Disability Income Provides a Sense of Freedom

February 24, 2010 | Posted by Freedom Disability in Staff Views, Stories From the Field| 0 comments

When Helen’s doctor told her she could never work again, the blow hit hard. “It felt like someone snatched my heart clean out of my body.”

Loss of income is a serious concern for anyone. When you can’t work because of a disability, the concern is devastating, as it was for Helen.

Helen was out of work for over a year when she saw Freedom Disability’s TV ad explaining Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and how to apply for disability benefits. She already had two things in her favor; the length of time she was out of work, and the length of time she had worked before her disability changed the course of her life. A Freedom Disability Advocate is working on her case. If she is approved for benefits, she will get monthly cash payments for as long as she remains unable to work, or until she reaches retirement age and can take her Social Security retirement benefits.

Disability compensation is calculated from lifetime average earnings and could range from below $600 to more than $2,000 per month, depending on a person’s work history. The cash benefit is not based on the severity of a person’s disability, even if it worsens.

The Social Security Administration established SSDI to help people with disabilities get through financial hardship. Helen’s Advocate is confident that Helen will get the cash benefits she deserves. Helen is hoping she will be able to enjoy some sense of freedom a steady disability income will give her.