George, you are giving us an incomplete picture because you are not telling us your side of the economic situation.
Are YOU employed? Retired? Are you receiving government assistance? Living on pension? Living on investments?
What’s YOUR health care situation? Were you on your wife’s plan? Does your employer have a health care plan?
Is she eligible for unemployment benefits? Is the employer offering a severance package?
Without additional information, I agree with those who are saying to take the part-time job until she can find something full-time with benefits. But understand two things. 1) She must make clear that she won’t fulfill all her old full-time duties at part-time pay. She must negotiate that and 2) Have no regrets leaving them in the lurch the minute she’s is accepted to start a full-time job.
The employment game is different than when you and I were young. It is more ruthless and cut-throat.
I was laid off after 19-1/2 years at age 54 in 2010 so I understand what a shock this is. In the end, the Lord had a reason for this so pray for His wisdom in understanding what He wants to teach you. In my case, I had a roughly two-year journey through the “desert” before finding an answer. Now, I have a job that pays roughly the same as what I was making in the old job.
Florida is a better place to job-hunt than New England. They will be sympathetic to age issues because so many live down there. Get on LinkedIn. Use some networking skills. Put that resume together and start searching.
But, most of all, pray. Maybe there is something in your lives that God wants urgently to correct and this was His wake-up call. It was for me.
What I was hoping to learn from posting the situation was the part about the 59 1/2 year threshold.
I have learned that it appears to be a coincidence that date is a week away.
I will inquiry from an attorney search Monday whether there is a case for age discrimination or proximity to retirement thresholds issue.
The wife has been castigated in many ways for the last year with this new pastor — she is glad to be out of there and has a layoff letter that should get her unemployment. She has in writing that her insurance will continue, all paid for, until end of August.
We will not starve, as her husband (me), has setup 3 rentals on our property that produce income.
Thank you for everyone who has read and contributed herein.