Hello to all,
Here is my issue and I am sure I probably wont like the answers given because all I have read isnt giving me much hope. I have worked all my life and paid every tax and enrolled in 401's but a year and a half ago I lost my last "best" job and started to collect (I am in PA). After exhausting my unemployment in June of last year (2011) I had no real choice but to leave my former residence and move back to my mothers home where I didnt have to worry about bill other then my Jeep payment and incidentals (now how embarrsing is that when I am 38). After barely getting by, I decided to try to start a business (all eCommerce) since the area I live in, you actually feel like you went back in time 18 years, and NO its not in the country, its actually a fair sized city. Our unemployment rate is garbage and there are no jobs for anyone that used to make $38k here. Our average is only like $17-$18k and any employer looking at my resume automatically figures if I were hired, that career would be short lived so why bother hiring at all.
Hence the reason for me to start my business. This past year I went through every penny I ever had including buying a Laser Engraver for the mere cost of $20k, plus licenses, plus tons of materials to learn with and try to sell, plus milage trying to go to shows to aquire customers. All in all I have spent over $35k and now I am pennies away from defaulting on the car, any loans, and all credit cards that I worked so hard to achieve. I had a good credit score but as of recent it dropped all the way down to 540 and more than enough bad reports on my credit reports.
When I worked at a hospital locally I left with something like $10k that went into my 401 and according to newsletters sent to me from Social Security, there is over $30k there. I havent had medical or dental in over 2 years and do have issues but wont go to the docs because I cant afford the cash to do so. At the same time I have looked into the local PA assistance programs, but since I am not a low life or drug dealer, I dont qualify for anything at all since I dont know the same tricks they do to live off of what I have always paid into.
If I did accept ANY job then that is bad for 2 reasons, first my resume would go from heading IT departments to working at McDonalds so I am sure the future employers (if I ever fold the business) would really love to hire someone who started his working career @ $20k 20 years ago and last job with $38k, all of sudden making $18k. Second would be is that I just want to make my business work and it is finally starting but I have NO capital and thought about researching how to get my money from Social Security paying penalties and all but every article or forum is very vague. I even tried to contact my former company (the one with the $10k) and they offered no help.
IS THERE ANYTHNG I CAN DO to get this money from the SSA because that will at least keep me going without having to claim bancruptcy and loose everything I have worked so hard for.
Thanks in advance with any to all help offered,
JJ

