Disability Rights Ohio, What Are They?

by April L. Roberts | Jun 14, 2023

If you or a loved one is living with a disability in Ohio, understanding your rights ensures you are treated fairly and receive all disability benefits available to you. With this assistance, you can enjoy a better quality of life. This comprehensive guide offers an easy-to-understand overview of Ohio disability rights, including accessibility in the workplace, filing a disability claim, and the types of conditions considered disabilities in the state.

What are Employment Disability Rights in Ohio?

In Ohio, disability refers to:

“a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, including the functions of caring for one’s self, performing manual tasks, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning, and working; a record of a physical or mental impairment; or being regarded as having a physical or mental impairment.”

According to the Americans with Disabilities Act ADA laws, Ohio employment discrimination includes the following treatment of anyone who falls under the state’s definition of disabled:

Firing or demoting
Refusing to hire or promote
Refusing to provide a reasonable accommodation
Providing unequal pay or benefits

Actions to Take Regarding Suspected Discrimination

If you feel your employer has discriminated against you or a loved one based on a disability, the following action is recommended:

Act quickly
Try to resolve the dispute

If the situation is unresolved, file your complaint with a government agency or consider suing your employer.

What Your Disability Rights in Ohio Include

The ADA and the disability bill of Rights allow you to request reasonable accommodations, including:

Assistance filling out job applications
Coaching to adjust to your job
Additional training
Reassigning non-essential job functions to co-workers
Flexible scheduling
Specialty equipment
Easy access to your workstation

Because each disability differs, your requests are always specific to your condition based on Ohio disability law.

Aging and Disability Resource Center Cleveland Ohio

The ADRC helps aging and disabled people understand long-term care options. They also help you apply for and access benefits you have a right to receive. For example, if you lack sufficient funds and resources, they can help ensure you receive benefit payments based on your eligibility. Also, once your benefits run out, they can ensure your Medicaid coverage continues if your earnings are less than Ohio’s state level.

Ohio Disability Assistance: Work Incentives and Benefits for Disabled Workers

Disability assistance in Ohio offers both financial support through benefits as well as services to help improve your situation, including:

Benefits Counseling

This free service is provided if you are collecting social security benefits. It offers work incentives to help you find ways to make a living and reduce your dependence on benefits programs through the SSA. The service is provided by counselors at the SSA’s Work Incentives Planning and Assistance (WIPA) Program.

Social Security Insurance (SSI)

SSI is for older people and people with disabilities requiring financial assistance to supplement their limited income and resources. Work incentives under SSI include:

Continuation of SSI: To ensure you continue to receive SSI payment for as long as you qualify, or once payments stop, your Medicaid coverage continues.
Expedited Reinstatement: To ensure you receive your payments without delay if you stopped benefits to return to work, but your condition worsens, so you must start receiving benefits again.
Work Expenses Related to Your Disability: To cover costs that allow you to return to work with your disability, such as a taxi service.
Plan To Achieve Self-Support: To help you return to work, SSI will cover many costs used to help you do so.

Reach out to us today to find out if you qualify for SSI.

Social Security Disability Benefits (SSDI)

SSDI benefits are available to those with an established work history suffering from a disability that keeps them from working. SSDI provides work expenses and expedited reinstatement, as well as:

Trial Work Period: You can test your ability to work for at least nine months and still receive your full benefits despite your earnings.
Extended Period of Eligibility: At the end of your trial work period, you have 36 months to work and receive benefits when your earnings are not “substantial.”
Continuation of Medicare: If you are disabled, but your benefits stop because of your earnings, you can still receive free Medicare Part A coverage for at least 93 months after the nine-month trial work period.

Not sure if you qualify? Get in touch with us today to learn more.

Filing for Ohio State Disability Services

There are three methods to use when applying for disability in Ohio, whether it is Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits:

Online at www.ssa.gov
By phone by calling 800-772-1213 (TTY 800-325-0778)
In person at the local SSA office closest to you

However, you can’t submit disability benefits applications directly to the Division of Disability Determination (DDD).

Disability Rights Ohio Advocacy Groups

You can seek assistance from the following disability rights organizations to learn more about the services available or to help you receive the benefits you are entitled to:

How Does Social Security Approve Disability Benefits?

To ensure disability equality during approval, the state depends on unbiased medical and vocational experts who evaluate your claim based on the conditions listed in the SSA Blue Book. They refer to the medical records you provide and contact your doctors and medical facilities providing your tests and treatment to create an accurate picture of your disability. Follow-up forms and further medical tests or examinations performed by the state agency are also not uncommon. The SSA must determine if you:

Are unable to do any substantial work because of your medical condition(s); and
Have a medical condition(s) that has lasted, or is expected to last at least one year or result in death

Qualifying for Ohio Medical Disability

To improve your chances of qualifying for disability benefits in Ohio, you can seek help from a disability advocate. A disability advocate has extensive training and certification to represent your best interests and overcome common initial application challenges.

For example, at Princeton Disability, our advocates have extensive education and experience and have passed an examination on SSA disability rules and regulations. Our continuing education regulated by the SSA ensures we are current on the latest rules, regulations, and processes to avoid delays and rejections of your application. We can then follow up if your claim is denied.

If you are seeking disability benefits in Ohio, Princeton Disability Advocates are ready to help. We understand the process and will ensure your application is thorough and credible so you receive the maximum benefits available. Click here to set up a free consultation.