"I'm Just Sitting Now. Wondering.": Surviving the Wait for Disability

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Health Economics
• Social Policy

Background:

• States foregoing Medicaid expansion limit access to healthcare for low-income populations.
• Disability benefits are a primary, yet often inaccessible, cash assistance for uninsured working poor Americans.
• Economic hardship and poor health intersect, creating complex challenges for disability benefit applicants.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the vulnerabilities of working poor individuals seeking disability benefits in South Carolina.
• To analyze the impact of the insurance gap on health and financial stability during disability determination waits.
• To highlight the risks faced by uninsured, low-income individuals in states without Medicaid expansion.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative exploration of the experiences of disability benefit seekers in South Carolina.
• Analysis of policy implications related to Medicaid expansion and social assistance programs.
• Review of existing literature on health disparities and disability claims processes.

Main Results:

• Impoverished individuals in South Carolina face prolonged and detrimental waits for disability determinations.
• The lack of health insurance and limited general assistance programs create significant risks during this waiting period.
• Compounding economic hardship and ill-health are common among these vulnerable populations.

Conclusions:

• Individuals seeking disability benefits in states that have not expanded Medicaid are uniquely vulnerable.
• The protracted disability determination process, coupled with lack of insurance, poses serious health and financial risks.
• Policy interventions are needed to address the 'insurance gap' and support vulnerable populations during disability application.