What to Do if You Become Disabled

• Contact your union steward or an officer to ensure that management adheres to compliance under such laws as the ADA, FMLA, FRA, etc. Find out if you qualify under your local union contract or employer-sponsored program to receive benefits such as: group long-term disability; group short-term disability; retirement disability; total and permanent disability group life insurance; and accidental death or dismemberment insurance.
• Touch base with your local Social Security office to find out specific programs and benefits that either provide some type of support for people with disabilities who work, or for those who are temporarily disabled and cannot work for some period of time. You may be eligible for Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Social Security Disability Insurance benefits (SSDI), Medicare, Medicaid and/or veterans' benefits. The Social Security Administration also maintains a toll-free number: (800) 772-1213.
• Utilize the Job Accommodation Network (JAN), an information and consulting service that provides individualized accommodation solutions to employers. JAN operates a toll-free number (800) 526-7234. A consultation is free. The JAN e-mail address is jan@jan.icdi.wvu.edu.
• Inquire about workers' compensation benefits if you are disabled due to an accident or occupational illness through your state office of workers' compensation.
• Contact the state vocational rehabilitation agency about other disability information. The Council of State Administrators for Vocational Rehabilitation can also provide information on state agencies. Assistance is also available through such non-profit organizations as Goodwill, the National Easter Seals Society and the United Cerebral Palsy Association.