Merrill Lynch

But even at my age, working that many hours, I was still completing a majority of my tasks in less time than was given. We make a bonus for completing tasks in less time than allotted. So at my pay rate, I was making over 70k a year. Then 3 months ago, while getting ready for work, I passed out and woke up on my bathroom floor. The last thing I remember was my nose started bleeding for no reason.

It's been a tough 3 months. I've gone from being able to work 60+ hours a week at $35/hr plus overtime, to barely being able to work 2 or 3 6 hour days, if that. The last two weeks, I was only able to work 11 hours. My PTO is gone, I don't have a diagnosis so Sedgwick won't approve leave for me yet. The only reason I still had a job, was because I built a reputation as someone who's ALWAYS THERE. In 5 years, there has only been 3 times they called me at home to come in, and I said no. Twice I was working on my vehicle, once was my niece had her baby.

Surprisingly, my boss has been beyond understanding. People don't typically last more than 3 or 4 years. Out of the 55 people in my areas and the area next to mine (we share people back and forth as necessary), I'm the 5th most senior with 5 years. Over half our crews are new, 1 year or less. So they really want to keep me on, and have been very supportive and understanding. However, I've gone from clearing about $2300 every two weeks, to $500 if I'm lucky.

And if you think that sounds bad, also.. I got married in the Philippines Feb 2019, and my wife and our baby has been stuck there because of the pandemic, I have 2 traffic fines I was supposed to pay off last month, but couldn't.. and they sent me a notice saying I had 15 days to make a payment or a FTP warrant will be issued for my arrest (no way I can pay it on time), I have 2 prescriptions I was supposed to pick up 2 weeks ago, but can't afford to, it's a 50/50 chance I have enough gas to make it to work and back 1 more day before my tank is empty, I don't have more than a couple days of food, I still owe $400 on last month's rent, my bank account got closed (not that there was any money in it)..

Also next month's rent is due in less than 2 weeks, I still owe ALL the rent for this month ($1395) plus $400 from last month ..and I have right now, at this very moment, $1 and 18 cents total in my pocket... and next week when my paycheck comes it will be for $365. Merrill Lynch denied my hardship claim because they didn't feel my circumstances qualified as a hardship. What? I'm sorry, what?!? It clearly states, hardship withdrawals allowed to prevent an eviction. I clearly gave you a copy of my eviction notice. Maybe they felt that since I was about to have warrants issues for my arrest, that meant I had somewhere else to go. I told my landlord I was taking a hardship withdrawal, so she would hold off on locking me out. Now what am I going to do?

I'm going to lose my home, I have nowhere to put my things, I can't afford a storage locker. More importantly, if I lose my home, I won't be able to keep my job. And when I lose my job, I'll lose my insurance. There's something seriously wrong with my health, and I don't even have a diagnosis yet...Now I have to worry about losing my insurance? Not to mention, when I lose my job I'll be cashing out ALL of my 401k anyways. Not that it'll help, since they will be sending the check to an apartment I was evicted from, a month before they even send it! These people should be held accountable for falsely denying hardship claims. It clearly states hardship withdrawals allowed to prevent an eviction, I am facing eviction and have no other recourse. How is that not a breach of contract?

I give up, you work your whole life just to try and break even, and when you need it the most, they won't even give you your own money when you clearly meet the necessary qualifications to do so. They're so worried about disbursing $1288, that they are going to end up forcing me to cash out tens of thousands when I end up losing everything.. including my job.