piggy bank

Personal Finance

A study titled, "Disabled People's Cost of Living" indicated that living expenses for people with disabilities are higher in areas from food to medical care to utilities. Unfortunately, their disabilities add additional costs. In addition, adults with disabilities made almost $800 less each month than those without a disability. (Census report)  Having a finance plan and skills to manage money is essential. See Personal Finance Guide for People with Disabilities for more information about creating a budget, saving and setting financial goals.  

 

The Guide to Keeping Your Home through Debilitating Disease (Publication from the Mortgage Calculator)
Tips on keeping your home and avoiding foreclosure due to medical problems.

 

Being Disabled Hurts Your Credit: What to Know and Where to Find Help
"It is very common for people who are disabled to have low credit scores. Loss of income is the most common way that a disability effects your credit."  Find ideas here about what to do about your credit score if you are disabled

 

The Assistance Fund
This is an independent charitable patient assistance foundation that helps patients and famiies facing high medical out-of-pocket costs by provding financial assistance for copayments, coinsurance, deductibles and other health-related expenses.  

 

Calculators
Find calulators for budgets, savings, or owning a car or home. 

 

Cents and Sensibility: A Guide to Money Management for People with Disabilities from PA Assistive Technology Foundation in conjunction with Widener University
Discusses budgeting, saving, banking, borrowing and assistive technology. 

 

My Money.Gov
Learn about borrowing, earning, saving and investing, spending and protecting your money.  Take the quizzes to see what you've learned. 

 

Getting Out of Debt
Learn strategies for getting out of debt.

 

Healthwell Foundation
This non-profit is dedicated to improving access to care if you are underinsured and have a chronic or life-altering disease.  They assist with copays, premiums, deductibles and out-of-pocket expenses.  

 

Personal Finance Skills Lesson Plans approved by the Council for Exceptional Children
10 lessons covering making decisions, budgeting, shopping, living on your own, banking, credit, etc.

 

Bill Assistance Programs by State
If you need help with food, utility bills, dental care, medical care, keeping cool, credit counseling, legal services, housing, child care, house weatherization and more, this site identifies the services available by state. 

 

Retail Savings Guide for Veterans
This site shows 3 clearinghouses that offer discounts to veterans. The clearinghouses are either free or require a paid membership. Examples of discounts include those for travel, autos, dining, electronics and home and garden
.

 

Retail Savings Guide for People with Disabilities
Here you will find research on special offers and discounts for people with disabilities. 

 

Senior's Guide to Online Safety
While the topic is devoted to seniors, it offers great advice for all. Topics include passwords, privacy settings, spam, scams, meeting new friends or romantic partners, social networking and sharing opinions, online shopping and banking, identity theft, wireless network security and more.

 

Social Security Disability Benefits Guide
A guide to understanding how social security disability works and how to calculate your benefits.

 

Complete Guide to Disabililty Claims, Insurance and Benefits
Please note, we are not in the business of promoting any legal entity. However, since this site has such good, basic and clearly written information on short-term and long-term disability insurance, SSI, SSDI and Veterans' Disability Compensation, I am compelled to include it.

 

Students and Financial Literacy
This website provides considerations all students should make before taking on student debt.  It covers basic info on the FAFSA, scholarship information, student loans, considering the costs of  attendance at different colleges, budgeting, credit cards, and the value of internships. 

 

Aid and Attendance for Veterans
This Improved Pension is the 3rd tier of the Veteran's Administration program. The other two are Basic and Homebound. This benefit allows veterans and spouses of veterans who require the regular attendance of another person to assist in bathing, eating, dressisng, undressing, medication dosing or using the restroom to receive additional monetary benefits. It also includes those who are blind or a pateint in a nursing home because of mental or physical incapacity. Assisted living facility care also qualifies.  See this site for more information.

 

Military Discounts Finder
Scan the list of stores and companies that provide active duty military and veteran discounts.  You can also search for a specific store and find the details of what is offered.