Being disabled can severely hamper your ability to earn a living. There are many people who are unable to go back to work after suffering an injury at work or elsewhere. There are others who are able to go back to work but can no longer earn what they need to survive.
This is where the Social Security Administration's disability program can make a big difference in your life. If you qualify to receive these benefits, you may find that living with a disability is a lot easier than it was previously.
Choosing the Right Program
There are two programs under which disability benefits can be paid. Both programs are run by the Social Security Administration. The programs are:
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The Social Security Disability Insurance Program
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The Supplemental Security Income Program
If you've worked for a certain period of time and have been paying social security taxes, you can apply for the disability insurance program. This can be paid to you or certain members of your family. If you have an adult child, they may qualify to get benefits based on your earnings record. However, this only applies to those who had disabilities before they reached twenty two years of age.
The Supplemental Security Income Program provides benefits to disabled children and adults who have limited resources and incomes.
Medical Benefits
One of the most important benefits you'll receive as a disabled person is medical benefits. Hospital insurance will help to pay for inpatient hospital bills and for follow up care. These benefits are offered at no additional cost to you since they're covered by the taxes you paid while working.
People who've been receiving disability benefits for two years are automatically enrolled in Medicare. This will enable them to get hospital insurance. Those who want additional coverage can also pay a monthly premium to get medical insurance. This caters for outpatient care, doctor's bills, and other services.
Supplemental Income
Disability comes in many forms. Sometimes a disability can completely take away your ability to work. In other cases, it can limit the amount of time you're able to work.
If you're only able to work for a short period of time because of a disability, you can apply to get benefits that will help to supplement your income. Before you qualify for these benefits, an assessment will be done to determine if you meet the threshold and how much supplemental income you need. For more information, contact a law firm like Parmele Law Firm, PC.
