Quote:
Originally Posted by TCTC
My wife was badly injured in a car accident where an 18 wheeler ran a stop sign and ploughed into her. She was in a coma, came out with TBI (traumatic brain injury), cyclo-rotation of one of her eyes causing double vision to this day, plus several other things..
Let's say the accident happened 03/01/2012. She worked from the time she was 15 and became a stay-at-home mom back in 11/2005 at the age of 29.
We just applied 2 months ago because we were hoping she'd eventually get better, but she hasn't. We didn't want to unnecessarily take benefits if she was going to get better.
However, we were denied by social security because they said her accident would have had to occur by 12/31/2010 to be covered. Is there anything we can do?
We were waiting until our kids were both in school before she went back to work, but she's never going to be able to hold a job now.
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Here is my long shot suggestion that might not work even if she could do it.
A claims rep at your local office could run a program to figure out just how much she would have to earn at a job to get those precious credits she now badly needs and could figure out at what point in the future, she would have enough credits. There are employers that deliberately hire the handicapped, the developmentally disabled. Her condition is not from birth, but it does impact her ability to be gainfully employed similarly to a developmentally disabled adult. Places like Goodwill or another sheltered workshop. She wouldn't have to work full time to earn 4 credits in 2014; she would have to have $4800 in wages for 2014 to earn 4 credits which would be about 12-15 hours a week at $8 an hour. She might have to do this for a few years.
Another solution would be for her to find some simple self-employment business that would generate a profit of $4800. Be sure that it is a valid business.
Having enough credits at some point would mean that she could potentially qualify for SSDI and Medicare before age 65. The only other option is the SSI program, but that is a program that she can only qualify for if the family income remains low. It can stop or be reduced as you, her spouse, makes more money. It can also be stopped if she gets that possible settlement. It is designed to help the neediest of the disabled and provides enough money for a welfare lifestyle. That is a gift to some people, but not to those who have had a middle income life.