Answer Summary

Members shared deeply personal concerns about transitioning to early retirement due to rheumatoid arthritis, with common worries including... Read more

Members shared deeply personal concerns about transitioning to early retirement due to rheumatoid arthritis, with common worries including memory issues affecting work performance, maintaining health insurance coverage, and the financial impact of leaving work before full retirement age. Several members offered practical guidance, including applying for FMLA to reduce work hours as a first step, pursuing SSDI through your doctor with the understanding that most applicants face initial denial and benefit from attorney representation afterward, and exploring options like retiree insurance programs or Medicare with low-income assistance to bridge coverage gaps. A recurring theme was the difficult reality of bodies making the retirement decision before minds are ready, met with understanding from others who described reaching a point where continuing to work simply became impossible despite their desire to keep going.