If you become disabled while working in Pennsylvania, it’s not as though you stop having bills you must pay. You’ll still have to make mortgage or rent payments. You’ll still require money for your utility bills, food budget, daycare for the kids, etc.

If you’re not working anymore because of an injury or illness, though, you’ll need to look elsewhere for money. That’s when you should look into Social Security Disability.

We’ll talk about that in the following article. We’ll cover how much you can expect from this program on average, and we’ll also go over how you can qualify if you’re unsure how it works.

How Much Money Can You Get Through SSDI in Pennsylvania?

You can expect about $1,300 per month through SSDI, on average. SSDI means Social Security Disability Insurance. It’s a program run by the federal government and not by individual states. You can find out more about it by visiting its website.

$1,300 per month is the mean average if you’re collecting SSDI money in Pennsylvania. You might be able to get less or more than that.

Some people qualify, but they get as little as $800 per month. They might also get as much as $1,800 per month.

Several variables are in play in these situations. You won’t know for sure how much you’ll get until you apply and furnish the program admins with all the information they need to decide what they’ll give you.

How Does the Program Work?

If you work for long enough, and you pay enough money into the program to qualify, you should be able to receive payments if you’re injured badly enough, or you become sick enough that you can no longer work at your old job. You can regard the program as insurance since that’s essentially how it operates.

While you’re working, you must pay into the SSDI program. That’s a deduction you might notice every time you look at your pay stub on payday.

You might grumble about losing that money every week or however often your company pays you, but if you severely injure yourself or get sick, you’ll feel glad that you did. This program exists to help people in your exact situation.

You should also understand that you can only qualify for the program if you can get a doctor to say that you’ve hurt yourself badly enough or you’re so sick that you’re probably not going to ever recover. You might get a bit better, but if you can’t ever go back to work again at your old job, that’s when you’re an ideal candidate for SSDI.

What About if You Might Get Better as Time Passes?

You might also have a situation where you’re temporarily disabled due to illness or injury. Maybe you’ve broken a bone, and you’re on crutches for a while. In time, your doctor feels that you can recover.

If so, the SSDI program probably isn’t your best option. You might look into workers’ compensation instead. If you injured yourself while on the job, you can get money from it that you can use to pay your bills until you’re back on your feet and you can return to work.

What About if You Apply and the SSDI Program Turns You Down?

It’s also possible that a Pennsylvania resident might reach out to the SSDI program thinking that they can get cash to help with rent, bills, and so forth. Maybe you feel sure you’re eligible, and there’s no reason to think the program will reject you.

They might tell you they won’t give you any money because of some technicality. If so, you’ll probably feel frustrated and upset. You might feel like yelling at the person who told you they’re not going to give you any of the money that you do desperately need.

Remember that the Social Security Administration is a national entity, and it has many departments and thousands of employees. It’s possible someone might make a mistake with your claim, and it’s probably not because they feel malicious toward you.

In these situations, it’s best to take a few calming breaths and then start looking for a lawyer. Many Pennsylvania-based attorneys and law offices help individuals trying to get benefits from the SSDI program.

Look around and try to find a law office that deals with these cases. With a resilient, capable lawyer on your side, you can probably find a way to get the cash you need.

Ulani Uriah

Umar Nisar was born and raised in the busy city of Abbottabad. As a journalist, Umar Nisar has contributed to many online publications including PAK Today and the Huffing Post. In regards to academics, Umar Nisar earned a degree in business from the Abbottabad UST, Havelian. Umar Nisar follows the money and covers all aspects of emerging tech here at The Hear Up.

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