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It can take a long time to win a disability case, leaving your life and finances crumbling in the wake of every hearing and review. After you've finally won, though, you're still not out of the woods in terms of all the things that need taking care of. Here's a quick lowdown on some of the most important things you should be doing, now that your case is approved.
1. Review The Conditions Of Your Disability
Dealing with Social Security requirements and stipulations is going to be complicated, without exception. Your paperwork, nonetheless, must be kept up-to-date with accurate information, but accomplishing that could be challenging. It will help if you study all of the paperwork you are given, including instructions and handbooks, so you know what to expect from here on out.
Mark dates on your calendar for turning in forms and note the deadlines for doing what you need to do to keep your disability. Until you get used to the routine, you may need help remaining compliant and that should be available to you either from the Social Security Administration itself or through your lawyer.
2. Call Your Lawyer Before Committing To Any Major Changes In Life
Because it's imperative that you are always compliant with the terms of your disability, it's not advisable to make any major life changes without consulting first with a disability attorney. For example, if your disability involves your ambulatory abilities and you move to an apartment on the second floor, traversing those stairs could put your claim into question.
Since any major decision you make is subject to the scrutiny of Social Security reviewers, you should run it by an expert before making it. It's a good idea to stay in touch with the disability lawyer who saw your case through in the first place or to immediately establish contact with another, who will work to protect the assets you're receiving. Visit a site like http://www.socialsecurityesq.com for more information.
3. Keep All Your Doctor's Appointments
Medical reviews of your case may mean providing continuing proof of your disability; thus, keeping appointments with your doctor is a necessary part of the process. Make sure your physical and/or mental needs are attended to on a regular basis, for your own health and wellness, but also to ensure your uninterrupted compliance with the terms of your disability.
4. Determine Your Insurance Coverage
Depending on which state you live in, you may be automatically eligible for Medicare or Medicaid; however, the details of which can become very confusing. For example, you may be forced to wait out a period of time before you can apply for insurance, the amount of your disability payments could exceed the income limitations for free care and/or you may still have to pay premiums, even when you qualify, depending on what type of disability you receive.
Your disability attorney should be able to help you sort out the insurance and since this is such a vital part of your ability to maintain a good quality of life, both in terms of the care you receive and your ability to pay for it, you want these details sorted out as soon as possible.
5. Find Out If You're Eligible For Part-Time Work
You may be able to work, in addition to receiving disability payments, on a part-time basis, provided the income earned doesn't exceed an amount set by the terms of your disability. If you are able and the thought of having extra money or being able to get out and about appeals to you, talk to your lawyer regarding the specifics, such as the type of work that is acceptable, earnings and other considerations. You should also be sure your doctor has no objections to the physical work you will be doing.
6. Take Advantage Of Tax Breaks For The Disabled
Another area of potential confusion where you need to make sure no errors are made is with your tax status and filing returns; however, you also want to take advantage of any breaks available to you. Ask your lawyer if you have difficulty figuring out which credits you're entitled to, what your standard deduction will be and whether or not you can deduct disability-related expenses on your tax return. Although most major tax filing software does include those with disabilities in their line of questioning, it may be much more beneficial to know ahead of time what you can claim and take advantage of, especially if you need to buy special equipment in the meantime.
7. Continue To Enjoy Life
So long as your disability doesn't force you to stay inside of your home 24/7, there's no reason you still can't get out and enjoy life. If you need help getting to certain events in town, don't be afraid to ask for it. Many services are available specifically designed to assist the disabled in continuing to lead full, normal lives. If there's no one in your family or circle of friends who can help you out, get to know the people in charge of local services, charities and major events, so you're never left out of the fun that you really want to be a part of.
As much as being approved for benefits is going to be a relief, it can also be a big headache. With so much at stake for you, though, you need to see that every "T" is crossed and every "I" dotted on every piece of paperwork you file. Get the help you need and be sure to keep the number of your disability attorney handy, as you're very likely to need it, even though you won.
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