What can I spend my SSDI payments on?

Getting approval for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) can be a sigh of relief. That’s because completing the paperwork and evaluations can take a long time. However, now that you’ll be receiving payments, it’s crucial to use this money wisely.

Do I have control over how I use this money?

Once your checks kick in, there are no restrictions on what you can do with them. However, you’ll want to make sure your mortgage and bills get covered before you spend on entertainment and luxury goods. That’s especially true if your disability payments are your family’s primary source of income. But if your spouse makes enough to take care of regular expenses, you may have some leeway.

What happens if I’m not responsible with it?

If, for whatever reason, the Social Security Administration (SSA) decides you’re not using your payments appropriately, they may assign an SSDI Representative Payee to manage your benefits. However, for this to work, the representative must:

• Handle your money differently from how you handled it.
• Use your benefits to take care of necessary living expenses.
• Provided the SSA with a detailed report of how they spent your benefits.

The representative may allow you to use leftover funds on non-essential items and entertainment. Otherwise, the representative may put the extra money into a savings account. On the other hand, if the representative misuses your disability money, you should report them immediately.

These benefits can help families in the long run

If you received approval for SSDI benefits, your physical or mental condition likely prevents you from keeping a job and living a healthy life. But still, it’s important to use these benefits responsibly. While you may not have a job, you can at least have an income to take care of your family and any emergencies that arise.