Are you one of the many West Virginia residents who are unable to work because of a serious injury or illness? You are not alone. No matter the reason for your situation, you likely need to learn about the options available to you for financial assistance. If you were injured on the job, workers’ compensation may come into play. But, if you have been disabled due to a medical condition not related to your job, for example, you may need other help.
Social Security offers two forms of assistance to disabled workers. One is Social Security Disability Insurance and the other is Supplemental Security Income. The former is a set of benefits earned based upon employment contributions, like any other form of insurance. The latter is a form of public assistance that requires no past employment but is rather granted based upon disabled status and financial need.
There can actually be situations where you may be eligible to receive both of these benefits at the same time. This is referred to as the receipt of concurrent benefits. SSI generally can start being received within a month of filing for benefits. SSDI benefits, however, may be subject to a five-month wait period. Once these benefits begin, the amount received from SSI may reduce to accommodate the new benefits. Eventually, health insurance coverage from Medicare may also be available to you.
This information is not intended to provide legal advice but general information about disability benefits available from Social Security for workers in West Virginia.
