It happened in an instant. One minute, you were sitting at the red light, waiting for it to turn green, and the next, you heard loud screeching and felt an impact at your back: you’ve been rear-ended. After the police and EMS come, you head to the hospital for evaluation and then in the coming weeks, you receive treatment from a variety of medical professionals for ongoing aches, pains, and possibly worse.
Several months after the car accident, you may still be unable to return to work in the same capacity as you worked before, or in any capacity at all. The money may be running dry, and you’re worried about next month’s bills. What can you do?
While it is not an immediate answer, one possible answer may be to apply for Social Security Disability (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits. SSDI and SSI may be available to Claimants who are disabled and unable to work for at least a year. You want to begin the process as soon as you believe you will not be able to return to work for at least a year, as the process can be as a short as a couple of months, or as long as a couple of years.
You can submit your initial application for SSDI online here. In order to apply for SSI, some Claimants can apply online, but others will have to submit their application either in person or over the phone with their local Social Security office.
After you complete the application, you can expect to receive additional letters and questionnaires from Social Security about your current conditions and how they impact your day-to-day life. It is important to fill these out as honestly and completely as possible, as it is kind of like your testimony about your conditions without having to go before a judge.
After several months, the Social Security Administration (SSA) will make their initial determination. If you are approved, your benefits will start in the coming months. If you are denied, you will need to begin the appeals process, which is explained in greater detail here.