A stroke doesn’t just affect your health. It can also significantly impact your finances.
If you’ve had a stroke, you may now be facing costly medical bills. The odds are also good your stroke has negatively impacted your ability to work and earn an income.
This can make paying your bills and addressing your daily needs quite difficult. Fortunately, help is available. You may be eligible to receive assistance through various government programs. This overview covers several noteworthy options.
Social Security Disability Benefits
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is a form of benefits the Social Security Administration (SSA) has available to those who have worked in the past and have thus paid into the Social Security system. If you’re no longer able to work due to having a stroke, but you have earned sufficient “work credits,” you may qualify for SSDI.
You must also demonstrate that your condition meets the SSA’s definition of a disability. This may require gathering evidence (such as medical records) and coordinating with doctors.
Medicare & Medicaid
The federal government offers Medicare insurance to individuals over the age of 65. However, someone under 65 years of age may also qualify for Medicare if they have a disability.
Someone who is eligible for SSDI will also typically qualify for Medicare. Before they can receive assistance through Medicare, they must wait 24 months from the time they became eligible for SSDI.
Medicaid is both a federal and state program. It offers health coverage to families and individuals with low incomes.
You may qualify for Medicaid if you’ve had a stroke. That said, eligibility requirements and criteria vary from one state to another. A lawyer may help you better determine whether you meet the qualifications in your state.
State Disability Benefits
Many states also have their own programs offering assistance to disabled individuals. For instance, in California, if a person has a stroke that leaves them temporarily unable to work, they may qualify for short-term financial assistance in the form of State Disability Insurance (SDI). In New York, a state Disability Insurance program offers benefits to disabled individuals of limited means.
Some state programs also offer other forms of support beyond financial assistance. For example, a state program may offer vocational training to help someone who had a stroke prepare to reenter the workforce.
Get Help With Your Social Security Disability Claim
Hopefully, these examples have allowed you to see that help is out there if you can’t work after having a stroke. However, if you’re planning on filing a claim for Social Security benefits, it’s important to understand that the process of actually receiving said benefits can prove to be challenging.
The SSA typically denies most initial claims. There is a good chance you will have to appeal their decision and provide more evidence of your disability to prove eligibility.
Luckily, these aren’t tasks you need to handle on your own. Your odds of receiving an approval from the SSA may be greater if you enlist the help of an attorney. Get started today by taking the Free Case Evaluation to talk with a participating, independent attorney who subscribes to the website.
