Financing for Students with Disabilities (USA)

Lara, this only applies to the US, but each state has an Office or Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services.  In my state it is 80% federally funded and 20% state funded.  It's sole purpose is to assist PWD's in obtaining, maintaining, or advancing in employment.  All individuals with a SCI who have SSI or SSD benefits are automatically medically and financially eligible.  VR has the potential to help pay for law school, med school, Ph.D, MA, BA, or any other program that is intended to lead to employment.

If my guess is correct, most younger readers here have already applied for services and had a negative experience.  Long story short, the best strategy for someone truly interested in working is to plan backwards.  Develop your vocational goal and determine all of the intermediate steps necessary for getting there, including where you may potentially acquire employment.  Secondly, select an educational goal that will provide you with a skill for which an employer is willing to pay you.  The more research you do, the better the chance your plan will be approved.  Thirdly, think big.  If your plan is to become a psychologist, then develop a plan that includes a Ph.D.  Don't submit a plan for a BA in psychology.  That will rarely get you a decent job.

Don't forget the maintaining or advancing in employment part.  This is often overlooked but, in truth, these are the easiest plans for counselors to approve because the employed statistic is already guaranteed.  Don't give up if you have already been denied services or have become discouraged and removed yourself from the process.  Follow this advice and keep searching for that counselor who will work with you.  A well-paying job will make all the difference to your SCI-related early retirement.

Older individuals (40+) may find the best option is to acquire PT employment that allows you to keep your entire Social Security check.  If it is still in print, get the Social Security "Red Book" for more specific information.

I am bumping this up because employment, with regular retirement, can make such a huge difference in our lives.  I took my own advice outlined above.  I was blessed to be able to work long enough to earn a regular, not disability pension.  For us, Social Security Disability (SSD)  will be diminished by any other disability income.  During my working career, I was very ill for over a year.  I was convinced I would have to take disability retirement.  However, a wise person in HR advised me to stick it out if I could, so that I would earn a regular pension.  By doing this I would get my full pension, and I would not suffer any offset from SSD.  I recovered, took her advice, and put in enough time to earn a regular pension.  The result was literally thousands of additional dollars for my retirement.  Let's face it, employment during retirement for someone with SCI is not advisable, and not even possible for 99% of us.  Learn all  you can regarding the conditions of your employment and retirement, and begin planning retirement the day you start working.  The top of the bell curve comes much more quickly for us.  Good luck.

Great info Lαrα & hobo! It'd be really beneficial to all American members for sure!