Work doing what? How many of those able to work actually acquired a marketable skill? And how many of those are semi-literate dropouts without any abilities an employer would want?
I was forced to retire at 55 due to injuries I had received in the army back in the mid 60s. I am very smart and even owned my own consulting company at the time. however since I am under heavy narcotic pain medication I am considered unemployable by any company which requires drug testing and even though the law makes that illegal to do, it still happens anyway.
I am a very talented individual in my field holding such titles as Systems Specialist (equal to Senior Systems Analyst), and Systems Engineer.
Unfortunately due to both my health problems and extremely poor employment opportunities it is impossible for me to even try to be employed. My current age of 68 also precludes me from getting a job.
When I was forced into retirement at 55, I was eligible to receive Social Security Disability but it took FIVE years of fighting the Social Security Admin before an Administrative Law Judge declared me totally disabled and I was finally awarded benefits back to the last day worked. When I received full retirement age I was converted to regular Social Security retirement pay.
Even though I have been living in constant pain for MANY years now both the SSA and the VA have totally dedicated themselves to not giving me the benefits which I am entitled to.
I first filed for both Social Security disability and VA compensation back in 1992 when I was out of work due to being disabled for over a year.