I'm Coming Off Of Social Security After 25 Years And I'm Scared

Summary

Podcast Summary

Podcast: The Ramsey Show Highlights
Episode: I’m Coming Off Of Social Security After 25 Years And I’m Scared
Date: December 6, 2025
Hosts: George Kamel & Steve (Ramsey Network)
Guest: Dan

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Episode Overview

This episode presents a heartfelt coaching conversation between Ramsey Network hosts and their caller, Dan, who is confronting the challenge of leaving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) after 25 years. Feeling both hopeful and scared about his journey beyond poverty and government assistance, Dan seeks advice on practical steps and encouragement to move forward, upskill, and regain self-trust. The hosts respond with actionable guidance, empathy, and powerful affirmations of Dan’s resilience.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

Dan’s Background & Current Situation

• Lifelong Poverty and SSDI Dependence
  • Dan opens up about a life lived in poverty, rooted in both financial hardship and childhood trauma.
  • Quote: “I've been suffering in poverty for all my life, pretty much. And I have a plan and there's some details around that, but that's my question. How do I get out of this poverty?” (Dan, 00:06–00:17)
• Current Income & Work
  • Receives ~$1,400/month from SSDI and earns $100/week as a grocery store courtesy clerk.
  • Discloses inability to survive on last year’s income of just under $21,000.
  • Sees work as a way to brighten people's days:
    • Quote: “I try to make people feel good and have a blessing on the last face they see before they walk out.” (Dan, 00:54–01:07)
• Disability Challenges
  • Diagnosed with psychiatric issues stemming from trauma and 28 years in recovery from alcoholism.
  • Quote: “There's a lot of these underlying issues and problems which have really prevented me from thinking clearly about money, making clear good choices...” (Dan, 01:55–02:27)

Therapy, Progress, and Upskilling

• Therapeutic Breakthroughs
  • Dan credits EMDR trauma therapy for recent improvements—helping him move from “staring at the wall” to working and learning.
  • Recently earned a Google Data Analytics certificate, aiming to transition into technology.
  • Quote: “I started doing a special therapy for trauma called EMDR in March. And it took me from staring at the wall for a year and a half to working, feeling good, and...got a certificate in Google data analytics from March until now.” (Dan, 02:35–02:51)
• Facing the Fear of Leaving SSDI
  • Ready but anxious about leaving Social Security after so long.
  • Quote: “I get to get off Social Security for the first time since 2000, which is somewhat terrifying.” (Dan, 02:52–03:00)

Strategic and Emotional Guidance

• Career Shift and Mental Well-being
  • Hosts suggest seeking professional (therapist) advice about moving to full-time work, taking baby steps.
  • Recognize value of psychological safety at his current job but encourage exploring similar roles elsewhere (e.g., Target, Walmart) for full-time hours and benefits.
    • Quote: “If the grocery store won't move you to full time, what about Target? What about Walmart? What about any other big box stores who need somebody like you?” (George, 05:06–05:28)
• Building Confidence and Self-Worth
  • George delivers an uplifting message about Dan’s capacity to give joy and overcome adversity:
    • Quote: “I wish I could reach through the phone and give you a hug and say that I think you're stronger than you think you are...I got goosebumps when you described you want to be the last face they see as they go to their car.” (George, 04:12–05:06)
  • Affirm self-trust and surround Dan with belief:
    • Quote: “I'm big bear hug, and we're gonna have the whole lobby just cheer. Dan, Dan, Dan. Let me tell you something. The Dan we're talking to today…has got enough strength to be the Dan that you want to be. You better believe that, my man.” (George, 08:34–08:57)

Practical Next Steps & Budgeting

• Concrete Action Steps for Dan
  • Look for full-time roles—especially in big box retail—while continuing to build tech skills.
  • Use connections and embrace his story as a strength (not a weakness) in job applications.
• Financial Planning: Life After SSDI
  • Steve walks Dan through visualizing a post-SSDI budget:
    • List income and expenses; experience the flexibility and peace of surplus income.
    • Focus on stability, saving, giving, and building confidence as earnings increase.
    • Quote: “Can you imagine having an extra thousand or two thousand bucks left over after your bills are covered? ... The key is you're worth more than, than 100 bucks a week. Can we agree on that?” (Steve, 07:23–08:13)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Dan’s Generosity & Impact:
  • “There's a guy who's been through so much pain and has made it through just enough to be able to give joy when you've had very little joy.” (George, 05:06–05:21)
• On Embracing Brokenness:
  • “There's nobody among us today that doesn't have some brokenness.” (George, 06:49–06:54)
• On Building Self-Trust:
  • “You've lost trust in Dan and we're telling you he's worth trusting in again. It's worth betting on yourself.” (Steve, 06:35–06:41)
• On Facing the Future:
  • “The way out of this is income. And the good news is if you make so much working that you lose SSDI—Good. That's exactly what you wanted, isn't it?” (Steve, 06:58–07:05)
• Dan’s Hopeful Vision:
  • “I've been on disability since 2000. If I got a $6,000 take home check, I'd be on my knees, I'd be walking around.” (Dan, 08:21–08:25)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

| Timestamp | Topic | |---|---| | 00:06 | Dan introduces his decades-long poverty and SSDI reliance | | 00:26–00:42 | Breakdown of income and work | | 01:55–02:27 | Discussion of psychiatric disability and barriers | | 02:35–02:51 | How EMDR therapy changed Dan’s outlook & capabilities | | 03:00–03:26 | The fear and significance of leaving SSDI | | 04:12–05:06 | George’s motivational affirmation about Dan’s strength | | 05:06–05:28 | Exploring full-time retail or new opportunities | | 06:35–06:41 | Building back Dan’s self-trust | | 07:23–08:13 | Budgeting for post-SSDI life and self-worth |

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Tone & Style

The tone of the conversation is candid, compassionate, and empowering. George and Steve balance realism—laying out actionable steps and budget scenarios—with heartfelt encouragement and belief in Dan’s ability to rise above adversity.

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Conclusion

The episode offers a microcosm of the Ramsey philosophy: mixing personal finance coaching with the emotional fuel needed to change one’s life. Dan’s vulnerability and persistence are met with practical advice, a roadmap out of poverty, and repeated affirmations of his worth. Whether Dan’s future is in tech, retail, or another people-facing field, the hosts rally behind him—and, by extension, anyone facing a daunting leap from survival to thriving.

Memorable closing:
“The Dan we're talking to today...has got enough strength to be the Dan that you want to be. You better believe that, my man.” (George, 08:34–08:57)

Transcript

[Steve]

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[Dan]

I've been suffering in poverty for all my life, pretty much. And I have a plan and there's some details around that, but that's my question.

[George]

Okay, tell us more.

[Dan]

How do I get out of this poverty? Am I on the right track and what can I do?

[George]

Well, okay, let's start with where you are. What is your income?

[Dan]

Right now I have income of about 1400 with Social Security disability and I have a part time labor job for about 100 a week. My income last year on taxes was about just under 21k, which is impossible to live on, of course.

[George]

Now I'm curious about the.

Disability because you're working part time. What is the part time job?

[Dan]

The part time job is working at the grocery store as a courtesy clerk, bagging groceries, lifting water, pushing old lady carts out for them. I try to make people feel good and have a blessing on the last face they see before they walk out.

[George]

Dan, you're a good man, but what is your disability and how does it limit you from working more?

[Dan]

Well.

[Steve]

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[Dan]

Their life is chaotic, but their money is simple because they budget with every dollar.

[George]

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[Dan]

And tracking purchases is just as simple.

It's so freeing to know exactly where.

[George]

Your money is going. It just takes that stress out of.

[Dan]

The day to day life. You got this Hannigan family, every dollar.

[George]

Create your free account today. What is your, what is your disability and how does it limit you from working more?

[Dan]

Well, I'm.

It'S like psychiatric. I've had, I've had deep trauma in childhood and I've been in recovery from alcoholism for 28 years. Coming up December 4th. But there's a lot of these underlying issues and problems which have really prevented me from thinking clearly about money, making clear good choices and, you know, making bad decisions like that. So the disability is I can't really function that good in a workplace and a lot of depression and personality problems, but.

[Steve]

Well, how are you doing at the grocery store?

[Dan]

Well, I do excellent at the grocery store.

[Steve]

And why do you think that is?

[Dan]

Because I started doing a special therapy for trauma called EMDR in March. And it took me from staring at the wall for a year and a half to working, feeling good, and taking a. I took a training and got a certificate in Google data analytics from March until now.

[Steve]

Way to go.

[Dan]

I'm looking to up level. I'm trying to up level with. The thing is I get to get off Social Security for the first time since 2000, which is somewhat terrifying.

[Steve]

I think that's the root of this.

[George]

I do too. And Dan, I want to tell you, keep at it. And I would ask your therapist, get a professional opinion on whether or not she or he feels like you can go to full time work. Let's take some baby steps to this and let's move into if we can, full time at the grocery store because you're psychologically safe there right now. Sounds like.

[Dan]

Well, the problem I can't do full time at the grocery store, which is a complex thing about the way they do their positions. I tried that in March which didn't turn out. So that's what made me turn back towards tech because I went to graduate school research methods in the 90s and I've got all the statistical background and now we've got all this new technology AI cover. Data analytics is hot.

[George]

I'm all for you going full blast on the technology side, but what I was suggesting is that might take a little bit of time to get that job and you're already in recovery and you're doing some work and so I think getting some wins here is super important. You would agree with that, correct? Not just financial wins, but psychological, mental and emotional wins. So here's where I'm going.

Dan. I would have never guessed, nor would anybody in this vast audience would have ever guessed the trauma. We still don't know. It's none of our business, but we wouldn't have guessed any of that based on how you described how you treat people and what you do at the grocery store. So I'm going to tell you something, man, I just, I wish I could reach through the phone and give you a hug and say that I think you're stronger than you think you are. And I just as a stranger who's heard thousands upon thousands of calls, I heard a man who is full of joy. And not only full of joy, but like gives joy. I got goosebumps when you described you want to be the last face they see as they go to their car. I mean, there's a guy who's been through so much pain and has made it through just enough.

To be able to give joy when you've had very little joy. So there's my locker room speech, Dan, but here's where I'm going. If the grocery store won't move you to full time, what about Target? What about Walmart. What about any other big box stores who need somebody like you who's going to show up broken? Yes. Joyful, yes. And you're going to give yourself away. I'd like to see you take that step and let's see if we can get full time pay and some benefits at one of those bigger stores and share some of your story. Don't share all the darkness. Don't share, but just go, hey, I've been through a lot. I'm 28 years sober. I hear that from somebody and I go, rock on, baby. I, I have mad respect for you, Dan. So I want you to carry that and let's see if we can get to one of those roles, get more income in and get off of Social Security while we are making the inroads and connecting. And I'm going to give you my book. The proximity principle is my gift to help you make connections to get into technology. Now that's my, that's my little speech, but I meant every word of it.

[Dan]

And I think that was amazing. Well, it really helps me a lot.

[George]

You're amazing in my heart. Well good, because I think your head and your heart need to get on the same page.

[Dan]

Yes, sir.

[Steve]

You've lost trust in Dan and we're telling you he's worth trusting in again. It's worth betting on yourself.

[George]

I stand with Dan. I'd call every store in Mesa and I'd vouch for you.

Because there's nobody among us today that doesn't have some brokenness.

So I think you're gonna have to step up a ladder on this, George. Yeah.

[Steve]

The way out of this is income. And the good news is if you make so much working that you lose SSDI Good.

[George]

That's great.

[Steve]

That's exactly what you wanted, isn't it? Because that's the only path out of this, is making enough that you can lose it and not miss it.

[George]

George.

[Steve]

And cover your bills.

[George]

George, take two minutes and walk him through step by step. Let's assume he's gotten that money now. Walk him through setting up a budget and trusting himself that he doesn't need Social Security.

[Steve]

Yeah, right now you're going. Well, budget, what money? You know you don't have enough coming in. But once you have three, $4,000 coming in and your expenses stay where they are at, I'm assuming 2,000 bucks a month. How much are you living off of right now?

[Dan]

1800.

[Steve]

1800. So can you imagine having an extra thousand or two thousand bucks left over after your bills are covered? What kind of life that could provide for you, your ability to save, to invest, to give. Because I can tell you're a generous guy who has a heart for that. It's going to change everything. So you list out your income, you list out your expenses, and the good news, there's going to be money left over when you believe in yourself and go, I'm going to do the kind of work that I was made to do. And I don't think you're passionate about groceries. You're passionate about serving people. And that could be through analytics. That could be a target. It doesn't matter. The key is you're worth more than, than 100 bucks a week. Can we agree on that?

[Dan]

Yes, sir.

[George]

Dan, I'm gonna tell you, those tears are not a sign of weakness, man.

[Dan]

Well, these jobs, you know, they started 100k these jobs.

[George]

Yeah.

[Dan]

I've been on disability since 2000. If I got a $6,000 take home check, I'd be on my knees, I'd be walking around.

[George]

I tell you what you're gonna do. You're gonna get yourself a ticket. You're gonna come to Nashville and you're gonna wait to meet George and I in the lobby. We're gonna come out, I'm big bear hug, and we're gonna have the whole lobby just cheer. Dan, Dan, Dan, Dan. Let me tell you something. The Dan we're talking to today, who's here today and made the call today, has got enough strength to be the Dan that you want to be. You better believe that, my man.

[Steve]

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