There are many shared experiences among the permanently disabled, including the difficulties associated with obtaining government benefits, both medical and financial.
This is but one example. Another would be the social changes facing disabled folks. It just isn’t the same when one’s focus is altered, or time is limited—-relationships change, preventing, say, visits to friends or travel to as many places.
Unfortunately, too often, this results in the development of depression. No matter how one slices it, any one condition which prevents the ability to work creates a conduit toward negative and disappointing feelings. It is important to remember that, in all liklihood, a permanently disabled person simply is not responsible for the disabling condition, and ought to do everything possible to internalize this. It is vital to overall health to not make matters worse by feeling guilt or assigning blame where it does not belong.
So, one plays the hand they are dealt.
Another shared experience is the accumulation and continuation of debt, at times from services or business arrangements made before becoming disabled. And the debt goes on—the bills need to be paid, but a permanently disabled person, almost by definition, will be in a position of having access to less money.
Fortunately, there are government programs (and some private organizations) which may absolve the permanently disabled from certain debts. A forgiveness of debt, if you will.
One specific example is the forgiveness and discharge of student loans.
The obligation to re-pay a student loan can be stressful, especially when knowing that one’s fixed income will always disallow payment of this debt.
As a general rule, a total permanent disability is an injury or illness which is expected to continue indefinately or result in death. In order to make things official, one must obtain a physician’s certificate attesting to the condition, and its result of permanent disability.
Once a person has the documentation, a conditional discharge can be granted for a period of three years from the time one is considered permanently disabled, then discharged permanently and expunged from financial records, without having a negative impact of one’s credit history, as compiled by the three large credit reporting agencies.
The following links will provide direct access to the Department of Education and the forms necessary to file for the discharge.
https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/repay-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/disability-discharge
http://studentaid.ed.gov/PORTALSWebApp/students/english/discharges.jsp
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