Disability Articles |

If I’m handicapped and on disability and my relative died (who used to pay the property taxes on the home i live in) who will pay my property taxes now? Am I just expected to pay for it out of my regular disability payments or can I also get the state or government to pay for my Property taxes in addition to my regular ssi disability payments?
I ask because my disability doesn't pay me no where near enough to cover my yearly property taxes which are about $3,000 per year.

The disability payments are to pay your bills and other living expenses with. There aren't programs for the government to also pay your property taxes. In some states though, there is a partial rebate on property tax that you might be eligible for - in PA you can be eligible for up to $650 if you are a senior citizen or disabled, and your income meets certain criteria.

I'd like to know if I would be able to create a sole proprietorship business if I am receiving Disability. I REALLY want a trusted source to actually confim the rules.

Essentially, I'd like to start a sole proprietorship, although not necessarily right this second, but I'd like to know the official guidelines and legal aspects before I start my planning phase.

I'd really appreciate any links you can provide.
I guess I should clarify a bit more. Is there any consequences if I register a sole proprietorship while receiving Disability, even if I don't make any money with it?

It depends what kind of disability. SSI has strict income and asset rules. If you make any money or have assets over 2K and a home they cut your benefits. SSDI has much easier rules you can try to return to work without losing your benefits. Of course if you can earn much you aren't disabled so will lose your disability. If your disability is something like a fire or police disability you might be able to work and collect since you can't do your old trade.
SSA.GOV has info on SSDI.

I receive $770/month in disability benefits. Would this be considered income when applying for a loan to purchase a home?

Yes it is, if the payments are permanent.

I'm wondering how you go about getting disability pay and free medical care from the government like for regular people with diagnosed mental disorders who are basically unable to perform duties and keep a job and for veterans of wars? I've read that's it's a complicated process with lots of forms and you have to send back yet another different set of forms to appeal your rejection, which is all but granted the first time you apply. Anyone have experience with this?

Yes, it can be lengthy. You call your local social security office and tell them you want to apply for disability. A person usually talks with you on the phone and also sends you paperwork - alot of questions. You really need the support of a doctor - a doctor who will write that you cannot work due to mental health. The disability people turn to the doctor - so it is really important that you have the backing of the doc.

Sometimes it takes as little as 4 months - to as long as 3 years, depending on how sick you are and what the doctor says. It is wise to get a lawyer who specializes in disability. Most of them will not charge anything unless you are granted the diability benefits.

There are 3 "rounds." They can deny you the first time, then you reappply/appeal; then they can deny you the second and re reappply/appeal - then the third time if they deny you, you can take it to the judge and the judge makes the determination. That is why it can take so long.

I received mine on the second time. I had a letter from my doctor, two therapists, friends, pastor and mom. I also secured a disability lawyer just in case.

I don't know how the Veteren's work - but surely if you call someone at the VA, they can guide you.

Good luck and be patient and persistent!

I have been out on disability for almost 6 months, so i worked half the year. i had taxes taken out of my disability because i was nervous that i would owe at the end of the year. i have 3 children that i claim but i wasn't really sure if i can use the disability towards the refund. can anyone help me?
I have been out on disability for almost 6 months, so i worked half the year. i had taxes taken out of my disability because i was nervous that i would owe at the end of the year. i have 3 children that i claim but i wasn't really sure if i can use the disability towards the refund. it was State disability. i became Ill with lyme disease. can anyone help?

What kind of disability benefits? Your disability benefits should not be taxable unless it is sick leave from your job.

I was put on bed rest and just started collecting Short term disability from the state of California. I had my daughter 6 weeks early. How does that affect my disability pay? Do I still only get 6 weeks? What other options do I have?

You would need to ask the dep't of SS about that. I imagine u can only get the disability payments whlst u are covered under a medical certificate.If u r an unemployed single parent then maybe u can get payments for that. good luck.

My friends mom has leukemia and is now unable to work but is not sick enough to be in the hospital. My friend does what she can but they are now unable to pay their rent and are going to end up homeless or something close to it. How can I help her get her mom on medicaid or disability? Any other suggestions. Thank you.

If your friend or any child in the home is under 18 and still in school the quickest way to get help would be for her mom to apply for TANF (temporary assistance to needy families) or whatever your state calls the program that provides financial help to parents with children at home. They may also be eligible for food stamps which of course will not pay rent but helps with one large household expense. There are also programs that help with utilities and heat and she can find out about them from the welfare office too. Local helping agencies may get the rent caught up for her once or twice (Salvation Army for one for others check phone book yellow pages under Social Service Agencies and /or call United Way for a list of places to get help) Depending on her state's rules she may be able to get Medicaid if there is a child at home or if there is a medical need or she may need to be getting Social Security disability first. She can ask that at the welfare office too.

To apply for Social Security Disability go to http://www.socialsecurity.gov/ It used to take a long tome to get Disability but there is a new program of "compassionate allowances" that allows SS to make much faster decisions for certain diseases. Acute Leukemia is one of these. http://www.socialsecurity.gov/compassionateallowances/conditions.htm so if her disease is considered acute she may get some relatively fast help but because all things with Social Security do take some time to get records together, etc. she should check the other sources first to hopefully prevent becoming homeless.

If someone has a learning disability could they pull the fire alarm in a fire in a safe location? Would it take them longer to activate the alarm? Would they read the directions out loud or to themselves? How would reading the directions out loud help them? Would they need to read it twice? Do you know someone young who has Autism or another learning disability who pulled a fire ? Did they have trouble or did they know what to do? Can a person wiht a learning disability talk alound to relive stress and say something like pulll down while they are pulling the handle or if their hand slipped out of stress when pulling the handle uh oh I will pull it again? Would some learning disabilites be helpful in a situation like this as they would know better how the alarm handle pulls down than some people. How would a learning disability help them? WOuld people know someone had Autism who was pullig the alarm in a fire if they were the ones doing it? What symptoms would show in an emergecy?
A friend asked me these questions.
How is it that a parent would let their son with Aspergers or High Functioning Autism pull a fire alarm in a fire? Has there been a case where someone with HFA pulled a fire alarm at the appropriate time?

The problems:

* You have way too many questions here.

* In addition, you lump all people with learning disabilities together, but they are unique and each one is completely different.

* You mention autism, but there are many levels of ability with autistic people.

* And many of your questions are completely unanswerable. Who knows how any given person might react in a scary situation?

The solutions:

* In my experience, people who are learning disabled to the extent that they cannot recall what to do in case of emergency need to be walked through the steps of the process repeatedly.

* They need to practice the thought processes and decision processes.

* Of course, if they are that low-functioning, they should never be left all alone in the first place.

* If there was a companion or caregiver or teacher or other adult present, that responsible person would be able to take care of things in an emergency.

Hope this helps you! Best wishes!

Family members (husband and wife) want me to file their taxes so that they can get the stimulus check. They also would like to claim their granddaughter as a dependent hoping that they will get a refund. Since their only income is social security disability, which is tax exempt. wouldn't them claiming her be pointless since they did not pay any taxes?

If their granddaughter lives with them and one of the granddaughter's parents isn't claiming her, they can if they meet all the rules to claim her. Normally it would be pointless, but this year they would probably be eligible for and extra $300 in stimulus payment if she's under age 17. If she's 17 or over, you're right, there would be no point in them claiming her.

My doctor has me leaving work on the 23rd, and I'm having my baby on the 30th. I was just wondering how does my disability start? Do I have to fill something out? Does my doctor do it? I've only been at my job for 3 months, do they do something?

You have to apply. Your doctor will have to sign something. If you're applying through the state disability program, your employer doesn't have to do anything. If it's a private disability plan, your employer will have the claim forms.

Keep in mind, normal pregnancy is NOT a disability, and NOT required to be covered. There has to be a DISABILITY with the pregnancy.

In NY, the first seven days of "disability" are a deductible - not covered.