If a serious health condition stops you from working, you might need financial support to help you cover everyday costs. Several federal disability programs provide monthly payments and health coverage to people who show strong medical evidence of functional limitations that prevent them from maintaining full-time jobs. These programs look at factors like your income, your assets, your work history, and the severity of your symptoms to determine whether you qualify for disability benefits.
Social Security Disability Insurance
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is a federal program that provides monthly benefit payments to people who cannot work due to a qualifying medical condition. You must have paid into Social Security through payroll taxes for a certain number of years to qualify. You must also show that your condition meets specific medical standards set by the Social Security Administration (SSA) or limits you to the extent that you cannot work enough to support yourself. Additionally, you’ll need to prove that your condition is expected to last at least one year or result in death.
Supplemental Security Income
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a separate program that provides monthly payments to people with limited income and resources who cannot work due to a qualifying disability. Your work history does not factor into your eligibility for SSI. Instead, the SSA looks at your financial situation and your medical evidence to determine whether you qualify. You must show that your condition meets specific medical criteria or otherwise prevents you from performing full-time work. Children can also qualify for SSI if they show marked or extreme limits in specific areas of functioning.
Medicare and Medicaid Access
Medicare and Medicaid can both provide important health coverage to those with medical conditions that keep them out of the workforce.
SSDI recipients can qualify for Medicare after a two-year waiting period that begins on the date when the SSA determines their eligibility. Medicare can cover hospital care, doctor’s visits, and prescription drugs, depending on your enrollment.
SSI recipients who are approved for benefits automatically qualify for Medicaid without a waiting period in Indiana. Medicaid can cover doctor’s visits, prescriptions, mental health treatment, and other services that help you manage day-to-day needs related to your condition.
Benefits for Family Members
If you qualify for SSDI, certain family members can also receive benefits based on your eligibility. Spouses, former spouses, and children can all qualify if they meet specific age or relationship rules. For example, a dependent child under age 18 could receive a monthly payment based on your earnings record. Your spouse could qualify for benefits if they meet certain age rules or care for a child who also qualifies. These payments can help family members cover living costs during difficult health situations. Family benefits do not reduce the SSDI payments you receive each month.
Get in Touch with an Indiana Disability Attorney
The disability claims process can feel overwhelming when you’re already dealing with a serious health condition, but you don’t have to handle it alone. Disability lawyer Joe Wambach knows how to build strong claims, correct paperwork issues, and push back against unfair denials. He charges no upfront fees to begin work on your case. Contact Wambach Disability Law today to speak with Joe about your next steps in a free consultation session.