Get to Know Disability.gov, the federal government website for information on disability programs and services in communities nationwide. Visitors can explore resources covering 10 main topics, including housing, employment and healthcare. Since the site is a directory of resources, you will be sent to other websites managed by the federal government, state and local government agencies, and nonprofit organizations to get the information or help you need.
Disability.gov does not process disability benefits applications or decide who has a disability. Those matters are handled by the Social Security Administration (SSA) and your state’s Disability Determination Service. However, Disability.gov does connect you to information, such as qualifying for Social Security disability benefits. To learn more about navigating Disability.gov, read the “How to Use the Site” guide. You can also browse 14 different guides, which provide a brief overview of the site’s most important topics like disability benefits and financial help for low income individuals and families.
Applying for Disability Benefits. Last year, more than 2.5 million people applied for Social Security disability benefits, and that number is expected to continue growing as baby boomers (born between 1946 and 1965) enter their most disability-prone years. For the nine million who receive a monthly check, the average disability benefit is only $1,146, an amount barely above the 2013 poverty level of $11,490 annually; yet, even this modest level of support makes a difference.
So where should you begin? Disability.gov offers a thorough Guide to Disability Benefits, which connects visitors to information on what you need to apply, as well as what SSA means by “disabled.” You should also check out SSA’s factsheet on “What You Should Know before You Apply for Social Security Disability Benefits” and the Disability Planner. Next, use this checklist to help you gather the necessary pieces of information. Finally, read this brochure about applying online, which will help you save time, money and a trip to the Social Security office!
Click here to connect to Disability.gov and to read this article in its entirety.
