The disabled population—especially those among the blind and visually impaired—exhibit some of the highest rates of unemployment ever recorded. Yet, despite this being the case, these members of society still must meet their financial obligations. Whether your homebound state is a temporary or permanent result of your disability, you can start with these four tips to cover your finances.
File for Disability
Filing for SSI or SSDI is one of the simplest ways to make an income at home–if you qualify. One of the best ways to proceed down this path is to hire a social security lawyer. Social Security was put in place to help those who are retired or otherwise unable to work. However, there are many nuances involved in the law, both in what constitutes as a supported disability and whether or not your disability is considered severe enough to prevent you from working. With an attorney in your corner, you will have the legal support you need to navigate these legal channels and determine your potential for government aid.
Investing
Since many disabled people cannot get on disability programs for various reasons, it may be possible to make additional money investing. If you can learn to pick winners in the stock market or learn to get good at the foreign exchange market, you may be able to turn a small bit of capital into a reasonable income. While this can be a risky endeavor, there are many people who have made a good living investing in the financial markets. While you can have money set aside to play the market for immediate income, you should also invest a fair amount into low-risk stocks that will grow in value over time. This will work to help create retirement savings for you just like a 401(K) would.
Work from Home
There are a variety of jobs that you can perform at home as your own employer. The type of work you would want to engage in, of course, depends upon the nature of your disability. However, this can serve as a great way to follow your passions. If you own your own home, you can host a daycare for pets, teach small art or music classes, offer pre-K services to your neighborhood kids, or create your own website to sell arts or self-made products online. While being home-bound limits your options for who you can work for, working for yourself can still bring in a decent amount of income when you have the time to invest.
Become a Freelance Writer
Whether by running a blog, guest posting, or writing copy remotely for clients, you can earn your income sitting in a comfortable chair, at home, with little more than a laptop and an internet connection. This being one of the least labor-intensive options, it is a great place for those with a variety of disabilities to earn income. The best way to get the most income out of freelance writing is to diversify your market. Don’t just run a blog or write copy, do it all. Having a large pool of clients and types of writing will give you more options in what work you accept while also ensuring that you have a more stable income regardless of the circumstances of a single writing option.
WARNING: She uses some bad language but provides good advice.
Although you will be working from home, it is important to realize that there are a lot of money-making opportunities available to someone in your situation. With the right home-based income opportunity, you can cover your bills and still have some on the side to save.
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