It might be possible to get by without your usual paycheck for a while after a serious illness or injury puts you out of work. When disability becomes long-term or permanent though, you’ll need additional, regular income that you can count on to pay the bills and cover everyday living expenses.

Disability benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA) may be the answer, and since your application is so important, you may decide to seek legal assistance with your claim by hiring a disability advocate or attorney.

To an outsider, Social Security disability benefits may appear to be a ticket to government income. The perception that people receiving disability benefits are lazy is completely false. Anyone with a disability or who works with people with disabilities know how challenging it is to receive disability. The instances of fraud are few and far between: 8.5 million Americans receive SSDI, and 8 million receive SSI. Fraud occurs in less than 2% of these cases.

If you are part of the LGBTQ community and you or your partner is receiving Social Security benefits, your family may be eligible for additional resources. The Social Security Administration (SSA) offers monthly financial aid for people who have disabilities and are unable to work, or to people who have retired. Here’s a little more information on the benefits you and your family may be eligible to receive:

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women and is also the second leading cause of cancer deaths in females, second only to lung cancer. Approximately 1 in 8 women develops invasive breast cancer, making it a disease that touches many lives. Undoubtedly, someone you know has been impacted by breast cancer.

If you are a member of a workers’ union who has become disabled, you may wonder if your union membership impacts your ability to receive Social Security disability benefits.

Your union membership doesn’t keep you from qualifying for benefits and many unions offer support for workers who have become unable to work because of illnesses or injuries.

While some unions have their own benefit programs, there are many labor unions that help members apply for disability benefits offered by the government or for benefits that are offered by their employers.

The likelihood that prostate cancer has touched you or someone you know is quite high. With the exception of skin cancer, prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in men in the United States. In fact, one in every nine men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetimes. During the month of September, many people don light blue ribbons to bring awareness to this common disease.

September is generally the time of year that evokes thoughts of fall and back to school. However, it is also significant for another reason. September is the month that we bring awareness to cancers involving the blood and bone marrow. Specifically, we recognize September as National Leukemia, Lymphoma, & Myeloma Awareness month.

The Social Security disability process can vary in length. The disability claim process can be long for some than others. Although the disability determination process can take a long time, many applicants don’t have any choice but to stick it out and fight for SSDI or SSI Benefits.

After all, these benefits can mean the difference between just scraping by each month and being able to cover the rent and pay other bills.

How severe does my arthritis have to be to get disability benefits?

Social Security disability insurance (SSDI) currently benefits millions of Americans and their families. However, many people who could benefit from the program are either unsure that they qualify or are intimidated by the process.

To see if your arthritis could qualify for SSDI, we must first understand how disabilities are evaluated

When disability affects any member of a family, the financial impact can be great. Social Security disability programs can provide monthly support, ensuring the entire family has what it needs to get by.

The documentation you need when applying for benefits depends on your personal situation and your family dynamic. Here are just a few examples of the kinds of documents and information you’ll want to pull together before starting your disability application:

Medical Records and Doctors’ Statements