Get answers to your legal questions by calling the Simmon Law Group at (407) 454-3000.
Personal injury lawsuits can be stressful for anyone, but such cases may be particularly troublesome for low-income individuals who rely on certain government benefits to support their family’s needs. If you’ve recently experienced an injury and reached a personal injury settlement amount, you might be wondering, “Will a personal injury settlement affect my food stamps?”
For many, this is an unfortunate dilemma, as the settlement money is often necessary for paying medical expenses and making up for lost income. However, the risk of losing benefits presents long-term problems.
At Simmons Law Group, we understand how critical benefits programs can be to the health and wellness of your family. This article discusses how a personal injury settlement may affect your food stamps and how you can avoid losing your benefits.
How Personal Injury Settlement Funds Affect Government Benefits
How your personal injury settlement affects your benefits depends on a few key factors. Namely, it will depend on the nature of your benefits and what factors influence your eligibility.
For example, any government benefits program that bases eligibility on an individual’s job history, such as Medicare insurance or Social Security benefits, likely won’t change as a result of a personal injury settlement sum.
However, a sizable settlement could affect government benefits that look for the presence of financial need as part of the eligibility process, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
This is because SNAP and SSI have specific regulations regarding income, and anyone seeking these benefits must have a monthly income that doesn’t exceed the set limit. If your settlement sum is higher than the income limits established for your benefits, you may lose access to government assistance for some time.
How to Protect Your Benefits
If you’ve recently suffered an injury, you may be wondering, “Will a personal injury settlement affect my food stamps?” At Simmons Law Group, we understand how concerning this circumstance can be. The good news is that you have options, and we’re happy to help you navigate them.
Renewing Benefits
Although you may lose SNAP benefits for a time following your personal injury lawsuit, you might be eligible for benefits again once you’ve depleted the money from the settlement.
Creating a Special Needs Trust
Another option involves creating a special needs trust. If your injury resulted in a physical or mental disability, you could create a special needs trust and transfer your settlement funds into it, which could prevent you from losing your benefits. For more information about your options, reach out to one of our personal injury lawyers at Simmons Law Group.
Work with a Legal Champion From Simmons Law Group
If you’ve been wondering, “Will a personal injury settlement affect my food stamps?” or “Are personal injury settlements taxable in Florida?” look no further than Simmons Law Group. We’re here to answer your questions and help you navigate your legal matters with ease.
Contact our team today at (407) 454-3000.
