How To Pay Your Bills While You Wait For Social Security Disability Benefits
The stress is mounting with each passing day. The bills are continuing to pile up while you are unable to earn an income. Your doctor has told you that you will not be going back to workthat your injury is permanent or likely to result in death.
You have decided to file for Social Security disability benefits, but youve heard that an approval can take foreverespecially if you have to provide additional information to the Social Security Administration or pursue an appeal.
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
The SNAP is the largest nutrition program for low-income Americans and a mainstay of the federal safety net. To receive SNAP, households must meet three financial criteria: a gross-income test, a net-income test, and an asset test. A household is automatically or categorically eligible for SNAP through the receipt of SSI, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families , or General Assistance benefits. SSI and SSDI benefits are part of gross household income. The amount of SNAP benefit that a household receives is equal to the maximum benefit level less 30 percent of the households net income . We focus on the use of SNAP among SSDI applicants15. Overall, 18 percent of our sample report receiving SNAP benefits at the month of SSDI application .
Submit A Request To Expedite Your Claim
You can request that Social Security flag your case to be expedited. It tends to be very difficult to get SSA to fast-track your case. This is because almost everyone else applying for this program is in the same financial situation you are in. But there are a few ways to have your claim expedited:
If the status letter doesnt work, contact an attorney to find out your housing rights. Your local legal aid organization will be a good source of information regarding your options to stay in your home.
Read Also: Adhd Retardation
Cathy Try And Hang In There
Cathy try and hang in there, i am in current situation, have disc problems, surgery made it worse, it& #039 s been 4 years without money, worked in soda business 24 years straight, I& #039 m about to lose my house in September due to back taxes, very suicidal as of late, I never dreamed that this can happen to people in America who paid into Social security for over 20 years, someone has to step in and stop these atrocities, an alj who has no background in medicine, in my case she admitted she never even read my reports, not to mention I waited 2 full years for my hearing, to have people losing evythng they own is just ashame. If I end up homeless I just can& #039 t see me continuing on, what do I tell my grandchildren, all I want Is what I paid into it for 24 years, good luck Cathy I hope you live a long happy life
Disability Benefits For Veterans
You may be eligible for disability benefits if you’re on disability from your service in the Canadian Armed Forces or Merchant Navy.
You may get social assistance payments from:
- your province or territory
- your First Nation
These payments will depend on your household income, savings and investments.
You may also be eligible for health-related benefits from your province or territory. These benefits may include benefits that help cover the cost of:
- medications
- medical aids or devices
Also Check: Va Disability Sciatica
Survival Assistance While Waiting For Disability Approval
How do you survive while waiting for a disability approval letter from Social Security? The application and review process can drag on for months or years.
Potential recipients have three places to turn for financial assistance.
Finding help paying bills is most realistic because welfare programs target low-income households where you might fall while unable to work.
Replacing income through other government benefits is hit or miss because many people do not have short-term coverage although a minority do.
Taking out a loan is rarely a good idea because denials and delays are more common than approvals although payment deferrals might work better.
How Is Application Duration Related To The Use Of Coping Strategies
Table summarizes regression results using an unbalanced sample, which includes both completed and right-censored observations19. Column and presents regression coefficients of linear probability models estimating equation for the two regressions: month of initial application and all months of application. Column and presents IV results from equations and for month of application and all months of application, respectively. For the month of application , the IV measures whether applicants react to an unexpectedly change in the wait time by changing their initial coping strategy, during the first month of application. For all months of application , the IV measures how an unexpected change in the wait time is related to changes in coping strategies over the full course of the application.
Table 7 Regression analysis: unbalanced sample
Finally, as our descriptive statistics show that applicants of the 1990s are significantly different from applicants of the 2000s, we also explore an interaction model with the period dummy interacting with the waiting duration. We find that compared to applicants of the1990s, applicants with longer wait-time of the 2000s are increasingly more likely to use SNAP and UI benefits to fund consumptions while waiting for SSDI benefits, and less likely to use workers compensation, sell the house, or borrow from credit cards.
You May Like: Aflac Short-term Disability Calculator
Requesting An Attorney Advisor Decision
Another way to avoid the wait for an ALJ hearing is to get an earlier decision from an attorney employed by Social Security. Attorney advisor decisions are available for claimants who can show that Social Security made a mistake, who have new evidence to support their claims, or who can show that there has been a change in the law that will support their claims.
To request an attorney advisor decision, contact your local OHO office after you have requested a hearing. An attorney advisor may ask for more evidence or may schedule a conference with you to find out more.
If you are successful, you will get a written attorney advisor opinion that is “fully favorable”that is, it will award you benefits back to the onset date that you claimed in your application. If the attorney advisor decides there is not enough evidence to approve your claim, your case will just proceed on to the ALJ hearing. If the attorney advisor thinks that you are disabled but disagrees about your onset date, then she can issue a partially favorable decision. You have the option of accepting the partially favorable decision or going forward to the ALJ hearing.
Places To Go For Financial Resources
Many individuals who file for Social Security Disability benefits find that they need the help of family, friends, or charitable organizations while they are waiting for their claim to be approved.
Should your claim be approved, you will, of course, receive back pay and should have little trouble paying back those who have helped you.
If you are in need of financial assistance, one of the first places you should go is your county Department of Social Services. While the kinds and amounts of assistance available vary from one locale to the next, the Department of Social Services is often the best place to look.
They have information on government programs for which you may qualify and the often have information regarding private or not for profit programs you can seek help from while you are waiting for your Social Security Disability benefits.
Recommended Reading: What Does Partially Blind Mean
Ways To Make Money While Waiting For Disability Benefits
The waiting period for disability benefits can be rather lengthy. It can be anywhere from 1 week to 5 months, depending on the type of disability benefit you are applying for. But regardless of the length of the time, you may not find access to disability money for that duration. This means that you may want to look into ways to make money while waiting for disability benefits. Here is a list of our favorite methods to get Tennessee quick cash.
Your Impairment Does Not Have To Be On The Ssas List
If you want to apply for Social Security Disability benefits, it is important to note that your impairment does not have to appear on the SSAs list. Examples of such conditions include carpal tunnel syndrome and celiac disease, among others.
However, you must present a formal diagnosis of your condition to the SSA that shows it is a medically determinable impairment that prevents you from functioning in full capacity. This means your condition must be severe enough to prevent you from working or performing your daily activities. This reduction in capacity is known as the residual functional capacity.
If your disability meets the SSAs requirements, it might consider it to be equivalent to a listed condition. You must obtain this diagnosis from your doctor to prove your condition, but it is only the start of the process. It does not mean you will automatically receive approval for benefits.
Recommended Reading: Food Allergy Disability
Are School Employees Eligible For Disability Insurance Benefits During School Breaks
School employees are not eligible for Disability Insurance benefits if:
- Full wages were or will be paid to the employee during the contract period when services were performed.
- A period of disability overlaps with a school break and the employee is not scheduled to work, does not have a history of working during the break, or does not have an additional employer.
- The disability period extends through the school break period.
However, if the employee is not receiving wages but would have been working for extra income if not disabled , then the employee may be eligible for benefits to replace the additional income.
Common Places For Financial Help
Places you might consider contacting for financial help while you are waiting for your Social Security Disability to be approved include:
- Family. In many cases, family should be the first place you look for financial assistance. While no one wants to be a burden to his/her family, it can be somewhat humbling to ask for help and your family is often your best bet for financial assistance while you are seeking Social Security Disability benefits.
- Friends. Sometimes a nearby friend is better than a far away relative. You may be surprised how many friends are willing to help, especially if they are aware of the circumstances surrounding your pending disability claim.
- Church or other Religious Organization. If you have a regular place of worship, make them aware of your need. If you dont worship anywhere, you may consider contacting religious organizations, as many of them are actively involved in charitable outreach to their communities. The Salvation Army, in particular, is a good place to turn for help with food, basic necessities, and utility bills.
Also Check: What Does Pending Processing Mean For Sdi
Consider Legal Help As You Seek Social Security Disability Benefits
Disabilities can have adverse effects on your quality of life, as well as the quality of life of those who depend on you. Health conditions do not take your character into account, and you could be in a difficult position through no fault of your own. You may be able to ease your financial burden with assistance from various benefits programs. You can reach out to our Social Security Disability attorney, who can guide you through the benefits process.
I Feel The Same Way I Have
I feel the same way. I have no money nothing. My mom has been very sick all my life. She had a disability case pending since 2003! They told her she had a 5% chance to live. I have MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS, MAJOR DEPRESSION, MAJOR ANXIETY. I lost so much weight so to not having food to eat. I was born in this country and have payed my taxes yet I have been denied food stamps, disability, Medicaid etc. I had a social worker from a supposed nonprofit clinic tell me while I was blind in one eye IM SORRY BUT THERE IS NOTHING I CAN DO TO HELP YOU. I can& #039 t work because I& #039 m sick and I won& #039 t have a chance at my third time applying for disability but if I wait on disability which seems like next to never, I& #039 ll never survive. America is one messed up place!
Recommended Reading: Va Form 20 10207
Applying For Disability Benefits Can Be A Challenging Process
According to the SSA, many applicants for disability benefits have had their initial application denied for various reasons, including:
- Technical problems with an application
- Disqualification based on medical information
Between 2001 and 2010, the SSA approved only about 45 percent of disability claims. This suggests that applying for disability benefits is not a straightforward process for many applicants. SSDI or SSI application errors are possible, if not likely.
You have the right to seek help from a third party to help you with applying for Social Security Disability benefits. Farmer & Morris Law, PLLC, can review your application, saving you time and helping you avoid errors that could delay your claim.
Working While Waiting For Your Social Security Disability Benefits
Social Security Disability is for people who are unable to work. To qualify for benefits, you must have a disabling condition that will prevent you from working 12 months in a row. However, Social Security will allow you to work part time. For 2010, a person waiting for approval of their claim can earn up to $1,000 per month before taxes. However, if you do work, Social Security will want to know why you can only work part time rather than full time. This can be a hard question to answer in court. If you must work, we suggest that you do not work more than 20 hours per week, and be sure you stay well under $1,000 per month.
If you are receiving Long-Term Disability Benefits from your employer or an insurance company, we do not advise that you work at all. In most cases, every dollar you earn is subtracted from the monthly LTD benefit.
If you are working, or do get a job while waiting for your benefits, please notify your case administrator right away so we can help you stay within the limits allowed by Social Security.
Read Also: How Much Disability Pay In California
How To Survive While Waiting For Disability Benefits
July 6, 2018 by Robert Brand
Its no secret insurance companies and governments make disability benefits as difficult to receive as humanly possible. Not only do they bury you in complicated paperwork, but they also drag out the process for months or even years.
And since 44% of Americans recently said they couldnt cover an unexpected $400-dollar emergency expense, its often devastating for disabled people to go without any income for extended periods of time. Sadly, stories of disabled people going hungry and becoming homeless are all too common.
I found myself in a similar situation not too long ago. After years of suffering from increasing vertigo attacks due to Menieres disease, I finally reached the point where I couldnt work any longer. I applied for disability, armed with dozens of doctors reports, vestibular rehabilitation notes, and the support of numerous medical professionals. I was immediately denied.
I found myself with a newborn son, a wife on maternity leave, and absolutely no way to support my family. And the appeal process could potentially take years before I saw a single penny.
Thankfully, there were options, and below, Ive listed some of the best ways to survive while youre waiting for disability benefits to be approved.
Reduce Your Expenses
Use Your Existing Assets
Apply for Help
Move Up Your Decision
Final Word
Income From The Sale Of Your Home
The means test does not take into account up to 190,500 of the money youget if you sell your home and:
- Move to different accommodation
- Move in with someone who is caring for you and getting a carer’s payment
- Move to sheltered or special housing in the voluntary, co-operative, statutory or private sectors
Recommended Reading: Va Gaf Scores
How We Have Helped Our Clients Obtain Their Disability Benefits
At Farmer & Morris Law, PLLC, we are relentless when it comes to getting our clients what they need and deserve. Here are a few examples of what our Social Security Disability clients have to say about our work and dedication:
Andrea stuck with me to the end. I could always get through to her. Her staff was great and would always get right back with me. I wasnt just a file in a cabinet and I was treated as if I was the only client. Lavonda
Andrea Farmer was very professional and was very instrumental in helping me get my social security disability and helping me draw up my power of attorney and will. I would strongly recommend her for any legal issues I would have. Douglas
Andreas service was excellent. She jumped on it immediately and didnt hesitate. She updated me on everything, explained everything to me and went over it several times. She did a wonderful, wonderful job. If anyone ever needs an attorney, she is the best! Rated #1! Richard