HOW TO MAKE ENDS MEET WHILE WAITING ON SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY

 

Unfortunately, many claimants wait twelve months or more to get a favorable decision on their Social Security disability claims. Of course, disability means that these claimants are not working. This begs the question, "How do I make ends meet while I'm waiting on Social Security to approve me?"

There is no simple answer since Social Security has no temporary or emergency benefit. Most claimants cut expenses to the minimum and put together several sources of help to make ends meet while they are waiting. Some of these may include:

• Applying for disability benefits with your employer (STD and/or LTD)

•  Using savings wisely to help pay for necessities. 

• Taking out a second mortgage or home equity loan;

• Opening a line of credit or using credit cards, as long as you do so responsibly and only for necessities;

• Borrowing against a 401(k) or "cash value" life insurance policy; or

• Asking to borrow from family and/or friends.

• Getting SNAP assistance (food assistance) from the local Dept. of Human Services.

• Contacting "Hardest Hit Alabama" for help with mortgage payments (https://www.hardesthitalabama.com/contact.aspx)

• Call your utility company to see who helps with utility bills.  

•  Working part-time but you must not earn at least $1,310 per month gross. 

WHY NOT APPLY FOR UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS?

State unemployment benefits are for persons who are able to work, ready to work, and looking for work. They are not intended for disabled individuals. If you receive unemployment benefits, it may render you ineligible for Social Security disability payments for the months that you received unemployment benefits. Under Alabama rules, if you are disabled you are no longer in the workforce (the pool of available workers), and not entitled to unemployment benefits. There is a serious conflict between unemployment and Social Security disability.

Hiring an attorney may or may not speed up your SSDI benefits. However, getting representation will definitely approve your chance of being approved. Statistics show that claimants with legal representation get approved between 2 and 3 times more often than non-represented claimants. And possible a knowledgeable attorney/advocate can prevent mistakes that could delay your claim for months.

Get a free consultation about the particulars of your SSDI claim--FREE--by calling the Forsythe Firm in Huntsville. We have 20 years experience in Social Security disability and we work only in this area of practice. Our firm has a high success rate with SSDI claims and appeals. You may speak to us about your case at no cost, no obligation, by calling (256) 799-0297.