Financial Assistance While Waiting on Disability

The Social Security Administration (SSA) can take several months, even a year or more, to approve an application for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI). And if your application is denied, it can easily take a couple of years to work your way through the appeals process.

Once you're finally approved, you'll get Social Security back pay (a large lump sum payment to cover those months or years of waiting), but you'll have no disability income in the meantime. So, how do you survive while waiting for your SSDI or SSI disability to be approved? Can you get any cash assistance while waiting for disability to help you get by?

How Do You Survive While Waiting for Disability Approval?

There are a few sources of assistance that can help while you wait for Social Security to approve your disability benefits. The programs vary by state and are usually based on need (meaning your other income or assets can affect your ability to get financial help).

Social Security offers emergency disability funding, but only to SSI applicants in the most dire financial situations. The SSA can also coordinate with your state to provide "interim publish assistance" (more on this below).

Otherwise, there's no other cash assistance program specifically designed to help while you're waiting for Social Security to approve your disability benefits. Most disability applicants have to piece together the assistance they need. Here are some resources that might help you with income and other assistance while you're waiting for disability.

Start With Your Department of Social Services

If you haven't reached out to your local Department of Social Services (DSS), you should consider doing so. You might feel uncomfortable about the prospect of asking for assistance, but you shouldn't. Your focus needs to be on what to do for income while you're waiting for your disability benefits to be approved so that you don't go broke.

Social Workers. When you visit DSS, ask if you can speak with an "adult services social worker." (Every social services agency is different, but many have departments that specialize in helping adults in need.) Adult services social workers can sometimes refer you to privately run assistance programs and charitable organizations that help people who need money or other assistance while waiting for disability benefits.

Short-term disability. If you live in one of the five states that provide (or require employers to provide) short-term disability benefits (also called temporary disability insurance), your local DSS office can help you with the application for short-term benefits. Currently, state-mandated short-term disability is only available in:

• California
• Hawaii
• New Jersey
• New York, and
• Rhode Island.

Each state program operates differently, but generally, these programs can replace some of your income while you're waiting for Social Security disability.

Public Assistance: Get Financial Help While Waiting for Disability

Previously known as "welfare," public assistance is a state-run program that pays a limited amount of benefits (cash) to people in need who don't have children. The amount of the benefit and how long it can be paid varies widely by state and even county. In some states, it's called General Assistance or General Relief.

If you've filed for SSI benefits, you might be able to get cash assistance while waiting for SSI through the Interim Assistance Reimbursement (IAR) program. (IAR isn't available if you've only applied for SSDI.) The IAR program is essentially a short-term loan that you'll be expected to repay from your SSI back pay, if you're approved.

Once your disability benefits are approved, Social Security will repay the IAR and then send you any remaining back pay you're owed. To qualify, your state agency must believe you're likely to get SSI benefits, because if Social Security denies your SSI disability claim, you don't have to pay the loan back.

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)

The TANF program (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) is federally funded through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). TANF provides cash assistance to low-income families with children for a limited period of time. You can use the cash to pay for your living expenses.

Although it's federally funded, each state runs its own TANF program, and as a result, there are differences between the states regarding:

• who can qualify for cash assistance
• how much assistance you can get, and
• how long you can receive TANF.

You can learn more about TANF, including how to get assistance in your state, by using HHS's interactive map.

Get Food Assistance Through SNAP

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly called food stamps, is a nutrition assistance program administered by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). SNAP benefits can help you survive while you're waiting for disability approval by helping you put food on your table.

To qualify for SNAP, you'll need to meet certain income and asset limits. But those vary somewhat from state to state. For instance, some states won't count your car as an asset. And some states allow you to deduct child support payments from your total income, while others don't.

You should qualify for SNAP benefits if you're financially eligible for SSI or TANF benefits, because the income and resource limits are similar. You'll also likely qualify for this food assistance program if you have little to no income while you're waiting for SSDI disability benefits to be approved. Read about getting food stamps while waiting for SSDI.

You can get more information and apply for SNAP benefits at your local SNAP office. You can also apply for SNAP benefits at most Social Security offices.

Get Help Paying Medical Bills

If you're no longer working because of a disability, you might not have access to health insurance. You might be able to get help covering medical costs through the Medicaid program, even after you start receiving disability benefits.

Medicaid provides health insurance (and sometimes dental coverage) to individuals with low incomes. There are two ways to apply for Medicaid. You can:

• contact your state Medicaid agency, or
• fill out an application at healthcare.gov.

Each state runs its own Medicaid program, so eligibility will vary depending on where you live. But if you qualify for SSI, TANF, or SNAP, you should qualify for Medicaid too.

Get Energy Assistance While Waiting for Disability

Another public assistance program administered by HHS that you might benefit from is the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). This program is available to low-income households in all U.S. states and territories (as well as the District of Columbia).

LIHEAP helps low-income households with heating and cooling costs in several ways, including:

• bill payment assistance
• energy crisis assistance
• weatherization programs, and
• energy-related home repairs.

If you qualify (or a member of your family qualifies) for SNAP, TANF, or SSI benefits, you might automatically be eligible for help from LIHEAP. HHS has an interactive map you can use to find the LIHEAP program in your area.

Get Financial Assistance From Charities

While waiting for disability, it's sometimes possible to get assistance (money) from private charitable organizations. Some organizations will assist with:

• rent
• utilities
• phone services
• transportation, and
• other financial needs.

Generally, to get financial assistance from charitable organizations while waiting for your disability to start, you must show that you have a serious need. And sometimes you can only get one-time help, but it's worth checking into. Call 211 to find non-profit organizations that offer help in your area.

Make Use of the Department of Vocational Rehabilitation

You should consider contacting the Department of Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) in your state. If you qualify, VR offers a variety of assistance programs.

VR assistance can include helping you get examined by a physician to determine the extent of your limitations. The exam report could prove very useful in making your case for disability. And "voc rehab" counselors are generally willing to provide such information when asked by either the Social Security disability examiner or your disability attorney (or non-attorney representative).

You can find the contact information for your state's Department of Vocational Rehabilitation in our state disability resource lists.

Get Help Paying Your Rent

If you're struggling to get by while you wait for disability benefits, you might be able to get help paying your rent. Many states offer emergency housing aid, and some nonprofits provide short-term grants or interest-free loans to help cover rent.

Start by checking whether you qualify for state or local rental assistance programs. You can also contact your local public housing agency to see if there's a temporary subsidy or voucher program available.

Another option is to apply for the federal Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program, which can help cover part of your rent if you meet the income and eligibility requirements. While you might face a long waitlist, some public housing authorities prioritize people with disabilities or those with dire needs.

Learn more about getting help with rent and utility costs while you wait for Social Security to make a decision on your claim.

Special Financial Assistance for Home Owners

If you own your home and you've built up some equity, you might consider using some of that equity to make ends meet while you're waiting for Social Security to approve your disability benefits. A home equity line of credit (HELOC) allows you to tap into your home's equity for a specified borrowing period (usually about ten years).

But using a HELOC as income while you're waiting for disability can be risky, because you might not be able to repay the equity you borrow if Social Security doesn't approve your disability application. If you can't repay the loan, you could lose your house.

If you're a homeowner, but you don't have enough equity or aren't comfortable using a HELOC, you could get some relief by asking your mortgage lender for a loan forbearance. Forbearance would allow you to reduce or suspend your monthly mortgage payments while you wait for disability benefits. But note that your loan would likely continue to accrue interest during the forbearance period, and that could significantly raise your mortgage payments down the road.

Learn about loan forbearance and other assistance programs available to homeowners with FHA loans, as well as getting help with housing costs while you wait for your disability benefits.

Generate More Cash Without Killing Your Disability Application

While you won't qualify for SSDI or SSI disability if you can still do full-time work, it's possible to bring in a little extra money without putting your application at risk.

If you're able, you might take on a small amount of part-time or gig work. Social Security allows you to earn some income—as long as you don't earn more than the substantial gainful activity (SGA) limit. In 2025, that's $1,620 per month for most SSDI and SSI disability applicants.

If you have a 401(k) or other retirement account, consider borrowing against it to help cover expenses until your disability is approved. Just make sure you understand the repayment rules and any tax consequences before you withdraw funds. If you're approved for disability benefits, you'll fit under the disability exception to the penalty for withdrawing retirement money early.

Help from family or friends can also make a difference—but there are rules to keep in mind if you're applying for SSI. Free rent, help with utility bills, or cash gifts can count as "in-kind income" and affect your eligibility. But getting a loan to cover your living expenses doesn't count against you, as long as it's a real loan you're expected to pay back.

Get Your Financial House in Order as Soon as Possible

While you wait for a disability decision, it's important to stretch your money and make your resources last. Start by creating a realistic budget that covers your essential expenses—like housing, utilities, and groceries—and commit to sticking to it.

Look for ways to cut costs, such as reducing subscription services or preparing meals at home instead of eating out. Even small savings can add up and help you get through a long wait for benefits.

If you have high-interest debt, like credit cards, focus on paying it down as much as possible. You might also contact your creditors to see if they'll work with you by:

• lowering your interest rate
• reducing your minimum payment, or
• allowing you to pause payments temporarily.