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Benefits and Services

Home > Illnesses and Disabilities Home > Benefits and Services

• Benefits and Services for People with Disabilities
• Financial Assistance Resources
• Employment Assistance Resources

Benefits and Services for People with Disabilities

People with disabilities are eligible for a wide variety of assistance programs, such as:

• financial aid
• help paying medical bills
• housing assistance
• job training and job referral services
• help starting your own business

To find out about benefits that you might receive, a good place to start is GovBenefits.gov. By filling out a short questionnaire, you can obtain the most accurate list of benefit programs for which you may be eligible.

To find out about programs to help you get a job or start your own business, a good place to start is the Employment section of DisabilityInfo.gov. And be sure to check out the Ticket to Work Program. This program allows you to keep getting financial aid and help in paying medical bills as you learn new job skills and look for a job.

If you look for a job, you will also want to know about the questions that your potential employer can ask you during the job interview. In general, the interview should focus on your job skills and how well you will be able to perform the main tasks involved in the job. An interviewer is not allowed to ask you questions about your disability that are not relevant to your ability to do the job. But you should tell your potential employer about any reasonable accommodations that you may need to perform the job. These could include installing a ramp or modifying your workspace if you have a wheelchair.

Financial Assistance Resources

Publications

1.   Benefits For Children With Disabilities - This booklet is written primarily for the parents and caregivers of children with disabilities and adults that have been disabled since childhood. It illustrates the kinds of Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits a child with a disability might be eligible for and explains how the Social Security Administration evaluates disability claims for children.

   http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/10026.html

2.   Disability Starter Kit - The Disability Starter Kit will help you get ready for your disability interview or online application. Kits are available for adults and for children under age 18. The kit includes a fact sheet, checklist, and worksheet.

   http://www.ssa.gov/disability/disability_starter_kits.htm

3.   Financial Help for Diabetes Care - This publication reviews the two government-funded health care assistance programs, Medicare and Medicaid, as well as other health care services available for people with diabetes. It lists organizations that address financial concerns about prescription drugs and medical supplies, prosthetic care, and dialysis and kidney transplantation. It also provides suggestions for finding local resources.

   http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/financialhelp/

4.   Financial Help for Treatment of Kidney Failure - This fact sheet briefly describes the Federal government's insurance program that covers much of the cost of dialysis treatments and transplantation expenses. It also lists additional sources of assistance and explains the role of the nephrology social worker.

   http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/financialhelp/index.htm

5.     Free Hospital Care and Nursing Home Care and Care Provided in Other Types of Health Facilities Under the Hill-Burton Program - This brochure outlines how to receive free or low cost health care, who qualifies for the care, and services available. In addition, it has instructions on how to file a complaint and information on eligibility.

   ftp://ftp.hrsa.gov/freecare.pdf

6.   How to Pay For Mental Health Services - The cost of mental health services is a financial challenge for just about everyone. This fact sheet discusses ways to pay for care and suggests resources for people who need more information.

   http://www.mentalhealth.org/publications/allpubs/ken98-0050/default.asp

7.     Medicare and You 2008 - Medicare & You contains important information about what's new, health plans, prescription drug plans, and rights and protections to help people with Medicare review their coverage options and prepare to enroll in a new plan if they choose.

   http://www.medicare.gov/Publications/Pubs/pdf/10050.pdf

8.     The Medicare Savings Programs Brochure for People with Disabilities - This publication explains how people with disabilities may qualify for the Medicare Savings Program, which can help pay for Medicare deductibles and premiums. It also provides contact information to obtain more information.

   http://www.medicare.gov/Publications/Pubs/pdf/10126_D.pdf

9.   Social Security For People Living With HIV/AIDS - If you have HIV/AIDS and cannot work, you may qualify for disability benefits from the Social Security Administration. This publication provides information about how to qualify and file for the benefits.

   http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/10019.html

10.   Social Security: Disability Benefits - This publication contains information on disability benefits including who is eligible, how to apply, and how disability is determined.

    http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/10029.html

11.   Social Security: If You Are Blind or Have Low Vision - How We Can Help - This booklet explains the services available to people who are legally blind or have low vision so they can get the most out of Social Security programs.

    http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/10052.html

12.   Social Security: What Every Woman Should Know - This booklet offers important information about Social Security coverage and women. It explains what steps to take if there is a change in name, marital status, employment, and retirement.

    http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/10127.html

13.   Title XVII - Health Insurance for the Aged and Disabled - This report is an on-line copy of the Social Security Act Title XVII. It includes information on hospital and medical insurance benefits, Medicare, prescription drug benefits, and more.

    http://www.ssa.gov/OP_Home/ssact/title18/1800.htm

14.   What You Need To Know When You Get Disability Benefits - This on-line resource answers some common questions you may have after receiving disability benefits. It provides information on reporting changes that could affect your benefits, reviewing of your case, and returning to work.

    http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/10153.html

15.   Your Right to Representation - This fact sheet explains how you can have a representative assist you in dealing with the Social Security Administration. It also provides contact information.

    http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/10075.html

16. BenefitsCheckUp (Copyright © NCOA) - The BenefitsCheckUp web site helps people find benefit programs for seniors that may pay for some of their costs such as: prescription drugs, health care, utilities, and other essential items or services. By filling out a simple questionnaire users can find programs that can assist them and their loved ones.

    http://www.benefitscheckup.org/

17. CDR Guide to Disability Rights (And Dealing with the System) (Copyright © CDR) - This web site offers advice and referrals on the following subjects: employment, free medication, Social Security benefits, special education, tax benefits for families, and finding other helpful web sites, books, and Internet resources.

    http://www.disabilityrights.org/faq.htm

18. Guide to Disability Income Insurance (Copyright © AHIP) - This booklet explains the various sources of disability income, what disability income insurance is and what it covers. It includes a worksheet you can use to evaluate personal sources of disability income, as well as a checklist of policy features you can use to compare disability income-insurance policies.

    http://www.ahip.org/content/default.aspx?bc=41|329|352

19. Resources for Adults with Disabilities - This publication helps adults with disabilities find organizations and resources that can assist them with employment, postsecondary education, recreation, independent living, and assistive technology.

    http://www.nichcy.org/pubs/transum/adttxt.htm

Organizations

1.   ABLEDATA, NIDDR, ED
2.   Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services, HHS
3.   DisabilityInfo.gov
4.   Social Security Administration Office of Public Inquiries
5. Laurent Clerc National Education Center
6. National Patient Travel Center
7. National Transplant Assistance Fund and Catastrophic Injury Program
8. Partnership for Prescription Assistance
9. Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

= Indicates Federal Resources

Employment Assistance Resources

Publications

1.   Americans with Disabilities Act: Questions and Answers, The - This booklet lists all possible questions one could ask concerning the Americans with Disabilities Act.

   http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/qandaeng.htm

2.   Diversity and Disabilities - This fact sheet discusses the importance of including disabilities in the nation’s move toward workplace diversity.

   http://www.dol.gov/odep/pubs/ek96/diverse.htm

3.   Employment: The Road to Economic Independence - DisabilityInfo.gov provides resources on numerous employment topics, such as job seeking, training, federal contracting, taxes, accommodations, and more.

   http://www.disabilityinfo.gov/digov-public/public/DisplayPage.do?parentFolderId=9...

4.   Federal Employment of People with Disabilities - This website serves as a resource to help those with disabilities find a federal job as well as provide a resource for those who work in Human Resources.

   http://www.opm.gov/disability/index.htm

5.   Ideas for Writing an Accommodation Request Letter - This publication provides guidance to employees on how to write a letter to an employer to request an accommodation for a disability or other serious health issue. This publication includes a sample accommodation request letter.

   http://www.jan.wvu.edu/media/accommrequestltr.html

6.   Medicaid Buy-In For Working People With Disabilities - States can extend Medicaid coverage to certain disabled people who work. This fact sheet explains more about the program and who qualifies.

   http://www.socialsecurity.gov/disabilityresearch/wi/buyin.htm

7.   Office of Disability Employment Policy Publications - This web site contains a large list of publications about employment and disability from the Office of Disability Employment Policy, Department of Labor. Some of the topics covered are accommodations, workplace culture, discrimination, recruitment, and more.

   http://www.dol.gov/odep/pubs/publicat.htm

8.   Office on Disability: State Disability Offices and Websites - This web site lists the contact information for all 50 State Disability Offices and their web sites.

   http://www.hhs.gov/od/statepartners.html

9.   The Work Site - The Ticket to Work Program provides most people receiving Social Security benefits (beneficiaries) more choices for receiving employment services.

   http://www.ssa.gov/work/

10.   Vocational Rehabilitation State Offices - This site lists vocational rehabilitation state offices. By contacting your local vocational rehabilitation office, you will tap into a wealth of resources related to employment options for people with disabilities.

    http://www.jan.wvu.edu/SBSES/VOCREHAB.HTM

11.   Working While Disabled - How We Can Help - This publication contains information on how Social Security can help people with disabilities rejoin or remain in the workforce.

    http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/10095.html

12. CDR Guide to Disability Rights (And Dealing with the System) (Copyright © CDR) - This web site offers advice and referrals on the following subjects: employment, free medication, Social Security benefits, special education, tax benefits for families, and finding other helpful web sites, books, and Internet resources.

    http://www.disabilityrights.org/faq.htm

Organizations

1.   DisAbility Online, ETA, DOL
2.   DisabilityInfo.gov
3.   Job Accommodation Network
4.   Office of Disability Employment Policy
5.   Social Security Administration Office of Public Inquiries
6. Disability and Business Technical Assistance Center
7. Independent Living Research Utilization

= Indicates Federal Resources