Look. Face it. You’re old. Past your prime. And disabled.
Find a lawyer that specializes in getting you the most Social Security disability benefits you can get.
Become a 47 percenter.
How good are your computer skills?
Electronics.
Assembly (sitting), Testing (sitting), research and development (sitting), CAD / CAM - Computer Aided Drafting / Manufacturing (sitting)..................
Have your rehab counselor see about computer support training or computer programming. Going to a community college to get several courses would give you the skills you need for the current job market.
You might be amazed at the number of open positions that cannot be filled because of a shortage of programmers.
If you do not want to face a computer eight hours a day you might also consider project management or software QA.
There is a lot of work out there if you are willing to make the effort to learn new skills. Software development takes keyboard work.
Good luck to you and God bless.
I was gonna suggest that you run for some office and let the taxpayers take care of your needs, but I checked your profile. Please forgive my “thought crime” against your good character.
Snoot ;-)
Rush always says that when there was a recession, choose not to participate. I’m in my mid-50s, but with younger children I won’t be seeing retirement ... ever.
That’s okay. Going to school is fine if you have the resources to see you through that period, especially if you have a reasonable light at the end of that tunnel. If you stay in the swim and have experience, you can segue from one field to a related one when the time comes.
Knowing nothing about your skills or abilities, I think getting some kind of objective assessment should be your first step. A community college should be a good starting point - tell them what you’ve told us and that you’d like to know which areas you’d be best suited to re-train for.
Areas will computer aided design would be my best recommendation but only for a person who has the required mental skills - there’s no point in putting yourself through that kind of 2 year training program if you’d be better of say, working in a pharmacy.
Knee replacement is pretty common these days.
You have lots of experience in something. Leverage that into _managing_ it (warehouse management, logistics support, etc).
I worked a physical labor intensive job up to age 25. I’ve been sitting on my butt for 25 years now, but it doesn’t mean I have not been working hard.
Brain work and managing people issues can be just as straining as any physical labor job.
FANUC Robotics has an on-line certification program. Once completed,they will hire you as an automation Tech at a $70-$80k starting salary. Your experience in warehousing and supply chain will give you a huge leg-up. Google the program. There are no qualifications to start.
Whats with the knees?
I climbed poles and knelt for 30 years doing outside work. mine aint great but I keep them active. What is the problem with them. maybe be some ex or rehab stuff may get you back in the game. You over weight ? Smoke ? Drink ?
All adds to bad knees.
You have a background in warehousing, right. How about looking for a job as a warehouse manager where you don’t do any of the physical labor yourself. You might need to take some management and/or computer classes, but perhaps you already have the skills that is needed.
I’m 55 and again unemployed. It’s difficult to find a job even as a degreed and experienced professional.
Do what you can to improve yourself but...50+ is not a good place to be switching careers.
Retirement age is 67 as you call it? What do you like to do and what are your interest?
You need a lot more help than a few lines and responses on a website. Find some local
people, church, educational, trades, medical, etc and start a process of laying out a
groundwork for your situation. FR isn’t that place other than a few helpful hints, maybe.
Good luck.
If you did warehousing and have some computer skills you may be good at database administration. There are plenty of other crossovers - I'm focusing on IT because that's what I know. Key to the whole thing is be patient with rejection and don't let it wear you down. You're a unique human being whose life and skills have value, and being out of work doesn't change that. Best of luck!
Good luck.
Maybe see if FedEx or UPS has a desk-type job for which your experience might help with shipping logistics?
Good luck to you!