7 Benefits People With Disabilities Can Get

Living with a disability can make it hard to survive financially. It makes working difficult, and treatments can be costly. If you or a family member is disabled, you should look into the following programs. Fortunately, there are many types of public disability programs.

Some of the most common disability benefits programs are:

• Social Security
• Medicaid
• Affordable Care Act marketplace
• Veteran’s Benefit Programs
• Food Assistance
• Housing Assistance

1. Social Security

The primary way of getting benefits if you are disabled is social security. This program’s full name is Social Security Disability Insurance. SSDI helps those whose disability is so severe that they are unable to work. Each way a disabled individual can receive benefits to help cover their expenses.

Multiple criteria have to be met. The program often keeps track of things like income and bank balances. One also has to earn enough credits through their work history to be eligible for SSDI.

2. Medicaid

Medicaid includes free and low-cost insurance plans to help those in need. Some of these federal programs offer transportation and debit cards to buy health-related products. The reason is these things make getting proper care easier.

Many expensive treatments may be needed when someone has lacked routine care. Some states run similar programs. These can be easier to get for residents of those states. Many of these programs can be accessed at local offices in major cities.

3. Affordable Care Act

The Affordable Care Act helps disabled people with preexisting conditions access healthcare. This marketplace helps those who don’t qualify for SSDI benefits.

4. Veterans Benefits

If military vet got disabled during their service, they could receive benefits. They do so by applying through the Department of Veterans Affairs. The process can be lengthy.

The VA typically assesses a veteran based on their disability percentage. For example, losing hearing may get assigned one percentage. Losing the use of a limb will get another percentage. The amount of monthly payments will depend on the disability rating. Some vets might be only 10% disabled, while others might be 100% disabled. Mental health issues like PTSD also increase the rating.

5. SNAP Benefits

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) helps low-income people stay fed. Many people know the program by its more popular moniker: food stamps. SNAP offers recipients an EBT card with which they can buy essential foods. The EBT card cannot be used to buy alcohol, tobacco, dietary supplements, or pet food, but fraud is often rampant.

Currently, 43 million people in the United States participate. Eligibility is primarily based on a low income. SNAP can help those who don’t have a steady income due to their disability.

To join, you have to sit 130% below the federal poverty line of $1,130. Each state has different asset limits that a household can own. Those in the program get paid 30% of their monthly income via an EBT card.

6. Public Housing Programs

Each state will have different housing programs. These programs usually depend on the level of income. A federal version is offered by the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

This program is also known as Section 8. It is now called the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program. It gives the elderly, people with disabilities, or low-income Americans a choice where they’d like to live.

The government then pays the landlord a steady paycheck every month. There are quite a few landlords who participate for this reason. One’s eligibility will get determined by their local Public Housing Agency.

Authorities will look at the following factors:

• Whether you qualify as a person with a disability
• U.S. citizenship or immigration status
• Your annual gross income
• Family size
• Other criteria

To apply for a public housing program, contact your local PHA. They will ask you to fill out an application to check the previously mentioned factors. If somebody needs assistance with the application, they will get it.

7. Public Housing

This is a similar program to the HCV program. The difference is local, and state governments manage the apartments. There is no other party involved. They look at the same factors and have their standards.

Summing Up the Different Disability Benefits Programs

There are many federal and state programs to help those in need, especially if they struggle with disability. But it takes time to fill out the application and build a strong case to get the application accepted. However, getting the right disability insurance coverage for your current situation and needs is more straightforward if a professional has your back during the entire process (more details in the link).