Life can come at you fast. This is especially true for people that previously didn’t have a disability but then found themselves with a condition. Having a disability can be life-changing. When people find themselves in this situation, it can feel like there is no hope. Thankfully, that may not be the case. That’s because opportunities exist like the Social Security Disability Insurance program (SSDI). As a federal program, it is available to people to take advantage of across the country.
Making Sense of Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)
The Social Security Administration is responsible for offering this federal assistance program. It is available to offer benefits to eligible individuals and qualifying household members. However, eligible individuals need to be ‘insured”, which means:
- He/she must have an eligible employment background
- His/her earnings must have paid for Social Security taxes
The SSDI Application Process
There are a variety of ways that a person can go about applying for SSDI. This includes:
- Applying through the phone
- Handling the application online
- Choosing a face-to-face appointment
Any way a person decides to apply, the typical application process is as follows:
- Get together any information needed. To get more information an applicant can check out the SSA’s Adult Disability Checklist. After gathering the documents, applicants complete their application and submit it.
- The SSA will look through the application and determine whether the applicant meets the necessary requirements to qualify for benefits. Factors that the SSA considers are how long the applicant was employed, any activities of work that the applicant is doing now, and so on.
- The SSA will process the application and send it to the applicant’s state Disability Determination Services office.
- This office will determine the applicant’s disability!
Information You Should Have on Hand
There’s a variety of information that you can expect to provide when handling your SSDI application, including:
- Date and place of birth
- Your Social Security number
- The information above about your previous and current partners
- Information about your marriage (if that applies) such as when and where you were married, when you were divorced, and so on.
- Any of your kids’ names, if they are less than the age of 18, along with when they were born
- Information on your finances
- Information about your disability and contact information of a person who understands your disability
- The amount of money you make in the current and previous years
- Information about your previous employer
Keep in mind that you can confirm the documentation you will need on the Adult Disability Checklist that was referenced earlier!
Eligible SSDI Disabilities
If you want to know whether you have an eligible disability or not, then you should apply. Currently, the SSDI program considers several hundreds of disabilities as eligible. The following disabilities are common and qualify for SSDI:
- Anxiety
- Different kinds of cancer
- Chronic Kidney Disease
- Dermatitis
- Epilepsy
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
The Amount of Benefits You Can Get from SSDI
Typically, in 2024, those that receive benefits from SSDI could receive an average amount per month of $1,537. However, the amount could be more than the average. How much you can get is mostly based on your current situation.
When Can You Receive Your SSDI Benefits?
Normally, the waiting period before someone can get SSDI benefits is five months. That means that the first SSDI payment will start on the sixth full month after the SSA defines the disability date. So when submitting an application be prepared to be patient!
Alternative Programs to Think About
Other than SSDI, there are other assistance programs from the federal government that can support your situation. Some popular programs are:
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
- Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8)
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
Groceries are a tough cost for so many people, but that is where SNAP comes into play. Through this program, those who are eligible will get monthly funds through an Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card. Furthermore, those that get SNAP funds can use the EBT card to buy eligible groceries. It’s also important to keep in mind that the card can only be used at stores that accept them as a type of payment!
Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
If people need a financial boost then SSI may be a great program. That’s because it can help those that have little income as well as limited access to resources. The amount that this program can provide for 2024 includes:
- For one person, it is $943
- For a couple, it is $1,415
Besides the financial requirements, in order to qualify an individual must be at least one of the following:
- Blind
- Disabled
- 65 years old or older
If you currently have a disability and want to receive SSI benefits, then you should know that applying for SSI and SSDI are very similar!
Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8)
Through local Public Housing Authorities (PHAs), individuals can apply for the Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8). This program is exactly as it seems. It’s a program that provides recipients with housing vouchers. These vouchers will be used to help recipients get affordable housing by covering housing costs. Properties need to allow the vouchers as a payment type in order for recipients to move in. Additionally, the properties must also pass the conditions that the local PHA places, which include a housing inspection.
Bottom Line
Having a disability is already difficult enough. That is why it’s important to know what resources are out there. One opportunity in particular is the SSDI program. In 2024, the average amount of monthly benefits a person can get from this program is $1,537. However, that amount can be higher, depending on their situation. Other than the SSDI program, a lot of people look towards other federal programs such as:
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
- Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8)
If you want to know more, then you should contact your local Social Security office. Also, you can look up details online from the Social Security Administration (SSA).
