Whether you have a family or just yourself to support, you know how expensive life can be. After all, regardless of your employment status, you have bills to pay. If you can no longer work due to an illness or injury, you may worry about making ends meet.
Fortunately, there are some government programs to help you pay some of your expenses. Two popular options are unemployment benefits and Social Security Disability Insurance benefits. Because these programs serve different populations, you must be careful about applying for both at the same time.
Unemployment benefits
Even though the federal government often underwrites or provides funding for unemployment benefits, states maintain the program. To qualify, you must prove you are ready, able and willing to assume full-time employment. This presents a problem for those who apply for SSDI benefits. Because SSDI benefits are for individuals who cannot work, claiming to be able to work may harm SSDI eligibility.
SSDI benefits
For some applicants, receiving SSDI benefits is a simple and straightforward process. That is not the case, though, with many others. Instead, many applicants jump through dozens of legal hoops to prove their eligibility. Regardless of your medical condition, you do not want to do anything to weaken your chances of receiving SSDI benefits. Telling a state agency that you can work may jeopardize your SSDI eligibility.
Fraud
When it comes to both SSDI and unemployment benefits, fraud is a serious matter. While you may technically be able to apply for both programs, misstating your situation on either application could have serious consequences. Put simply, telling the state you are able to work while applying for disability benefits may put you in an awkward position. As such, you should never communicate inaccurate or untruthful information to any government agency.
Providing for yourself and your family after losing your job, sustaining a serious injury or developing a medical condition can be challenging. Fortunately, you may be eligible to receive governmental assistance. When applying for either unemployment benefits or SSDI benefits, though, you must be careful not to make your situation worse.