DELICIOUS
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REDDITWhen we are disabled from an injury or illness, it’s a life-changing event that impacts every aspect of our lives. We are battling the emotional drain from feeling less than human. We are suffering from physical pain and our limitations. Our families struggle alongside us as they assist us in our daily routine. We may not be able to work, causing a financial strain that we weren’t prepared for. The top concern is, what to do with our home once we are disabled. Do we keep it? Do we move? How do we know what the best choice is?
Are You Paying on the Home?
If you are free and clear of a mortgage and only pay property tax, it’s a safe bet that you should stay in your home and make it more handicap accessible. While you can’t remove stairs from a multi-level home, you can install a chair lift for stairs to make it easier for you to move from floor to floor. Adding a handicap ramp to entrances and exits will help with wheelchairs and avoiding stairs. Installing bars in the showers and around toilets will make using the restroom easier. The upgrades can be costly but the lack of mortgage can help you take care of the cost.
If you are paying on the home, a second mortgage may be the option to upgrade the home. And if you are unable to work, that makes paying on the home even more difficult. This is the prime time to look into selling the home and downgrading into a home that is already handicap accessible or one that requires minimal upgrades. In some cases, you may be able to move into an apartment complex that is designed for the disabled and has staff on hand for assistance when you need it most. The great thing about those places is not just the affordability, but the sense of freedom that comes with the apartment.
Do You Have Disability Insurance?
If you have long-term disability insurance, we can rejoice in some income arriving to help alleviate costs. Often long-term disability insurance doesn’t pay as much as you were once making but it’s something and it comes in for a much longer time. This could be the one thing that saves you from having to sell your home and move. It can also be the thing that helps pay for the upgrades you need.
Are You Able to Obtain Social Security Disability?
Social Security Disability is a monster to tackle and we recommend that you do not attempt to apply for benefits without consulting a lawyer first. SSDI only kicks in at the 6th month of disability so getting on it immediately is your best bet. If you have disability insurance, either short or long-term, let the lawyer know. It’s possible that your short-term disability can float you along until you are able to receive SSDI. However, it’s important to point out that for many, SSDI does not pay enough to cover basic needs. You will need to tap into other resources to meet your needs.
