Don't Make it Impossible for People with Disabilities to Save Money - Justice in Aging (2024)

FAQs

How do people on disability survive financially? ›

There are small ways to bring in some more money on top of SSDI. Doing odd jobs for family or friends, selling items on eBay, and babysitting are just a few options. Some extra income can help you pay for additional living costs.

They are also more likely to be denied their legal, social, and political rights, including the right to make decisions about what type of healthcare they want and do not want—largely because, in many countries, they continue to face significant stigma and discrimination.

Spending time with family and friends will help you stay positive, healthy, and hopeful. Sometimes, you may need a shoulder to cry on or someone to vent to. But don't discount the importance of setting aside your disability from time to time and simply having fun.

For some people, this is physical help, such as help with dressing and eating. For others, it is help with making decisions and planning. Still, others require a blend of supports. Each person is unique, and the help they may need is unique as well.

Over half of all personal bankruptcies and mortgage foreclosures are a consequence of disability, according to a 2005 Harvard study. Most Americans live paycheck to paycheck. There's little or no money left for unexpected emergencies like an injury or illness – the primary causes of disability.

Disability inclusion needs to be included in the fight for economic justice. Barriers to education and employment keep people with disabilities living in poverty. Ending poverty means addressing the drivers of economic inequality and reimagining the future of work.

Ableism is a set of beliefs or practices that devalue and discriminate against people with physical, intellectual, or psychiatric disabilities and often rests on the assumption that disabled people need to be 'fixed' in one form or the other.

Limited accessibility: Access to public spaces, transportation, and buildings remains a persistent challenge for people with disabilities. Inadequate infrastructure and a lack of universally designed environments often create obstacles, limiting the mobility and independence of individuals with disabilities.

However, some of the most common shared challenges include accessibility in physical environments and on the Internet, social exclusion, the absence of assistive technology, and barriers in healthcare and in the workplace.

What are the most important needs for people with disabilities? ›

Persons with disabilities need access to the same services and opportunities as those without a disability. For instance, they need to go to school, access health care, and earn an income. They also need access to specific services like rehabilitation and assistive devices such as wheelchairs or braille materials.

Put People First

Using respectful, positive terminology shows people with disabilities that they have a role in the community like everyone else. There are two ways people refer to others with disability. “People First” is the standard style. It communicates with respect, putting the person first, not their disablity.

To wrap it up, you'll empower people with disabilities if you boost your knowledge, become more sensitive to their needs, support them without trying to control them, remember that everyone is a complex human regardless of their disability, and be vocal against the discrimination of people with disabilities.

There are federal and state programs that can help people with significant financial needs, including those living on disability benefits. If your SSDI benefits are very low or you have dependent children, you might qualify for public assistance (welfare), including: SNAP benefits (food stamps), or.

There is good news. It may be possible for you to save money and be able to keep your SSI payments and waiver services. The four most common ways to save money and not lose benefits are with an ABLE account, a Special Needs Trust, an Individual Development Account, and a PASS account.

While living solely off SSDI is feasible, individuals may find it challenging to cover all their expenses. Supplementing disability benefits with additional income sources or aid programs can alleviate financial strain. Effective budgeting and minimizing monthly costs are key to managing with SSDI alone.

The Social Security five-year rule is the time period in which you can file for an expedited reinstatement after your Social Security disability benefits have been terminated completely due to work.