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Disabled Individuals Returning To Work

September is National Disabilities Month and according to the Social Security Administration, “disability,” can “happen at any stage of life.” Recent SSA statistics suggest that one in four 20-year-olds will be disabled by retirement and need Social Security Disability Income (SSDI) for support.

SSA benefits are $13,752 a year per individual and almost $2,000 over the national poverty guidelines. If an individual receiving disability benefits wants to change their financial future, there are options available.

In particular, local residents may benefit from SSA’s Ticket to Work program. It is a free and voluntary program available to anyone aged 18-64. Its goal is to structure an individual long term plan for employment and financial independence. It also allows free access to Medicare and/or Medicaid. In time, recipients can replace their SSI benefits with earnings from their employer. TTW puts recipients in contact with more than 700 service providers that include employment networks and State vocational rehabilitation centers. Transition between ENs and VRs is easy to accomplish when applicants when they are ready to move on. Benefits offered include but are not limited to career counseling, job placement and training.

Disability Resource Coordinator Lori Fabritius has strong faith in the program. She is pleased TTW “helps individual incentive to work and earn more.”

TTW will also balance income as long as a disability is listed.

In addition, it offers a one month waiting period to determine if individuals match the program. This coupled with its other benefits make TTW financially better for buyers.

Fabritius said that upwards of half of “$735 counts more than Social Security Disability Insurance.” In contrast SSDI benefits are affected by Worker’s Compensation or other disability services.

These factors combined with piece of mind and a “psychological desire to gain new contacts, could easily be a driving force change,” and “better the financial situation for one who is on disability” payments, she said.

Fabritius added incentive to give back to the community and statistics support studies that a financially stable state makes for more productive individuals.

To learn more about Social Security plans and benefits or to schedule an appointment call Lori Fabritius at 487-5127.

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