Financial Matters
Guides were created by LHON volunteers to provide general information and resources for the LHON community in the U.S. from the perspective of finances. The first is generic for those states that do not have a state-specific guide; the others are state-specific.
Once vision in both eyes is 20/200 or worse, some in the U.S. choose to apply for Social Security benefits. There are two forms of Social Security benefits that may be applicable. SSI benefits depend upon income and assets, while SSDI benefits depend upon work history and current monthly income. Visit the following site for more information about how Social Security works for those who are legally blind.
This Disability Program Differences for Individuals Who are Blind document explains the differences between standard SSDI and SSDI for those who are legally blind.
After receiving Social Security benefits for 24 consecutive months due to a disability, the recipient qualifies for Medicare.
Setting up an appointment as soon as the individual is legally blind (20/200 or worse in both eyes) protects benefits from the time the appointment is made. By preparing information in advance, the process will go more quickly. Not all who apply will qualify for benefits, though usually legal blindness helps with the qualification process. You can apply by setting up an appointment in person or via the telephone, or you can begin the application process on-line.
Unaffected carriers should give strong consideration to Long Term Disability Insurance (LTD). Many employers offer no- or low-cost long term disability insurance as part of their benefits package. If a company doesn’t offer LTD insurance or if an employee wants additional coverage, he or she has the option to explore purchasing an individual LTD plan.
Some employers, if they do not provide LTD insurance, will develop a relationship with an LTD insurance company to offer an employee discount for their staff who choose to purchase an LTD policy. Since it is expensive for an individual to purchase, LTD insurance is often available through an employee’s professional associations at a discounted rate. LTD insurance provided by an employer may be inadequate to meet your needs. In this case, you may want to consider purchasing supplemental LTD insurance.
