Applying for Disability Benefits
Adult (age 18 or over)
Adult SSDI is based on your inability to work because of a medical
condition. To be considered “disabled,” you must::
be unable to do work you did before and SSA decides that you cannot
adjust to other work because of a medical condition, and
your disability must last or be expected to last for at least one
year or to result in death.
SSA uses a five-step evaluation process to decide whether you are
disabled. It considers any current work activity you are doing, and your
medical condition and how it affects your ability to work. For more
information, read the SSA publication,.
To apply for disability benefits for an adult, you will need to
complete an application for Social Security Benefits and an Adult
Disability Report at
https://s044a90.ssa.gov/apps6z/i3369/ee001-fe.jspat
The report collects information about your disabling condition and how
it affects your ability to work. You can complete the forms online, or you
may call us to schedule an appointment and we will help you in person or
by phone.
How to apply, or you
may call us to schedule an appointment and we will help you in person or
by phone.
How to apply
SSA will ask for this information during your disability interview. Or,
you can complete the Adult Disability Report on.
Review the
Adult Disability Starter Kit
Adult Disability Starter Kit, which answers common questions about
applying for benefits and includes a worksheet that will help you gather
the information you need. It includes a
Fact Sheet: What You Should Know Before You Apply For Social
Security Disability Benefits with a link to the online application. The
fact sheet includes a
definition of disability and answers questions about applying for
disability benefits. It also includes a Checklist (see above) to help
you prepare for your disability interview and documents to have ready
for your interview or when you complete the online Disability Report;
and a
Worksheet: Medical and Job Worksheet – Adult which can help you
prepare for your interview. It lists information that SSA will ask you
and provides space to write this information down.
Fill out the
online application for Social Security Benefits.
If you have never worked, skip this step and
contact SSA after you complete Step 3.
Fill out the online
Adult Disability Report. At the end of the report, you will need to
sign a form that gives your doctor permission to send us information
about your disability. SSA needs this information to make its decision
on your claim.
Not everyone will be able to complete a Disability Report online.
You must first answer several questions to help determine if you should
use this report. You can view these questions at
https://s044a90.ssa.gov/apps6z/i3820/main.html.
If you previously started an online application or online disability
report but did not finish it, you can:
Use your confirmation number to return to
your online application.
Use your re-entry number to return to
your online disability report
Contacting Social Security
If you do not want to do this online or need help, call SSA toll-free at
1-800-772-1213. If you are deaf or hard-of-hearing, call our
toll-free TTY number, 1-800-325-0778.
Applying For Food Stamps
Thanks to our Friends at the Department of Transitional Assistance we
have put together some guidelines on how to obtain Food Stamps.
When possible, the forms and application processes described and listed
in this section link directly to the forms you need to complete, thus
helping you learn these required application procedures and increasing
your chances to obtain the funds you need.
Food Stamps
Food stamps are funded and governed by the federal government’s
Department of Agriculture (USDA) but they are administered and managed by
each state, which sets its own rules, policies and procedures (and forms).
You cannot apply for or even get a food stamp application form from the
USDA. You need to follow the procedures of your state by contacting the
local food stamp office and filling out and submitting an application,
then scheduling a food stamp interview with your local office after they
receive your application. You can call the local office and ask them to
send you an application, complete it, and submit it by mail, or in some
cases, by fax.
Importance of Filing Quickly
The Food Stamp Program prorates the first months benefits from the day
the local office gets your application, so you should get your application
to the office quickly, even if you haven't had time to fill it out
completely. It is sufficient to just give the local office your name,
address, and signature if you can't complete the form right away.
Application Forms
States create their own application forms. You can find your state’s
contact information including local office locations and application forms
using a
national map provided by the USDA at
http://www.fns.usda.gov/fsp/outreach/map.htm, as well as a
State Applications Forms page with links to each state's food stamp
application at
http://www.fns.usda.gov/fsp/rules/Memo/Support/state-applications.htm.
To apply, you can download, print, complete, and submit your state’s
form. Take it to the local food stamp office or mail it in.
Applying on line
Only a handful of States allow you to apply for food stamps on-line.
Those states, with their web sites, are:
Florida-
http://www.dcf.state.fl.us/ess/
Kansas-
https://srits004.sr.state.ks.us/
Online application and self-assessment tool (English and Spanish)
New Jersey-
http://www.state.nj.us/humanservices/dfd/FSapply.html
New York-
https://www.madisoncountyfoodstamps.org/Prescreen.asp
Pennsylvania-
https://www.humanservices.state.pa.us/COMPASS/PGM/ASP/SC001.asp
West Virginia-http://www.wvinroads.org/
Washington-http://www1.dshs.wa.gov/ESA/TEC/
You can obtain a food stamp application form for all other states at
the USDA web site,
http://www.fns.usda.gov/fsp/outreach/map.htm, where you’ll find a
national map and alphabetical state listing (see below): Click on your
state for the location of your food stamp office's), phone number's), food
stamp application form and other application requirements.
Select a State to find the State food stamp application and location of
local food stamp offices. Each State also has a
toll-free number listed.
For example, click on Alabama,
and you’ll link directly to the Alabama Food Stamp Application Form at
http://www.dhr.state.al.us/large_docs/Food%20Stamp%20Application.pdf
Applying for Expedited Service
You can apply for Expedited Service to get food stamps within seven
days if your household has less than $150 in monthly gross income and
cash, checking or savings accounts less than or equal to $100; or your
rent/mortgage and utilities are more than your household’s combined
monthly income and liquid resources or; a member of your household is a
migrant or seasonal farm worker.
You need to list your household members whom you wish to receive food
stamps, including any children under age 22, with their date of birth,
sex, whether they are in school or working, social security number and
whether they are a US citizen. You also need to list any other people who
live in the same house with you but you do not want included in your food
stamp household because they do not purchase and prepare food with you.
For each person listed, you need to say whether they give the people you
listed above any money and whether they pay any part of your household
bills (if so, what bills).
The state page also includes the location of the main Food Stamp
office, a link to find the food stamp office location your home
county, and a toll-free phone number to call for additional information
about applying for food stamps in your state.
Return the Application Form to the Food Stamp Office.
Return the application form to the food stamp office as quickly as
possible. If you are picking up your application form at a food stamp
office, put your name, street address, and social security number on the
form and sign it. Leave that part of the form at the food stamp office.
Take the rest of the form with you to fill out later. You have at least
started the process and should get your food faster, if you are
eligible.
Schedule an interview with a food stamp worker.
If you are at a food stamp office, ask the worker to write down what
you need to bring to the interview. If you are calling for an appointment,
ask the worker what you should bring.
Some documents that you will probably need for your interview are
your:
Driver's license or birth certificate;
Any pay stubs;
A letter showing money received from social security, SSI, VA, child
support, or other benefit sources
Most recent rental agreement or letter from your landlord;
Most recent mortgage statement;
Utility bills, such as electricity, gas, and heating oil
Cancelled checks for day care for your child;
Medical bills that you pay (if you are 60 or older, or disabled); and
If child support is involved, a Court order or cancelled checks for
child support payments
Gather all these papers or other information that the food stamp worker
needs to finish your application. If you need help gathering or finding
any papers, ask the food stamp worker or a relative or friend to help you.
Going to the interview
Don’t forget to bring your papers
Ask the food stamp worker to make copies and keep your original papers.
If you need help filling out the application form or getting the information needed to finish your form, ask the food stamp worker.
You may bring a friend or community representative to help you understand how to complete the process.
If you can’t go to the food stamp office for the interview, you can ask for a telephone interview. You can even have a friend or relative go in your place.
MassHealth Health
Insurance for residents of Massachusetts
AN OVERVIEW
MassHealth is a program that provides free health
insurance to eligible low and moderate-income families and individuals.
MassHealth health insurance pays for medical treatment provided by private
doctors, clinics, HMOs, hospitals, and pharmacies. All children in
Massachusetts whose parents cannot afford to pay for medical care are
eligible for free health insurance for children through MassHealth.
Immigrants, including undocumented immigrants, are eligible for certain
health insurance benefits without fear of deportation.
Below is a list of the resources available
directly from the Mass Health website.
Please note: As with all information
provided on this website, please do your due diligence and verify all
pertinent information in regards to all stated information.
Housing: HUD Section 8 Vouchers, Public Housing and USDA Affordable
Housing Programs
HUD administers Federal aid to local housing agencies (LHA) that manage
the housing for low-income residents at rents they can afford. HUD
furnishes technical and professional assistance in planning, developing,
and managing these developments.
Public housing was established to provide decent and safe rental
housing for eligible low-income families, the elderly, and persons with
disabilities. Public housing comes in all sizes and types, from scattered
single-family houses to high rise apartments for elderly families.
Approximately 1.3 million households live in public housing units, managed
by 3,300 Housing Authorities.
Who is Eligible
An HA determines your eligibility based on:
1) annual gross income – low income families and individuals are
eligible to apply
2) whether you qualify as elderly, a person with a disability, or as a
family; and
3) U.S. citizenship or eligible immigrant status.
If you are eligible, the HA will check your references to make sure you
and your family will be good tenants. An HA will deny admission to any
applicant whose habits and practices may be expected to have a detrimental
effect on other tenants or the project's environment.
HAs use income limits developed by HUD, which sets the lower income
limit at 80% and very low income limits at 50% of the median income for
the county or metropolitan area in which you choose to live. These income
limits vary from area to area so you may be eligible at one HA but not at
another. The HA serving your community can provide you with the income
levels for your area and family size, or you can also find the
income limits at HUD’s web site.
How and Where to Apply
You apply for public housing by contacting your
local Housing Authority (HA).in your state at
http://www.hud.gov/localoffices.cfm. If you have trouble contacting
an HA, contact your local
HUD Field Office.
HUD's Local Office Directory
HUD is organized into 10 Regions, each managed by a Regional Director,
and each with Field Offices managed by a Field Office Director. HUD staff
will respond to your phone call or direct you to the appropriate person.
The Application Process
Your application must be written. Either you or the HA representative
can fill it out. An HA usually needs to collect the following information
to your determine eligibility:
(1) Names of all persons who would be living in the unit, their sex,
date of birth, and relationship to the family head;
(2) Your present address and telephone number;
(3) Family characteristics (e.g., veteran) or circumstances (e.g.,
living in substandard housing) that might qualify the family for tenant
selection preferences;
(4) Names and addresses of your current and previous landlords for
information about your family's suitability as a tenant;
(5) An estimate of your family's anticipated income for the next twelve
months and the sources of that income;
(6) The names and addresses of employers, banks, and any other
information the HA would need to verify your income and deductions, and to
verify the family composition; and
(7) The PHA also may visit you in your home to interview you and your
family members to see how you manage the upkeep of your current home.
After obtaining this information, the HA representative should describe
the public housing program and its requirements, and answer any questions
you might have.
Documentation
The HA representative will request whatever documentation is needed
(e.g., birth certificates, tax returns) to verify the information given on
your application. The Public Housing Authority (PHA) will also rely on
direct verification from your employer, etc. You will be asked to sign a
form authorizing release of pertinent personal information to the PHA.
Sign a Lease if Offered a House or Apartment
If you are offered a house or apartment and accept it, you will have
to sign a lease with the HA. You may also have to give the HA a security
deposit. You and the HA representative should go over the lease
together. This will give you a better understanding of your
responsibilities as a tenant and the HA's responsibilities as a
landlord.
Selection Preferences
Sometimes giving preference to specific groups of families enables an
HA to direct limited resources to families with the greatest housing
needs. Each HA has the discretion to establish preferences to reflect
needs in its own community. These preferences will be included in the HA
written policy manual.You should ask what preferences your HA honors to
know whether you qualify for a preference.
You can often expect long waiting times, as the demand for
housing assistance often exceeds the limited resources available to HUD
and the local HA. An HA may even close its waiting list when there are
more families on the list than it can assist in the near future.
How Rent is Calculated
Your rent, referred to as the “Total Tenant Payment” (TTP) is based
on your family's anticipated gross annual income less deductions, if
any.
HUD regulations allow an HA to exclude from annual income the
following allowances: $480 for each dependent; $400 for any elderly
family, or a person with a disability; and some medical deductions for
families headed by an elderly person or a person with disabilities.
Based on your application, the HA representative will determine if any
of the allowable deductions should be subtracted from your annual
income. Annual income is the anticipated total income from all sources
received from the family head and spouse, and each additional member of
the family 18 years of age or older.
The formula used in determining the TTP is the highest of the
following, rounded to the nearest dollar:
(1) 30 percent of your monthly adjusted income. This is your annual
income less deductions allowed by the regulations;
(2) 10 percent of monthly income;
(3) welfare rent, if applicable; or
(4) $25 minimum rent or higher amount (up to $50) set by an HA.
*****
Housing Choice Vouchers
Housing choice vouchers allow very low-income families to choose and
lease or purchase safe, decent, and affordable privately owned rental
housing. To apply for this program, interested owners or prospective
owners of rental property should contact the
local PHA to determine whether the PHA administers a project-based
voucher program and obtain information. Project-based voucher programs
are not funded specifically by HUD. A PHA may use up to 20% of the
funds in its housing choice voucher program for project-based
assistance.
Voucher Application
You apply for all voucher programs through your local HA or HUD Field
Office.
Below is a list of various types of vouchers. For more information
click on the voucher type you want to learn more about. All are
administered by your local HA. (See Appendix)
Tenant-based vouchers increase affordable housing choices for very
low-income families. Families with a tenant-based voucher choose and lease
safe, decent, and affordable privately owned rental housing. Under the
tenant-based housing choice voucher program, the PHA issues an eligible
family a voucher and the family selects a unit of its choice. If the
family moves out of the unit, the contract with the owner ends and the
family can move with continued assistance to another unit.
Under the project-based voucher program, a PHA enters into an
assistance contract with the owner for specified units and for a specified
term. The PHA refers families from its waiting list to the project owner
to fill vacancies. Because the assistance is tied to the unit, a family
who moves from the project-based unit does not have any right to continued
housing assistance. However, they may be eligible for a tenant-based
voucher when one becomes available.
Vouchers for People with Disabilities: Families that have a person
with disabilities and are income eligible may also participate in all
aspects of the housing choice voucher program (e.g. tenant-based
vouchers, project-based vouchers, and homeownership vouchers.)
The Homeownership Voucher Program is for people who wish to
purchase their first home but need help meeting the monthly mortgage and
other homeownership expenses, as described in Course 2, Funding for
First Time Homebuyers. Call your local Public Housing Authority
Conversion vouchers assist PHA residents and PHAs with relocation or
replacement housing needs if the public housing units are demolished or
subject to mandatory conversion. They also assist families living in
Section 8 projects for which the owner is opting out of the HAP
contract, HUD is taking enforcement action against owners with
project-based assistance, and projects for which the owner is prepaying
the mortgage.
Family unification vouchers are available for families for whom the
lack of adequate housing is a primary factor in the separation, or
threat of imminent separation, of children from their families or in the
prevention of reunifying the children with their families. Family
unification vouchers enable these families to lease or purchase decent,
safe, sanitary, and affordable housing in the private housing market.
*****
HUD Forms and Guidebooks
Find various HUD Section 8 Voucher Forms and Guidebooks in the
Resources Section of this Course.
Social Security including Social Security
Disability Insurance (SSDI)
Benefits: Applying for SSDI and other
Social Security Related Benefits
The Social Security Administration (SSA) offers a Benefit Eligibility
Screening Tool (BEST) which you can use to help identify the various
Social Security programs for which you may be eligible.
SSA pays
disability benefits under two programs: the Social Security Disability
Insurance (SSDI) program and the Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
program.
If you qualify, you can apply for Social Security
disability benefits online. No matter what kind of disability benefits
you are applying for, you must complete a Disability Report to provide
information about your medical, work, and education history. This
helps SSA decide whether qualify as disabled.
SSDI benefits are
paid to people who have earned enough Social Security credits and who
are unable to work because of a disability that has lasted or will
last for at least 12 months.
To qualify for the SSDI benefit
program, you must:
- have a disability that prevents you from performing significant work and is expected to last 12 months or end in death,
- be younger than 67 years of age, and
- have worked and paid federal social security taxes.
- SSDI Requirements: To apply for Social Security benefits on-line you have to:
- Be at least 61 years and 9 months old
- Plan to start your Social Security benefits within the next 4 months
- Have been, or do you expect to be unable to work for at least 12 months because of your illnesses, injuries or conditions (including mental or emotional conditions), or
- do you have a terminal illness?
- Live in the U.S. or one of its territories or commonwealth?
- Not have been convicted of a crime against the United States (i.e.: espionage, sabotage, treason, sedition, or subversive activities)
- People who are hearing impaired may call Social Security's toll-free TTY number, 800-325-0778
Applying for SSDI Online
You can apply for SSDI benefits online at
http://www.socialsecurity.gov/applyfordisability. Complete the on-line application form (following SSA’s instructions), sign and submit your
application. After your application is received SSA will let you know which
benefits you qualify for.
You can learn how the online disability report works at
https://s044a90.ssa.gov/apps6z/i3368PRO/msg023.jsp
Note: You cannot complete an application for Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
disability online.
Disability Interview
Review and collect the information shown in the Disability Starter Kit to
prepare for your disability interview or complete your online Disability Report
Form (Form SSA 3368), which asks for information about your conditions or
impairments that prevent you from working.
You can also view a helpful SSA Fact Sheet at
http://www.socialsecurity.gov/disability/Adult_StarterKit_Factsheet.pdf and
“Checklist” at
http://www.socialsecurity.gov/disability/Adult_StarterKit_Checklist.pdf in
the Disability Starter Kit to learn what information you will need to bring to
your disability interview and the kinds of questions you will be asked at the
interview.
Your interview can be held either at your local social security office or even
over the phone.
If you did not receive any benefits before you were arrested go to the link below to learn more about how you can apply.
http://www.bazelon.org/issues/criminalization/publications/arrested/apply.htm
