Utilize Your Resources! What You Can Do While Waiting for Disability

When a person becomes too disabled to work, he still needs a place to live and food to eat. While waiting for the disability adjudication process, saved funds can run out fast. So, if you can’t work, how else can a person survive? When tough times get tougher, there are a many resources in your community you can utilize.

What Can I Do About Food?

The most obvious answer is to apply for food stamps through your county’s Department of Job & Family Services, now known as SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program). However, there are also other programs that ODJFS touts on their website that are just as helpful and less well-known, such as the EBT Farmer’s Market Demonstration Project. This allows SNAP recipients access to fresh, locally-grown foods.

Food banks are also in abundance in most metropolitan areas.  They are typically run by local non-profit organizations or churches that operate off of donations and volunteering. In our area is the well-known Cleveland Food Bank. Since 1979, this organization had fed millions of families, and recently won an award from the organization Feeding America for outstanding SNAP outreach efforts.

How Can I Keep My Home?

Most metropolitan areas are also home to organizations that can help you keep your home. If you can no longer make your mortgage payment, there are organizations that will work as liaisons between you and your mortgage company to make your payments affordable. ESOP is an organization in the Cleveland area that specializes in helping people that are victims of predatory lending and cannot afford their mortgages.

If you rent, don’t be afraid to approach your landlord about your situation. He or she may be able to work something out with you, but if not, you can also turn to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for assistance. A HUD counselor can help you find an apartment you can afford in subsidized or Section 8 Housing.

If your home has already been foreclosed or if you have been evicted from the residence you rented, there are organizations that will help you secure a new place to live. In Cleveland, Maximum Accessible Housing of Ohio (MAHO) specializes in helping disabled people find safe, affordable and clean housing.

What About Other Needs?

There are a countless number of charitable organizations who do various things. Perhaps you are unable to take your children on trips or participate in other fun activities with them. Non-profit organizations such as Open Doors Academy can provide fun, educational opportunities for your child as well as mentorship. 

Perhaps you need an outlet for your frustrations, but cannot afford to enjoy the hobbies that you love. Organizations such as Art Therapy Studio in Cleveland can give you that outlet as well as help you learn more about yourself.

Churches are wonderful places not only for food pantries, but other charitable drives as well. Don’t be shy about contacting your local church to see what programs they provide. They may run clothing drives, or toy drives at Christmastime so your children can still enjoy receiving gifts from Santa Claus.

Never Give Up!

While waiting for your disability claim to be processed, it is easy to become overwhelmed, frustrated, or depressed about your situation. Never give up! With a little bit of conviction and plenty of resources at your fingertips, you WILL get through this tough time.

At Paulette F. Balin & Associates, we will help put your mind at ease by dealing directing with SSA regarding your disability claim. We will make sure all of the pertinent medical evidence is received and that your claim flows as smoothly as possible for you. Call us today to see how we can help!

Written by Anna Westfall

Please note that Paulette F. Balin & Associates does not specifically endorse any of the organizations named in this blog. They are intended to be examples of the different types of help you may be able to receive.

What Are Family Benefits?

After you are awarded Social Security disability benefits, members of your family may also be eligible for payments. This includes children as well as your spouse. However, please be advised that this does not apply to SSI claims.

Benefits can be paid to your children as long as they are unmarried and:

-          Younger than 18

-          Between 18 and 19 years old, but still attending elementary or secondary school as full-time students ; or

-          Age 18 or older and severely disabled (the disability must have started prior to the age of 22)

Benefits may also be payable to children that are born or adopted into the family after a finding of disability has occurred. However, SSA must determine whether or not the child is eligible for benefits.

Your spouse may also be entitled to benefits if he or she fits the following criteria:

-          Age 62 or older; or

-          At any age he or she was caring for your child who is either younger than 16 or disabled and entitled to benefits on your record

The monthly benefit of which your family member would be entitled to is calculated from your monthly disability amount. Each qualified member would receive half of your monthly payment, but this amount is not to exceed 150 to 180 percent of your total monthly benefit.

“I heard my ex can claim disability off my account. Is this true?”

Yes. Many people are surprised when they learn their ex-spouse can claim disability benefits off their work record. In some situations, he or she can claim these benefits, even if the wage earner is not, but certain requirements must be met. The ex-spouse must:

-          Have been married to you at least 10 years;

-          Have been divorced at least two years;

-          Be at least 62 years of age;

-          Be unmarried and

-          Not eligible for an equal or higher benefit based on his or her own work or someone else’s work.

“What happens if I die while receiving benefits?

This issue is understandably of great concern to benefit recipients. In order for a family member to collect your benefits after you pass away, he or she must fit the same criteria outlined above, with one addition: a widow or widower can also collect your benefits if he or she is aged 50 or older and disabled.

 Typically, SSA requires a person to be married to the deceased benefit recipient for at least 9 months in order to qualify to receive those benefits. However, this usually does not apply if the death of the benefit recipient was deemed accidental.

Parents of a deceased disability claimant may also claim these funds if he or she was dependent on the deceased claimant for at least one half of their support.

Your ex-spouse can also still collect benefits after you pass away, but they must meet certain criteria as well. Benefit amounts paid to an ex-spouse does not affect the benefits being paid to other family members. Your ex-spouse can collect benefits after you pass if they are:

-          At least 60 years old (or 50 and disabled) and married to your for at least 10 years; or

-          Of any age if he or she is caring for a child who is eligible for benefits under your work record; and

-          Not be eligible for an equal or higher benefit amount based on his or her own work; and

-          Not currently married, unless the remarriage occurred after age 60 or after age 50 if disabled

Lastly, a one-time death benefit can be paid to your family if they qualify, in the amount of $255.00. People usually use this benefit to help cover the final expenses of the claimant.

Still Have Questions?

The financial aspect of disability benefits can be confusing and intimidating. If you have questions about your pending disability claim, or if you are considering applying for disability but have concerns about how it would affect your family, please call us. Our friendly and knowledgeable staff will put your mind at ease as we guide you through what is typically a difficult and emotional process.

Written by Anna Westfall & edited by Paulette F. Balin

 Source: ssa.gov

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