I'm 65, 100% disable Vietnam Veteran and I receive benefits from the VA,on SS $500.00 per month and I can't afford to live month to month on this. I know people that are living on $700.00 per month.

Something is wrong with this picture, what a shock I got with medicare what saving it not working for me and yet they take $100.00 from my SS check. When I go buy food dam 2 bag at $150.00? and I can't get food stamp's. I live in Bakersfield, CA.

After the economy really started going south, the media company I worked for got spooked, pulled up stakes, and relocated to New Mexico in early 2009.

I went 29 months without work.

Through a friend, I finally found full-time employment last summer, but at a wage that sets me back to what I was making years ago. Apparently I'm one of the ""lucky"" ones: Through a combination of receiving extended unemployment benefits, raiding my savings, 401(k) and Health Savings accounts, and burning through all of a small gift from my parents, I managed to come through with my credit score and mortgage intact, and ""only"" a few thousand dollars in credit card debt. But at a reduced wage, things are paycheck to paycheck, with nothing left for 401(k) contributions, and at most a couple hundred a month towards that credit card. This blew a huge hole in any retirement plans (even at 20 years out), and I don't even want to think about next year's tax penalties for that early 401(k) withdrawal.

But the really, really infuriating thing I learned about is the hiring prejudice against the long-term unemployed. Apparently HR departments routinely use more than 6 months of unemployment as a convenient screening criteria for summarily rejecting applicants. When applying for jobs that in other times would have practically had my name rubber-stamped on them, I wouldn't get so much as an email response. When I was finally able to sent out resumes that listed even part-time recent work, I got two calls in one week. In addition to being inherently unfair, this is just dumb. Ignore someone with maybe 20 years experience doing exactly what you're looking for, because your last employer closed its doors and you've been unemployed in a job market of historically awful proportions? I would almost even call this un-American, but in today's business and political climate, I really don't know what to expect from my country.

I am computer tech. I have been laid off from the LAUSD District. After working for the district for 13 years. What ever happen to lotto money going to schools.

You feel that you lose everything when you lose your job after so long. As far as home we had to cut corners as far as not eating at restaurants, no summer vacation, no birthday parties for the kids. Movies that cost 2 or 3 dollars entrance. We have to share one car because we cant afford another car. After five months I finally got a part time job working for the city. This job will only last until December. Trying to look for jobs is not easy.

While my husband the bread winner is still doing well knock wood this economy has affected us in a very unexpected way none the less. We have only one child. Our son Adam was given 13 years of private Christian school education. There he excelled. He was given many awards over the years for his behavior, academics, and attendance.

Adam never missed a day of school with the exception of his bout of chicken pox in 2nd grade. He was high school salutatorian. This plus his over 4.0 GPA and his SATs got him half a ride at University Of La Verne. Once there his profs loved him just as much as his teachers in Christian school did. He never missed a class, joined a few clubs, got good grades, and even got to represent the college in New Orleans during a marketing presentation. He graduated in 4 years time in 2008. His degree is a bachelor's in business/marketing. Adam now 26 sits at home with no job. It is such a waste of his life.

It is not that he is putting in for CEO positions. He can not even get a job selling tickets in sporting venues. He applies all over the place and most time never hears back. When he does get that occasional interview he does not get the job. He has tons of competition. Many experienced people are trying out for the same low level jobs. His dad, I, and Adam are very discouraged. Adam is a good descent young man. No one wants him and my husband is saying he failed as a father. I don't think we failed as parents. I think society has failed my son. The government has failed to provide us an economy where a guy like Adam can find a job. Some times I get so mad when I see these talking heads on tv running for office I just want to scream. Adam is volunteering at Ontario Reign as a goal keeper and plays roller hockey while praying one day some body will say you are hired.

I once had a wife with a stepdaughter, job, church, growth potential, bank accounts, health/dental insurance, home, etc..

In 01/2008 had a routine layoff as an electrician apprentice with the union. Figured it was time to get my ankle cleaned up (#6 surgery) so I could finish my union contract. My ankle specialist and I fought with my health insurance company at the time about his request to have another experienced surgeon in the room to best address my ankle medical needs.

Fortunately, the health insurance company, denied his professional need for the surgery. A few days after when the routine ankle surgery was to take place. I ended up in the ER with chest pains. Second time in 11 days. Almost died until the machine prompted to the ER doctor my heart was dying. I obviously survived, sort of.

I ended up getting my ankle fixed but my union president kicked me out of the 5th year of my apprenticeship. I sent letters pleading for direction but just got nothing. Well, I was forced to resign but never did.

A year later I found a rough note in my wife's bible explaining why I had to leave. I was scared for my safety so I drove to WI for a cooling off period. I was then cut off from our banking accounts in CA. Soon I was told I was not accepted home until I was right with God. In her view only.

While in WI the VA hospital diagnosed and treated me for Graves' disease.

I have lost everything but a small fragment of hope for a productive future. I wish no ill will on anyone but am I reminded of what love should be while interacting with my companion dog.
My Father now supports me 100%. He is disabled. How much more can I ask of my family? Some suggest the church, but how can I trust them?

Some have suggested I pick up trash to get back on my one good ankle. Or "buck up" to what to my current situation. Only a small % of this country are Vets from Wars. I don't believe I am so entitled but need some help. CA, WI, Feds have done nothing with the money I paid into the "systems" for 20+ years. I guess it was not enough. I am a single white male with no more children & am not sure if I can make 40 y/o.

Decent jobs are hard to come by even for the healthy. Why did I work so hard to get educated? Attempt to do right?

My bank forced me to close my accounts. No more mobile. Cannot even afford Skype. Have a paypal account but.. no funds to transfer. Cannot pay vehicle tags or afford gas to work. Vehicle insurance. What for?

At least the VA in WI is keeping my alive. It is not funny how other people are getting rich off my various documented sicknesses while my debt grows and grows and grows. Somehow this is all my fault.. right?

I miss CA. The diverse but orientated humans. But am so afraid of the local & state .gov.. look what they did to the people.. you are not even "protected" in custody.

In the beginning of May 2009 I was laid off from a law firm for 17 1/2 years of service because they filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy due to the economic downturn. I registered with seven placement agencies and I was temping and doing contract type work. Until I landed a new job with another law firm.

But my salary is much lower and its a struggle. The saddest thing I had eleven people ask me if we were hiring. And the only I say not at the moment. Even with a University Degree there is no guarantee of a future.

It's stopped growth. It's stopped purchasing. It's stopped consuming, except for what's necessary. Above all, it's caused anger and resentment among a lot of people I know, who have been deprived of almost everything: Well educated people and not so well educated.

The anger over the elite, who continue to spend and live like nothing's ever happened. And when you read the history of this country you see that this isn't the first time we've been in this kind of mess and as long as the deck is stacked against the majority of us and we continue to behave like hamsters running on a wheel and hide in the wrap of false patriotism and religion and anti science, we're going to continue to pay a very steep price.

The price is our decline. The decline you see all around: Schools, roads, infrastructure, technology, medicine. Statistically we are not doing at all well, when compared with the rest of the world.

The recession has hit my family very hard. After living over seas for 3 years My wife and I decided to move back to California. We arrived in 2007, since that time I have had trouble finding work.

The result was accepting a job out of state, where I have managed to buy a huge house, find a good job, and with these things find happiness.....

I will struggle with not living in California, however as they say a job is the new raise!

I have been unable to work since July 1 2008. I moved in with my parents. My wife divorced me. I finally got on the Social Security Disability Insurance. It pays for my rent and Medicare A and B.

I moved out of expensive Los Angeles. Even 1 bed room apt in LA costs $1250 to $1450 per month. I move to Portland Oregon's area called Beaverton. 2 bedroom 1 bath home with plenty of parking and easy access to medical office and grocery store is $735/month. How can this be? But, I still rely on Food Bank for food on the table.

I don't work. I don't have money to go to school. I am too sick and disabled to work and not in spirit to go and play at the park either. I am depressed and don't have any friends here. I am bed rest for 10 hours a day and recently infected with sinusitis acute and on antibiotic and doesn't seem to get better. Been seen for month since September 6, 2011 with infection. I have a pregnant girlfriend who lives with me here. She's disabled too. She's about 3 months pregnant.

Yes, the recession has taken a one-two punch on me, too. I'm an Honorably Discharged Retired Navy Veteran who retired in 2005, just before things got hairy. After I retired, I went to college at San Diego City College, then transferred to San Diego State University where I earned a bachelor's degree in political science.

I plan on attending law school in the future. I used my GI bill to help offset the loss of income during college, but it has now expired. After I retired, I did receive unemployment benefits, but only for 6 months compared to what people are now receiving which is considerably longer than me. I found part time work with a janitorial service in 2006.

When I first started working for the janitorial service, named Advanced Plus Janitorial Service, we had over 10 accounts. But, as the recession approached, we started losing accounts. My hours went from close to 40 hours a week to only 19 to 22 hours today. We now have only 4 accounts. My boss has been able to maintain his business only because he expanded into carpet cleaning service, but that is even a little tight now.

Since I retired from the Navy, my income was cut to less than half. And since I only get $9 an hour from the janitorial service, that only helps me keep up with my current bills. When I retired, my finances basically collapsed, and I owe money to a number of creditors whom I still have not been able to repay yet. Also, as result of college, I owe over $40,000 on student loans because of the high cost of attending San Diego State University.

I have attempted a number of times to find better employment, but most higher income jobs are scarce. The part time work I do now does provide me with some flexibility, at least in regards to when I go to work. Because of the impact on my income, I have had to reduce a number of leisure activities I used to do more often. Can't go to the casino and play often, can't dine out often, can't go to the movies much, can't take trips out of town much either. I used to do those activities quite often when I was in the Navy. It's definitely changed the quality of my life.

I don't buy new clothes or new merchandise often either. The last time I bought new pants was last year. I've had to tighten around the belt a bit, too, literally, due to high costs of food (Thanks Labor Unions). High gas prices have pinched me, too (Thanks California for such high gas taxes). What's the point of having nice, clean, fresh air when I don't fee free? I rent an apartment because buying an actual house is still way too expensive. So much for the so called housing collapse. Not here in San Diego, anyways.

Me and my wife resort to recycling cans, plastics, and glass from dumpsters to make a few extra bucks to make ends meet. It makes a few bucks, but it certainly isn't the way I want to live. It didn't help my morale, either, when Governor Brown tried to extend tax and fee increases for another 5 years!! I was relieved when that didn't happen!! I get to save a few bucks mores. I have to admit, my life feels constrained and un-free. With little spare income, I can't go anywhere, I can't buy anything except essentials, I can't do anything. Hopefully, if everything works out with law school, I'll actually find a good paying solid job. If not, with the debt I accumulate from that combined with my current college loan debt, I'm really going to be in a bind. By the way, you should talk to my boss about how the business environment and high costs have affected him. He's a small business owner, married, with 5 kids. He's suffering in ways you don't even know. Thanks for listening.

Bouncing over the potholes on Washington Boulevard in the early morning light, I am thankful that my ten year old, recently bought pick-up truck stays in one piece and takes me to my job.

I used to make this same commute in a 2010 SUV replete with On Star , phone, great music system and a seat that electronically adjusted itself to the changes in my body position. That was a year and five hundred dollar a month car payments ago.

My bumpy ride to work is tolerable because I short-sold my home last May and moved closer to my job.

Rising mortgage interest rate, rising homeowner association fees and banks refusal to refinance my mortgage forced me to admit that soon I would go from metaphorically treading water to sinking under this same water. I chose to hang ten on the next wave and surfed into rental property for less money than my monthly mortgage payment; subletting the rental house’s two bedrooms now allows me to pay my utilities in full and on time every month.

Subletting has turned out to be a socially rewarding experience. Though small, my condo felt vast with loneliness as I lived alone in it. My rental house bursts with laughter, kindness and consideration.
So in the early morning light, Monday through Friday, observers may wonder why I smile when my pick-up truck hits another pothole. I smile because I am grateful to be going to work.

The Great Recession took my house and car, but not my job.

Unfortunately, many living in Los Angeles no longer smile in the morning.

Boy where do I start. I am a plumber who has worked for myself for the last 33 years. In 2004 I saw what was going to happen (shit hitting the fan) was going to effect me and my company. So I cross trained into being a energy auditor. It was a green job and the feds and state energy depts. said that thousands of raters were going to be needed. So I borrowed the money that I did not have to go to school and buy all the equipment only to find out it was all a lie.

During the time I was learning a different trade all my builders shut down. When you do between 38-50 homes a year and it goes down to two,lets say my world has turned upside down. I have gone through my savings, cash out what was left of my 401k.

I had to drop my health insurance. It went from 480.00 to 900.00 a month with a 14,000 deductible. My wife is disable and sick so that really hurt. I am about to lose my home, falling behind every month, I have lived through two other mini recessions but nothing could have prepared me for this.The GREEN jobs that the government is a joke and a huge lie.

I am 56 years old and everything that I have saved is gone. Now its time to start over. ( god you can take me now). On top of all this my home that I had built, has been damaged by blasting. Other homes in this development were damage also. First it was a widening of a road, then a rock pit next to that road started blasting. In Idaho there are no laws against mining and blasting, they are protected.

The first damages were covered by home owners insurance. Then we were dropped. We couldn't find insurance, finally we found a company that would cover us only if we don't turn anymore damages in. We fix all the damages 50,000 dollars worth, we found out that its not a rock pit but a mining operation as well.because of the damages and not having any protection no one wants to live next to a dump. add in what the economy did to homes, My home is worth nothing.

I always was told that property was a safe investment, another lie.In Idaho its not against the law to damage ones home. It all about politics, and all of us pee-ons getting screwed.The powers to be dont really give a hoot about us, all the corruption from the banks, to the our political people feds and state, are all bought off. The american dream is just that a dream.I am living a night mare,and its been real, I only hope and pray that the washington D.C. people pull their heads out before its to late.

Thank you for your thoughtful article in today's LAT "A Lasting Toll." I would like to share my story with you as well. While there are similarities, there are also differences you might find equally enlightening, as my perspective is not from a family's, but from a senior's.

Nearly three years ago I was enjoying life as a corporate real estate executive making $250K/year. I had reached the pinnacle of my 30-year career and thought I had it made. A comfortable retirement seemed only a few short years away. I was living in a luxury condo in Santa Monica, driving a late model Acura and wearing Armani suits to work. Just before my 61st birthday my high level position was suddenly eliminated and a part-time consultant hired to do my job. Who can blame them for choosing to hire someone at a reduced cost with no benefits? The need for a VP to head a department whittled down to one no longer existed. At first I was devastated, but convinced I would soon land on my feet again. As an accomplished and well-educated businesswoman I had never been out of work before.

Little did I know or understand that there were or would soon be thousands of others like me in an almost non-existent job market. Very few industries have been hit as hard as commercial real estate, and the recovery has not even begun to take place. Without capital, and with struggling tenants, languishing rents and financially strapped property owners, few companies are hiring. I have heard statistics as high as a 20-25% unemployment rate in my field and estimates of several thousand applicants for the rare open position. I'm sure the numbers are not far off. I have applied for many jobs outside my field, only to be told I am either over-qualified or ill-equipped.

Since early 2009 I have gone from living on unemployment to short temporary jobs to almost no income at all. Not wanting to be idle I took a part-time job at Nordstrom only to find my hours cut back and health insurance denied so that it became impossible to stay on. When I left to take a part-time consulting job that soon ended, my unemployment was cut from $450/week to $70. Meanwhile my COBRA premiums remain close to $900. I have tried to get cheaper insurance but have been repeatedly denied coverage due to some relatively minor pre-existing conditions. Why offer reduced premiums when they can get more? (Don't get me started on the importance of the new healthcare bill so demonized by some). Too young for Medicare, my healthcare could have really suffered if I hadn't struggled to pay the premiums. I've cashed in my IRA, sold furniture, goods and jewelry, just to get by. That dream of a comfortable retirement has vanished.

I have moved three times, from the 2-bedroom condo to a 1-bedroom guest house to a one-room studio. If it had not been for a dear friend I would be homeless today. My friend found me a job as an onsite manager for an apartment complex where I get a significant discount on my rent. And yet this situation is unstable as the owner is selling off buildings and eliminating positions such as mine. I am one short step away from homelessness.

My complex has been broken into twice since I moved here, and my screen pried, fortunately without success. I used to listen to the sounds of birds outside my window, whereas now I hear shopping carts being pushed down the alley by homeless people mumbling indecipherably under their breath. I can only imagine what those conversations are like.

I have collected food stamps, where I used to dine in fancy restaurants. I collected Social Security. I've borrowed money from friends that I may never be able to pay back. I can't afford visits to the East Coast to see my only sister languishing in a nursing home, and rarely see my two adult children living out of state. I probably won't be able to attend my daughter's 30th birthday party.

I recently had a very nice stroke of good luck and was hired by a temp agency to work as an administrative assistant. I am grateful for the pay, about 1/4 of what I was accustomed to, doing a job I used to have others do for me. Ironically, I was hired to assist the company in their transition from having employees perform in-house real estate functions to outsourcing those duties to third-party contractors. In a way I am contributing to the very situation that put me out of a job. I have no choice but to support the company's decision to eliminate the cost of employee salaries and benefits, and see my recent history repeated.

The degree to which I have been humbled is profound, and not without intangible rewards. I find myself infinitely appreciative for what I have and certainly more compassionate for others. I cherish friends and family who have stuck by me, some in more fortunate circumstances, others not. Yet as grateful as I am for my current situation, this current job carries no benefits and ends next month. So I still struggle to pay for health insurance and stay afloat. A recent trip to the emergency room for stitches cost me $800 in co-pay even with a Cadillac policy. I don't know where that money will come from.

More grateful, but hardly complacent or resigned to my fate, I find it hard to maintain hopefulness. The reality that I will never achieve the success or financial stability I once enjoyed, or realize my dreams, is hard to accept. I struggle to remain positive but the bitterness faded a long time ago. So I live from day to day, sometimes terrified, occasionally optimistic, mostly numb.

Please feel free to share all or parts of my story. I don't have a mortgage or children to support, and I have a roof over my head for now. There are others like me, and many in more dire circumstances. But there is still a story that needs to be told.

Thank you for listening.

When I was 30 years old, I returned to college to escape a life of dead end jobs, poverty, and alcoholism. In 2010, at age 35, I attained a bachelors degree in business administration and film; graduating with honors. My dream was to make it to Los Angeles , break into an entry level position in the film industry, and most of all, start a new life for myself.

Well, things started to go down hill when I was unable to put the money together to get to LA. I ended up in Chicago with a friend. Now, a year and a half later: No job, $70,000 in student loan debt, and a life of poverty worse than that before I returned to college. It' been a heart breaking experience. I lay in bed at night and wonder what I could have done differently?

On the plus side, if there is one, I have seen the ""other side of the tracks""; that is: Food stamps, street living, Latino gang life, homelessness, low income housing.... If I ever make it to LA, I want to tell the stories of the Latinos I've had the blessing to meet since my life has brought me down this path in inner city Chicago. The Latinos I've met have both helped me and hurt me; but I will never forget them, and I will always have a lot of love for them all.

Reading the "Times" online helps me stay close to my dream of Southern California. I love reading the comment sections and the articles are so often beautifully written and creative; it reaffirms that LA is where I need to be. So to all of you who are blessed enough to be there now: Remember that Los Angeles is still a city of hope and dreams.

I am a recent college graduate. A second generation Mexican American, I was the first in my family to attend a four year university.

I wanted to help my parents financially and also make them proud. Today I find myself unemployed and living with them.

My husband was laid off in December of 2008. He worked as a painter/wall-paperer in the commercial construction industry. He is now 55 years old. There are very few job openings for painters and if anyone 54 years old or younger applies, they have the advantage over my husband.

Needless to say, for every opening there are a large number of applicants younger than him. He has tried starting his own business, but with so many unemployed people either can't afford to hire a painter or they know someone who needs work and can paint it for them for a few bucks. We live on one paycheck (mine) which is adequate to cover our bills but leaves very little left over for extras.

We have cut our expenses where we can and live in fear of an emergency that would wipe out what we have saved from before his unemployment ran out. At this stage in our lives, we thought that we would be able to relax and look forward to retirement. Now we don't look forward. It's too scary.

Our daughter and son-in-law live in the LA area. For them, the dream of buying a house has pretty much gone down the drain. Both of them are underemployed and struggling to afford the high cost of living there. Since he works in the music industry, leaving that area is not an option. I'm not sure what the answer is to all this mess, but someone had better come up with some viable suggestions soon.

I worked pretty much all my life up until 35, when diagnosed with bipolar 1 disorder I opted for the Social Security / Disability that I now survive/live on.

I am grateful for that and the reduced rent I get. Of course I did pay into it but I really would like not to have to recieve it and own a small business or support myself in som eother way. Recently I decided to cancel going to a job fair for a couple of positions as diswashers at yet another fancy trendy restaurant opening.

Imagine a job fair for diswashers! I washed dishes all through junior high.

I had a feeling things were going to change and so left a legal support job that I had in downtown LA. Then I worked as a waiter at event, and as an extra for cash to supplement my income.

That has all dried up and the competition is fierce to say the least.

I went back to school for the second time for an information science degree but had to drop because it came between books and food. My math teacher offered to buy me the books and the expensive engineering calculator for class, which was really nice. But I calculated the debt to be min 24,000 to 30,000 and I already owe 9,000 in credit card, school loans. I don't answer credit phone callss now.

I feel horrible and my shame knows no bounds. I am terrified for the future for once in my life. My step-father works 40 plus hours and gets paid for twenty to keep his small home healthcare company going. My sister has her own business that pretty much caters to high end people so she workd constantly which is good. But she still rents and is paying off loans.

Mostly I read, go to the library and try to keep hopeful. I cook everything from scratch, don't buy coffee out and don't go to movies.

I will be looking into moving from the USA and re-locating to another country.

I wish I could say that leadership has solutions, or that I trust what this country is and still believe in it, but I don't.