Mesothelioma financial assistance may become necessary for you. You may need mesothelioma financial assistance to help you cover the costs of your living expenses and co-pays for treatments and medication as your mesothelioma progresses.
If your financial needs are critical, your first move should be to confide in your attorney about this. Do not hesitate out of feeling ashamed. Being exposed to asbestos and developing mesothelioma is not your fault. Your attorney may be able to expedite settlements, push some bankruptcy trust claims through under exigent health and financial needs provisions of the bankruptcy trust plans, or find other ways to help you obtain funds.
Why Seek Mesothelioma Financial Assistance from Uncle Sam
Mesothelioma financial assistance may be available to you from federal government sources. Do not waste any of your precious time and energy feeling bad about turning to the federal government for help. The U.S. government has known for many decades about the lethal effects of asbestos. Yet time and time again, political inertia has blocked efforts to ban asbestos as many other countries have done. Our elected officials continue to cave into the asbestos industry and allow asbestos-containing products to be imported from places like China. Just recently asbestos was found to be an ingredient in children’s toys sold at major chains in the US. So US government inaction has helped make it possible that you were exposed to asbestos and mesothelioma. If you need mesothelioma financial assistance and Uncle Sam is a way to get it, go for it.
Best Bets for Federal Financial Aid for Mesothelioma
Several federal and federal-assisted state agencies may be able to provide you with mesothelioma financial aid. In federal government speak the type of financial assistance is called benefits or entitlements. These agencies and their programs have been set up to help low-income households, the elderly, and the disabled. Each entitlement program has eligibility requirements. You will need to submit proof of your mesothelioma diagnosis, medical expenses and income – typically your most recent tax return – to determine whether you meet the requirements. Do not delay applying for benefits because you do not have all the documents. Staff at the agencies can help you get copies. There are also programs administered through state governments that can help with health care related needs.
Government assistance programs include:
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
Programs you may qualify for include temporary financial assistance for needy families and food stamps.
Check online or in a phonebook for your local office. Or call 1-877-696-6775.
Social Security Administration
You may qualify for mesothelioma financial aid through disability benefits administered by Social Security. To be eligible, you cannot be retired and collecting Social Security retirement benefits. You have to have been working but are now unable to work because of your illness.
You will be asked for documents to show that you are eligible. These include:
- Birth certificate
- Proof of US citizenship or lawful alien status if you were not born in the United States
- S. military discharge paper(s) if you had military service before 1968
- W-2 forms(s) and/or self-employment tax returns for last year;
- Medical evidence of your illness such as doctors’ reports, and recent test results
- Award letters, pay stubs, settlement agreements or other proof of any temporary or permanent workers’ compensation-type benefits you receive
Call 1-800-772-1213 for help finding your local Social Security office.
Veterans Administration
If you, like many mesothelioma patients, need mesothelioma financial assistance because you were exposed to asbestos while serving in the military, the Veterans Administration (VA) may be able to help you. The VA’s Disability Compensation program is a tax free financial benefit paid to veterans with disabilities resulting from of a disease or injury due to active military service. Compensation may also be paid for post-service presumed to be related to circumstances of military service, even though they may arise after service. That would include mesothelioma.
The VA also has a Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) program. SMC provides an additional tax-free benefit that can be paid to veterans. It offers a higher rate of compensation due to special circumstances such as the need for aid and attendance by another person.
1 -800 – 827 – 1000 is the toll-free number to call about Disability Compensation.
Explore All Types of Federal Mesothelioma Financial Assistance
Take a couple of hours to focus on exploring all the types of federal mesothelioma financial assistance mentioned. If you get frustrated dealing with government agencies, have someone help you. You can also try calling your local Congressperson’s office for help dealing with the federal bureaucracy. Do not hesitate to seek the help you need. These programs have been created to use and may help money you need now in your pocket.