Financial hardship frequently adds to the challenges you face when diagnosed with a disabling physical or mental health condition preventing you from working. Disability benefits available through the Social Security Disability Insurance and Supplemental Security Income programs offer hope, but first, you must wait for approval of your claim.
According to the Social Security Administration, it takes as much as eight months for an initial decision on disability applications. Fewer than one-third of applications are approved during the initial review. If your claim is denied, you may be forced to wait even longer while a disability lawyer appeals the denial of benefits. Appeals can take a year or longer before you receive a decision.
The disability team at Sackett and Associates Law Firm, the premier disability lawyers in Northern California, wants you to know about income options while waiting for disability benefits. The following information explains several sources for financial help while waiting for disability benefits to be approved.
Part-Time Employment
Part-time work may be a good source of temporary income during the disability application process, provided your medical condition allows you to do it. You cannot earn more than the substantial gainful activity limit that Social Security uses to determine if you are disabled and eligible for SSI and SSDI disability benefits.
The SGA threshold in 2024 is $1,550 per month for someone who is not blind and $2,590 for individuals who are blind. You will be denied benefits if you earn more than the SGA threshold.
Temporary Disability Programs And Disability Insurance
You must be permanently and completely disabled to be eligible for federal disability benefits through the SSDI and SSI programs. However, while waiting for approval of your application by the Social Security Administration, you can apply for disability benefits available through your state.
Only the following states have programs providing short-term disability benefits to workers who cannot work due to pregnancy or illness and injuries from causes unrelated to their work:
- California
- Hawaii
- New York
- New Jersey
- Rhode Island
Work-related illnesses and injuries are not included in state disability programs because workers’ compensation benefits would cover them.
The California short-term disability program is available for workers who earn a minimum weekly income while working during a base period. If you qualify for benefits, you can receive them for up to 52 weeks after a seven-day waiting period.
You also may be eligible for short-term disability benefits through a disability insurance policy that you acquired before becoming disabled or is available through your employer as a benefit to employees. Short-term insurance policies typically have waiting periods before benefits become available. Once benefits begin, they usually last for less than one year, depending on the policy terms.
State Unemployment Benefits
If you are eligible for unemployment benefits in the state where you live, they may seem like a good source of temporary income during the disability application process. The problem with unemployment benefits is that you must actively look for a job and be ready and able to accept work as a condition of receiving them.
An application for disability benefits through SSDI or SSI requires that you be disabled and unable to work, which is inconsistent with the legal requirements to qualify for unemployment benefits. Speak to your disability lawyer before applying for unemployment benefits to avoid conflicts with your disability benefits application.
Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP)
The food stamps program available through the states is now the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program or SNAP. You must meet income and other eligibility requirements to qualify for SNAP, but if you do, it helps provide food for you and your family.
Help With Medical Expenses
The Medicaid program provides health insurance benefits to needy individuals and families who meet eligibility requirements. It is administered by the states and funded by the federal and state governments.
Medi-Cal is the Medicaid program in California administered by the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS). California residents apply for benefits through their local DHCS office.
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program
The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program is another source of financial assistance before disability benefits are approved. The federal government funds the program to provide cash payments to needy families with children. It is not a long-term solution to a financial crisis because the benefits are available for only a limited period.
TANF benefits can help cover the cost of living expenses. Eligibility guidelines, the amount of assistance you can receive, and how long you can receive are left to the states to establish and enforce. Check with the social services agency in your state for information about TANF and other social services programs providing financial assistance before disability benefits become available.
Learn More During A Free Consultation At Sackett Law
When you cannot work because of a disability, the last thing you need is the stress of taking on the disability benefits application process on your own. Let the seasoned disability professionals at Sackett Law handle it from the initial application through the appeal process. Contact us today for a free consultation.
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