For Many, Long Waits for Disability Put Bills On the Backburner

Many people waiting for a decision on their application for Social Security disability have little, if any, income. This means that most bills probably go unpaid, and this could continue until an acceptance letter is received and the payments start. In fact, many people are not only dependent on the payments they expect to receive in the future, but they also expect back payments, which could help them get up-to-date on all their bills.

According to The Franklin News-Post, one Virginia couple is in a financial bind due to their long wait for a decision on a disability application. A 60-year-old former truck driver was recently told by his doctors that he cannot work due to his bad health. He just had a quadruple bypass and has been out of work since the summer.

Disability payments appear to be his only hope of having any income, but he has been waiting nearly six months to hear a decision. Considering that the average wait time for a decision is over a year, and he currently has no income, things do not look good. His wife does receive disability benefits for her own injuries, so they live on just over $1000 per month.

Since this is not enough money for the couple to comfortably live on, they have had to go without a lot. They have not been able to purchase necessary medications, nor have they made a mortgage payment in months, which appears to be leading to foreclosure for the couple. They hope that disability back payments can help them catch up, enabling them to keep their house.

The only beacon of hope seems to be the fact that they asked a Virginia congressman to implore the Veterans Administration Hospitals to release the medical records of the 60-year-old man, as he was previously in the Air Force. Hopefully, this action will speed up the application process before the home is foreclosed on.

Unfortunately, this couple's story likely sound very similar to that of many other disability applicants. If you wish to get your benefits as soon as possible and have not spoken to a lawyer, do so immediately. Nothing can be guaranteed, but having a lawyer on your side to make sure the SSA has everything necessary to make a decision may help the process go faster so that you do not have to face foreclosure or bankruptcy. 

If you or your loved one are suffering from a severe physical or mental disability, you should contact a Social Security Disability lawyer immediately to learn about your rights and determine eligibility. The process of securing Social Security Disability Insurance benefits and/or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) can be difficult and overwhelming. Don't go it alone! The disability lawyers at LaVan & Neidenberg, located in Ft. Lauderdale, FL understand the inner workings of the Social Security Administration and will help you navigate the system. Call us today for a FREE legal consultation - 1-888-234-5758.