you see the record profits the oil companies have ... and then you have to deal with increasing health care costs?
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Yes it does. It just makes me so mad. Our city was a company city until a merger and is just dying. But we have a lot of retirees still. The new and unexpected situation they have to deal with is incredibly complicated and confusing for these elderly people (we have a job sorting it all out and H is one of the younger retirees and I am in my 50s - and we were both accountants and have a good understanding of numbers). </p>
<p>
[quote]
I think a nationalized system just has to come soon.
[/quote]
Something has to happen for sure. People who are against any sort of national system seem to think it is only jobless and layabouts who are hurting. Not the case. And as for people who say that in a national system certain drugs and treatments may not be covered - we are already there under most insurance plans. I had my doctor change me off a new drug back to an old one because the price difference was unaffordable for us - my health issues are not life threatening merely :( discomfort and pain - my husbands are health threatening so we can't change his. It is just getting worse and worse and less affordable every year.</p>
<p>swimcatsmom, you might want to consider working for H&R Block or one of the other tax prep firms for the upcoming tax season, and then go to work at the call center. My understanding is that the tax prep firms will train you; you may make more there, both the hourly rate and being able to pick up more hours if you want them. Bet they'd like your accounting experience!</p>
<p>Owlice - I am doing the online course for a tax prep firm right now. Trouble is the earliest I can schedule the GED is Dec 10th (I got 95% on 2 of the official practice tests and 100% on the other 4 so I am expecting to pass). I should have filled the application form out earlier - it had to be sent off and I had to be approved to take it. Anyway I am not sure if the results will be back in time for the January start date (they want HS diploma or GED). My contact is going to find out if that will be a problem and get back to me. I have to go down to their office and take tests so am hoping if I do well in them (it is pretty basic stuff so I am optimistic) that I will be ok pending the GED results. </p>
<p>I keep telling my friends and family, including my kids, that I will send announcements and I expect gifts. My kids think it is hysterical that I have to take the GED as I was always the go to person for homework help (till they got past basic algebra anyway) and they still phone me, rather than look in a dictionary, to ask what an unknown word means.</p>
<p>The tax prep would work out perfect - I could do that through April, then go see my Mum, then come back and start the call center training (they always seem to be hiring).</p>