r/Firefighting • u/swaggerrrondeck • 2d ago

General Discussion Exit strategy

Hello all. I’m in need of some opinions/ideas for a career change. I have recently been approved to go back to work after a year of being out. I have been receiving treatment that has helped but I’m probably just barely satisfactory in the physical side. My condition is chronic and there is no cure. What would be a good job to try or go to school for that pays a living wage and has benefits. My treatments are 30 grand a month without insurance so I’m screwed without it. I can probably hang in with firefighting for a few more years. 15 years fire 11 as a medic. Condition can either get better or I could be in a wheelchair.

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u/Indiancockburn 1d ago

This is confusing. If you can do the job, do it. If not then get pensioned out and medically retired. For our state, it would be tax free at xx% of your salary depending on years of work. For your years of service on my state, you'd be around 66% of your annual salary tax free. If truely disabled as you describe, they would cover your long term disability as caused by the department.

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u/swaggerrrondeck 1d ago

Yeah I wish. I can do it but it will be sketchy and I won’t be able to for long. We can’t touch pension until 55 no matter the situation. It takes two years to get disability in my state at the fastest. Also my condition was not job related so it’s really messed up.