With all the negative attention surrounding the Social Security Administration and its distribution of benefits, it may be refreshing for Maryland residents to read a story about one of the many people who puts Social Security Disability Insurance payments to good use by carefully budgeting her resources.

A recent story highlighted a San Francisco woman who was diagnosed with chronic ataxia a few years ago. Since that time, she has become one of the many people in the U.S. who are struggling with a chronic disability. The accomplished photographer now finds herself relying on SSDI as well as host of nonprofit organizations which specialize in service to the disabled.

The woman's home is located in a neighborhood of San Francisco that is known as "the Mission. " A news report highlights the fact that while rent and income levels have both risen in the neighborhood, so has the number of residents who receive Social Security and Social Security disability. In 2003, 6,500 people in the area were receiving benefits; 7000 people were receiving benefits by 2010.

This may be in part because there are many services in that neighborhood that make life simpler for those with disabilities. These include everything from food delivery to pet assistance. The existence of these services is believed to make the area a much friendlier place for people on Social Security disability as well.

According to the Social Security Administration, on average, disability payments are about $1070 per month. In San Francisco, the average Social Security income is just under $1200, but this woman receives only $700 a month - and she does her best to live on that amount, supplementing it with the assistance of area organizations.

Even though this woman lives in California, stories like this make the debates surrounding Social Security Disability and Supplemental Security Income feel much closer to home. Many residents in Maryland, and all over the United States, are facing difficulties trying to make ends meet on a fixed income. Many people find themselves unable to obtain Social Security Disability Insurance payments when they need them most, and these people need advocates to ensure they receive the benefits to which they are entitled.


Source: San Francisco Chronicle, "The Mission Remains an Oasis for the Disabled," Melanie Ruiz, Dec. 5, 2011