Do you have an injury, illness or other disability that prevents you from working? It can be tough to rely on others to just get by and pay your bills. Luckily, you may have the option of applying for SocialSecurity Disability. This program is there for workers who can no longer work due to a disability. It is money you paid that you can now make use of to pay your bills. When applying for SSDI in Colorado, there may be a few things you can do to ensure you get the maximum amount of money possible.
U.S. News and World Report explains that you should understand first that there is a set amount of money that you can get from SSDI. The formula is strict, and you cannot get more than the maximum allowed by the program guidelines. However, there are a few points to keep in mind that could help ensure you do get the best payout possible.
Get the right benefits
Often if someone is older and ends up unable to work, they will tap into Social Security retirement benefits early. This comes with a big penalty. Your better option is to check into SSDI first. You can collect these benefits if you qualify until you are old enough to collect your full retirement benefit amount. By getting SSDI instead of retirement, you will probably get more money each month while also avoiding penalties.
Apply as soon as possible
You want to apply for your benefits as soon as you can so you can begin getting your check right away. The application process does take a little time, but you do not want to miss out on weeks or months of benefits by delaying your application.
Get other assistance
To really maximize your SSDI benefits, you should take advantage of any other help you qualify for. This might include assistance with your energy bills or rent or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Saving on your bills can allow you to make your SSDI benefits stretch further.
Making the most out of your SSDI benefits requires understanding the system and then taking all the right steps to ensure you can survive on the benefits. The system is made for this type of use. After all, you paid into it, so you should benefit from it.