Finding Meaningful Work for People with Disability Benefits
If you are an adult who has recently started receiving disability benefits, you may find yourself in the unenviable position of having very little money with which to meet your monthly expenses. The relatively low monthly amount of social security disability income benefits, which averages about $1,100 monthly for most recipients, combined with the increasingly high cost of living makes an already challenging situation even more so. Individuals who have acquired a disability later in life may believe that because they are no longer able to work at a traditional, full-time job that there are no avenues for them earn money with which to supplement their benefits.
Work-From-Home Opportunities
However, there are many alternative opportunities for people to earn an income that falls within the SSDI income guidelines and that can supplement their monthly benefit and improve their overall quality of life. One of the most popular types of work for people with both physical and mental disabilities are work-at-home jobs. Although work-at-home employment opportunities receive a lot of negative media attention, there are, in fact, many different types of legitimate positions available.
Employers appreciate being able recruit and hire work-at-home professionals because they save the company money, yet provide them a diverse and qualified team. Medical billing and coding, customer service, medical transcription, virtual assistants, and technical support are just a few types of the wealth of at-home jobs available. These jobs are most suited for people who know that they can be available to work on a consistent, fairly routine schedule, even if it is just for a couple of hours a day.
Flexible Positions
Not everyone who has a disabling condition can be certain that they will be available during set hours. For those who may have that limitation, freelance opportunities could be an ideal match. Writing, photography, or any special interest or ability can potentially be turned into a revenue source. There is a high demand for writers and photographers who can produce content for the Internet. The beauty of freelancing is that it does not require set hours or that a specified amount of work be completed within a given time frame. Freelancers can work when they are able and take a break from working when they are not without limiting access to future opportunities.
Training and Skills
While most work-at-home positions require a computer, and often a telephone, they are readily available to people from all types of backgrounds and skill levels. Jobs in medical coding and transcription are likely to require training or certification, but many jobs are available that require only everyday skills.Training for medical coding and billing jobs can usually be completed from home, also through a distance-learning program, which makes acquiring needed job skills manageable for many people.
When people experience a disabling condition, it may initially leave them feeling as if their self-worth has somehow been diminished and that their enjoyment in life will be lessened. Losing the ability to do meaningful work and participate in their communities can contribute to those feelings. Finding employment opportunities that are suited to their skills can mediate these negative feelings while improving their financial security. For more information about social security, contact a social security law firm such as Ransom, Gilbertson, Martin & Ratliff, L.L.P.