How to Handle and What to Expect with Social Security Disability

If you’ve had an accident that leads to disability and can no longer work, applying for disability may be something you’re considering. Social security disability is granted to people of all ages. 

Much of it depends on what type of disability they have, how this affects their ability to work, and what their situation is. The process is sometimes difficult to understand. If you depend on social security as soon as you apply for it, you’re in for a long wait. 

Social security disability is granted after the sixth month of disability, so there is a minimum wait to have your claim processed. If you believe this is the correct option for your situation, here is what to be aware of, and how to proceed in filing your claim.

Only Certain Types of Disability Is Eligible

Before you apply, be aware of what disability is accepted. You won’t’ qualify for disability if you have:

• Short term disability
• Partial disability
• You must be younger than retirement age

Although you’re unable to work, many individuals report their disability taking a lot of time to go through. Some only wait six months, while others wait years. 



Many seek an attorney to help them, because getting disability granted is not easy, even in cases where it is legitimately needed, and the individual doesn’t have other options for income. 

If you have Social Security disability issues, seek the help of an attorney who is knowledgeable with disability, and will help you win your claim.

What Information You Will Need

If you seek the services of a professional, help them as much as possible to prepare for the case. When going before applying, disability requires consideration of various factors. Give them all the information they need. This will include facts such as:

• Information from your doctors about your disability
• How your disability is preventing you from working
• How long you’ve had the disability for
• If your disability will last for a long time

You need to have worked a minimum number of years depending on your age. Individuals who are 34 must have worked at least three years in their life. If you are a certain age and haven’t worked the years required, you don’t qualify for disability. 

You must show that you cannot do the same type of work you were previously engaged in. If you cleaned houses for a living and are now disabled from the neck down, there is a high likelihood that your attorney has a successful case for you. 

If your problem is minor and you can still work, but suffer pain as you do so, building you case becomes increasingly difficult. Make sure you are transparent and have documentation that makes your case stronger.

Cut Back on Your Lifestyle to Prepare for Disability

Being disabled and unable to work means you’ll need to cut back as much as possible. Even if you have a spouse or another party who is helping you provide for yourself, cutting back and saving money benefits you in the long run. 

Consider getting rid of items you no longer need by having a garage sale. Cut back on dining out, buying expensive clothes, and having luxuries that are nice, but not needed, such as cable TV. 

 If you have difficulty in buying food, heating your home, or other matters, seek government aid, at least until your disability comes in. While this creates some difficulty and additional work as you apply for various assistance programs, it keeps your head above water in the meantime.

Focus on What Is Important

While you are applying and waiting for a verdict on disability, it’s easy to become discouraged and fall victim to depression. Make time to visit with family, spend time with friends, and even go to church or a house of worship. 

Feel uplifted by the positive feelings of others, and learn to appreciate yourself for the valuable and wonderful person you are. Many folks become downtrodden because they feel worthless if they are not working. 

Try to do little activities that keep your mind busy, but don’t interfere with your health. Reading, gardening, and even some volunteering that works for your situation can be a bonus to your life.

When you apply for disability, keep in mind the guidelines that are required by the federal government. Work with your attorney and give them as much documentation as they need to make your case stronger. 

Although getting disability takes time, once you have it, it will provide much-needed financial relief to your family.

Freedom Debt Relief Reviews Tips to Live Better on a Budget

If you're currently trying to lower your household spending, you're not certainly not alone- Freedom Debt Relief Reviews has found that the majority of homes in America have less than $500 in savings. 

The best way to begin to work your way towards a better financial future is to start living on a budget. However, many people believe that living on a budget means they'll have to significantly decrease their quality of life. 

Freedom Debt Relief Reviews knows that it's easy to set up a budget and stick to it while also making time and money for the fun in life. Here are some of our best tips to enjoy life while also finding opportunities to save!

Create a budget- and stick to it

The first step to saving money is to figure out how much you're spending and nail down areas in which you can afford to cut back without too much of a sacrifice. When you "wing it" every month without a solid budget, it's easy to let money slip through the cracks that you might not even know about- after all, small purchases a few times a week will quickly add up to big bucks that you could have put in the bank. 



Sit down with your spouse and collect all of your bank statements and pay stubs, and open up your checking account to track exactly where your money is going. Then, identify areas in which you can afford to cut back without too much of a sacrifice- for example, if you spend on fast food twice a week, cooking at home just once a week can save you up to $20 a week if you're feeding a family of four.

Control your grocery bill

Freedom Debt Relief Reviews has found that one of the easiest ways to save money without cutting your lifestyle is to plan ahead when it comes to your grocery bill. Writing a grocery list before you head out to do your shopping can reduce the possibility that you indulge in expensive impulsive purchases, which will save you money in the long run. 

Research also suggests that shoppers have a tendency to spend more when they hit the shops on an empty stomach-so be sure to have lunch before you fill up your shopping cart. To save even more, you can even shop wholesale for nonperishable items like canned foods and sauces, paper products, and cleaning supplies. 

All of these steps are ways that you can reduce your grocery bill's strain on your budget without reducing your quality of life.

Budget for your travel

Freedom Debt Relief Reviews has found that many consumers believe that a vacation is an automatic budget buster. However, with a bit of planning, you can take the time off that you want without completely throwing you off track towards your financial goals. 

Take time to research destinations that offer a favorable exchange rate, and if you're staying domestic for your vacation, consider going in the off-season when prices are lower. 

If you find that you won't be able to stretch your dollars far enough to afford the vacation that you want, planning a "stay-cation" within your own town can give you a completely new lease on your area, and can be just as fun as a traditional vacation!

The secret to saving when you're living on a budget? Planning ahead! Freedom Debt Relief Reviews has found that if you don't want to make drastic cuts to your lifestyle, taking the time to plan what you're going to purchase ahead of time is necessary to avoid the impulse purchases that can be a big drain on your budget. It's possible for anyone to start on the path towards a healthier financial future with a little bit of work!

Investing in Bitcoin: Is there still time or is it already too late?

It would not be Bitcoin without all the drama and unprecedented growth in particular. The question is whether this seemingly infinite growth could last forever. Probably not, although being a deflationary currency, there is some potential for it. 

In reality, the thing that sets the price of Bitcoin more than any technical factor is the demand. Neither forks nor fees matter. What does matter is the large number of people interested in Bitcoin, which can be illustrated by the daily Coinbase user growth of about 100 000 new accounts. Therefore, it is no wonder that Bitcoin’s value reaches $7000.

The rapid growth of Bitcoin

Many people think that the recent growth rate is at its peak. However, this perception is false. Bitcoin experienced the steepest increase in value in 2011 after being introduced to crypto exchanges. 

In a few months, its price skyrocketed 350 times (from $0,10 to $35) and later fell to $2. The second bubble swelled in 2013 when Bitcoin’s value soared 100 times (from $11 to $1100). The next year its price decreased by 80% to roughly $200.




And we are getting to the year of 2017. At the beginning of the year, the exchange rate fluctuated around $1000. Over the course of the year, it has risen “only” about ten times. Although the current situation brings about media and public attention, the past growth of Bitcoin was significantly steeper.

Traditional investment using Bitcoin exchange

The concept of investing in Bitcoin is simple. You make the purchase, wait until its value rises and finally sell the coins for profit. Bitcoins and other cryptocurrencies can be bought through bitcoinmats or Bitcoin exchanges. 

Coinmate is a popular trading platform in the many European countries that allows its users to buy and sell Bitcoins using Pound, dollar or euro. One of the foreign exchanges worth mentioning is Coinbase where you can get an additional $10 when your investment in Bitcoin, Ethereum or Litecoin exceeds $100.

Bitcoin keeps surpassing its own records. Though it is true that a growth has been repeatedly accompanied by a steep decline, Bitcoin has always found its way back and reached its all-time high. 

Accordingly, anyone in a long-term possession of Bitcoin has profited from this development. However, in times of decreasing value, many people panic and start selling their Bitcoins which they later regret.

Main disadvantages of a long-term investment

There are a few disadvantages of Bitcoin purchase and long-term possession. Firstly, you have to endure and get through the times when Bitcoin value drops. Secondly, you have to make sure your digital coins are safely stored to minimize the risk of cyber-theft. 

However, if you decide to trade cryptocurrencies using CFD, you do not have to be worried about any of that. Another great thing about CFD is that it allows you to make money even when the Bitcoin price is going down.

CFD is a trading tool offering the possibility to profit from cryptocurrencies without really buying them. CFD can be traded using digital platforms of CFD brokers. The licensed broker Plus500 enables you to trade ten different cryptocurrencies including Bitcoin. 

It supports the 21 languages and has very tight spreads. Furthermore, the broker provides a free demo account that you can access and try a risk-free trading.

Tight Wallets: 5 Unconventional Ways to Ease Your Financial Burdens

Living on a tight budget can be a stressful experience. After all, you may regularly worry about not having enough money to pay your bills. You may also not be saving as much money as you would like to be saving, or you may not be saving any money at all. 

In this type of situation, you may need to take drastic steps to get your finances back on track, and these are a few of the options that can produce great results.

Move in with Your Parents

It can seem embarrassing to move back in with your parents as a grown adult, but you should think about the big picture. When you live with your parents for even a few short months or possibly a year, you can save a tremendous amount of money on rent, utilities and more. 

This is money that could be used to pay down credit card debt, to save for a new home and more. However, if moving in with your parents is not an option, you can look into moving in with your siblings or a close friend if needed. 

Of course, if none of that works, maybe you downsize to smaller house or apartment.

Get a Title Loan

Another idea is to use a title loan, such as from American Cash Advance and Title Loan or another company. A title loan uses your vehicle’s equity as collateral. 

This is usually a very short-term loan, and the money could be used to help you get caught on your bills and to avoid having to pay late payments.

Tear up Your Credit Cards

If your financial challenges are caused by high credit card balances, you need to take serious action to prevent further charges from being made. 

Rather than simply pull your credit cards out of your wallet and store them in a known location, tear them up entirely. 

Some people may keep one credit card, but a better idea may be to get right of them altogether. When you have no physical possession of your credit cards, it becomes much more difficult to use them.

Cancel All Non-Essential Services

Between your gym membership, cell phone service, cable TV service and more, you may pay a small fortune on non-essential services each month. 

Carefully analyze your budget, and note all of the non-essential expenses that you can eliminate. In some cases, you may only have to scale back in this way for a few months to get back on track. 

While this may be hard, it is not as hard as being flat out broke. Once you get your finances back on track and more stable, then you can look at bringing some of these things back as you can afford them.

Think about Sharing

You may have two or more vehicles, cell phones and other items in your possession. These items cost you money to buy, use and maintain. 

Downsizing to a single item per household and learning to share them is a wonderful idea that can help you to cut down on expenses considerably. Another way to share is to find a roommate who will share the rent and utilities with you.

When you are dealing with a serious financial issue, you need to take substantial steps to improve the situation. 

There are a lot of areas in your life where you can better budget your money, cut spending, and save a few extra bucks. While there are many ways to cut back, you may find that these unconventional methods can produce exceptional results.

4 Fundamentals for Choosing Your Small Business Accountant

Today, running finances is complicated even for small businesses, which is why most business owners opt to hire professionals who can handle this for them. A good accountant can easily help your business grow, while a bad one will probably cost you money on multiple levels. 

This is why it's important to make the right choice when hiring an accountant. With an experienced accountant by your side, you'll have actionable advice when it comes to finances and financial decision making. 

Finding the right accountant also depends on what you're actually looking for. So, without further delay, let us show you what you should be asking yourself (and a potential employee) when hiring a new accountant.

Evaluate Before Hiring

It's vital that you run a background check and actually follow up on client references when you're hiring an accountant. Trust me, you don't want any surprises with this, as shady accountants can really cost your business a lot if IRS comes knocking. 

After you're satisfied with these results, you'll have to schedule a face to face meeting with a potential employee. It's best to hire someone that you feel comfortable around since you'll be dealing with them all the time, whether it's about tax implications or potential business dealings. 

There's also a huge difference between an accountant that gives proactive advice and the one that only brings reactive service to the table.

Is your Potential Accountant a Problem-Solver?

Problem-solving is probably one of the most important skills (if we can call it that way) an employee can have. If your accountant can't manage their time and find viable solutions within a certain timeframe, you're better off without one. 

Even if someone lacks experience but is a problem solver in nature, we believe that it's still better than someone who just can't handle certain situations. Money doesn't grow on trees, and it's especially important for small businesses to keep track of every penny if they're looking to hit the next stage of growth. 

It's also a good idea to hire someone who can actually spot the problems before it's too late.

Look at It as an Investment

Accountants will always cost you money, whether they are CPA (Certified Public Accountant) or not. But a good accountant will actually be saving you money, which is why you'll always want to look at it as an investment. 

You're paying for a service and you expect it to pay off. Some accountants will clearly be more expensive than others, but they might be offering a wider array of services as well. 

This is why you should always ask your potential accountant about all the services that they'll be able to do and get an estimate of the annual charges that you'll have to pay. Be very upfront when talking about the fees, as that's the only way to make sure you know what you're getting into.

What Do You Need an Accountant For?

Let's say that you're doing your own bookkeeping duties. In this case, you don't need a full-time accountant at all, but rather one that's going to evaluate the financial health of your business and perform certain tasks on a weekly or monthly basis. 

If you need more out of your accountant, it's recommended to take one full-time. This is especially true if your business needs an accountant to set up the structuring of your business so that it's able to operate in a cost-effective manner. 

This is also why professionals like Fullstack accounting services recommend hiring an accountant you can rely on, with a perfect background.

Conclusion

Once you do hire an accountant, the adventure is just beginning! Make sure you have regular meetings with your accountant, at least once per month, to review financial statements and any potential problems that might occur. 

If your accountant doesn't report any problems at all, it might be a red-flag for you already, as there's always something that's not going right when it comes to finances. You'll also want to review your accountant's performance often since that's the only way to know where you stand. 

If you make the right choice, you might be in for a long and healthy partnership.

How to Deal with an Unexpected Loss of Income

Factoring in future decreases in income is a normal part of financial planning. For example, you expect household income to drop when you retire. Unforeseen loss of income due to illness, job loss or the death of a family wage-earner are another matter. 

If you are faced with such a crisis, the key to managing the situation is to remain calm and take aggressive steps to preserve your financial health.

Take Inventory

The first step in coping with an unexpected loss of income is to determine what you have to work with. Draw up a list of your remaining income and all of your monthly expenses. 

Write down everything you spend, including food, bills and contributions to savings plans. Make another list that details all of your assets and liabilities.

Cut, Cut, Cut

Be ruthless when you cut expenses. Cost-cutting is a temporary measure, and you will be able to add things back in to your budget after your financial stability is secure. Trim spending on entertainment, groceries, clothing and other consumer goods. 



If you are facing a long period of reduced income, consider downsizing to a smaller car or home. If you are in danger of falling behind on bills, contact your creditors. Many will reduce monthly payments, and they may be willing to temporarily suspend payments.

Boost Income

Find ways to add extra income. For example, you might have a skill you can market part-time through an on-demand job service like Tackl. Local educational institutions hire proctors to supervise standardized tests on weekends. 

If you must stay home to care for children, look for telecommuting jobs. The key to finding extra income streams is to get creative, and don’t be afraid to try something new.

Child Care Issues

The cost of child care can be ruinous if it is added to a sudden loss of income. An employer may be willing to help. Today, many employers offer child care assistance as a job benefit. Keep track of money spent on child care. 

If the cost is related to work or attending school, it may be tax deductible. Investigate joining a child care or babysitting co-op in which parents share child care duties.

Deal with Legal Issues

Sometimes the cause of a loss of income raises legal issues. Most commonly, this occurs when someone’s actions cause an accident, injury or death to a family wage-earner. If you are faced with this situation, you have legal options. 

The party that caused the problem can be held liable for loss of income. Don’t hesitate to contact a wrongful death or personal injury attorney from a firm like Wells and McElwee if you think you may be entitled to damages.

Conclusion

Sudden loss of income is potentially devastating, especially when it is accompanied by illness, death or job loss. The secret to financial survival is to be resilient. Take charge of your financial affairs, and do not be shy about making whatever changes in your lifestyle are required