Oregon is an expensive place to live in, no doubt about it.
In fact, according to statistics, it will cost you around $42,500 a year just to live in the state of Oregon, which is mind-blowing.
That high cost of living is making it very hard to people who can work and live a normal life to simply afford a normal lifestyle, and that gets even worse if you are not able to work and provide for you and your family.
Such situations may occur due to several reasons: a job-related accident or a health issue that came up and requires your attention. The good news are – you might be eligible for short-term disability if you’re a resident of Oregon.
In today’s post we will cover all of the options that are available to you, these include –
- Short-term disability assistance in the form of cash, food stamps, etc.
- Grants that you can apply for, assuming you got into an accident / a sudden life-changing health issue
- Charity organizations will be glad to assist you, if you are a resident of Oregon, with cash assistance, help with your rent, medical bills, electric bills, etc.
Unlike other programs that offer long-term assistance, these programs tend to focus more on a shorter time frame.
Due to that reason, they may at times be a little easier to get qualified for.
Furthermore, the entire process is a lot quicker than applying for a standard grant.
These programs are here to give you fast economic relief and understand the tough situation that you’re in – you might need the money tomorrow morning and can’t afford to wait.
Can I Qualify for Short-Term Disability Due to a Work Injury?
Yes. Other than applying for workers-compensation in Oregon, you can apply to the list of programs below and we are confident that you will even get approved for some of them.
Can I Qualify Due to a Sudden Severe Illness?
Yes. Many people who get short-term disability assistance, do so due to a sudden illness that requires all of their attention and limits their ability to work and provide for their household.
Some examples are physical injuries like broken bones, or even more severe conditions like cancer, for instance.
How Do I Apply to These Programs?
Be sure to check out each program below to see which ones you are qualified for.
Follow the instructions when applying, you will need to provide:
- A copy of your ID.
- Proof that you qualify (proof of diagnostic from a doctor).
- Other documents that the specific program requires you to send in, these are program specific.
Simply follow the instructions when applying, and make sure you provide all of the information required.
Failure to do so, may get you disqualified or prolong the application process.
Short-Term Disability in Oregon: What Are Your Options?
Housing and Urban Development (HUD) –
If you need financial assistance, one of the most important issues you face is paying for housing.
HUD is a national program that is federally funded and offers a variety of programs to help people who need assistance. Their programs will help pay for your rent if you are behind, help you avoid eviction, and even help homeowners to avoid having their home go to foreclosure.
Additionally, if you have home repairs that need to be done, such as addressing a plumbing or heating issue, they have programs to help with that as well.
To get help, you will need to show that you have a need for financial assistance. You can apply online for HUD assistance.
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) –
This is a program that is designed to help people meet their food needs. The program used to be called food stamps, but was changed to SNAP.
Unlike some of the other programs, this one doesn’t have a time limit on how long you can receive the monthly benefit. The amount of SNAP one receives each month is determined by how many people live in the home.
If you are approved for a monthly SNAP benefit, you will receive a debit card that can be used to pay for your groceries.
You can apply for SNAP online in Oregon.
General Assistance Program (GA) –
This program offers short term disability in Oregon in the form of cash assistance.
Those who are approved for the program will receive a monthly cash payment that can be used to help with a wide variety of living expenses, including rent, food, transportation, etc.
To meet the criteria for this program, you either need to have applied for disability and have no minor children living with you.
If you qualify for the program you will receive up to $545 in rent assistance per month, $90 in utility assistance per month, and $60 in cash assistance per month.
You can click here to apply.
Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) –
This program is helpful for those who need short term disability, because it will help pay your monthly utility bills. If you qualify, this program will help ensure that one of your heating or cooling bills are paid.
The funds are paid directly to the utility provider and you are account is credited.
To qualify, you will have to meet the income requirements and show proper identification. You can apply for this program online.
Oregon State Short Term Disability –
This program provides short term disability for public employees in Oregon.
If you have a job in the state that is publicly funded, such as a police-officer , a firefighter, and so on, then you may qualify for the short-term disability program.
The program helps for a short period of time.
The benefit you will qualify for is 60% of your earnings, with a maximum weekly benefit of $1,662.
This disability benefit is for issues that are not job related, but leave you in need of short term assistance.
The maximum amount of time you can receive the benefit is four weeks if it was a pre-existing condition, and 13 weeks if it wasn’t. You can apply for this program by phone.
Oregon Paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance (PFMLI) –
This program will help provide short term financial assistance to those who need to take time away from work.
The program covers such things as bonding with a child after birth or adoption, caring for a family member with a serious medical condition, addressing your own health issues, or addressing serious issues such as domestic violence.
You can apply for this program and get more information about it online.
Oregon’s Worker Compensation-
In case of an job-related injury, make sure to file a claim immediately with the Oregons’ Worker Compensation Division.
The OWCD will pay for your any lost wages that your condition is causing.
Mind you, they will require your doctor to authorize time-off, so when you see your doctor make sure to keep all of your documents.
Something that many people forget to do is report your second job wage losses as well.
Many of us work more than one job, and you can get compensation for any of the wages you are about to lose due to the injury/condition you suffer. Don’t forget that!
Catholic Charities –
While this is not a designated short-term disability program, they will provide assistance during such times in need.
The organization provides financial assistance for a lot of people, including by providing meals, transportation, helping with housing, and a variety of other things.
They have numerous locations around Oregon, making it easy to get in touch with them.
You can contact them online to apply for financial assistance, or you can visit your local Catholic Charities office to inquire about what type of help they will provide.
Being that they are a church-affiliated organization they do not typically have strict standards for providing people with assistance.
If you go there and tell them you need help, there is a good chance you will get it without any issues.
We recommend doing so in person, we found the success rate much higher that way.
The Bottom Line
Life happens, and at times, we all get into situations that prevent us from providing for us and our loved ones. The most crucial thing is to be pro-active, as much as it can be difficult due to the situation.
Apply for all of the programs we have mentioned above, and make sure you follow their instructions when doing so.
God bless, and please share this resource on your social media platforms so we can help as many people as possible.