Another summer has passed and autumn is officially in full swing for Georgia residents. While the return of autumn signifies many different things, it is also a time to mark an important occasion for those with disabilities. October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month, which is an event marking the awareness of those who have an inability to work because of a disability.
Thousands of Americans face an inability to work due to injuries they have suffered that prevent full employment. While these barriers can present significant challenges in a person’s life, there are ways in which individuals who find themselves in this situation can obtain assistance for their lost wages and other consequences of suffering an injury. Namely, by obtaining Social Security disability benefits for injuries, individuals can obtain financial assistance that helps them in dealing with the disability and replacing some of their lost income until they can get back to work.
Individuals must first qualify for benefits, however, and the eligibility requirements may vary depending on the particular program involved. For disability benefits, individuals typically must have an impairment that lasts one year or more, or results in death. The individual must also be unable to perform any substantial work.
Accordingly, there are different aspects that must be shown to qualify, focusing both on the medical condition involved and the person’s ability to perform work in light of that medical condition. These eligibility requirements can be met with the appropriate evidence, but the first step is being aware of those benefits and knowing what steps need to be taken in order to obtain the assistance. This October, during National Disability Employment Awareness Month, it is as good of time as any for those who suffer disabilities to seek the help they need.
Source: AZ Central, “Social Security disability helps people who work,” Kimberly Yellow Robe, Sept. 10, 2015
