Levine Benjamin Law Firm Helps People Waiting for SSD Benefits Bridge Financial Gap

Completing all the necessary paperwork and jumping through the hoops required when applying for Social Security Disability (SSD) benefits following an injury or illness typically takes a lot of time. “Now you’re in a waiting mode while the Social Security Administration (SSA) reviews your application,” said Gary W Bimberg, a managing partner of Levine Benjamin Law Firm.

Added Joseph E. Houle, a managing partner of Levine Benjamin Law Firm, “Without income from a regular job or elsewhere, you might have to be creative and resourceful to make ends meet while you wait for a benefits decision and your first payment.”

To help people cover their expenses while they wait, Bimberg and Houle share the following three tips:

No. 1: Working. Many people don’t realize they can work some and still meet SSD qualifications. “The key is understanding that if you earn more than a certain threshold, you won’t qualify for benefits,” noted Bimberg. “As of 2018, the threshold for what the SSA considers a ‘substantial gain’ is $1,180 a month. As long as you don’t exceed that, you won’t be denied simply because of your income.”

No. 2: Alternative incomes. If one can’t work part-time or find a job that gives them some support without exceeding the threshold, there are other places to look for income. “Some people borrow from their 401(k) or other retirement plan to help cover bills until disability payments arrive,” advised Houle. “Others refinance homes, use credit cards, or borrow from friends or family.”

No. 3: Assistance programs. “If you’re struggling to pay for basic necessities such as food or utilities as you wait for disability payments, you should know other assistance programs are in place to help you,” stressed Bimberg. “For example, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program offers help covering the cost of food.”

Furthermore, most utility companies offer short-term assistance with bills if one can’t make their payments on time. “While you wait for a decision from the SSD program, you can check to see if your state has a short-term disability program,” concluded Houle. “In some cases, a state program might approve and make payments faster than the federal program, helping you bridge the financial gap.”

About Joseph E. Houle and Gary W. Bimberg, Levine Benjamin Law Firm

Joseph E. Houle and Gary W. Bimberg practice Social Security Disability Law exclusively. In addition to Social Security Disability Law, attorneys at the Levine Benjamin Law Firm focus on workers’ comp, personal injury, long-term disability, and Medicare health plans. For more information, please call (888) 246-2584, or visit www.levinebenjamin.com. The law office is located at 100 Galleria Officentre, Suite 411, Southfield, MI.

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