Retirement planning is crucial for everyone, but even more so for people with disabilities. And a significant part of retirement planning is deciding which state to retire in. Retiring in a less disability-friendly state can come with significant challenges.
Retiring in a non-disability-friendly state brings many challenges, such as inaccessible housing and general state infrastructure, social isolation and a lack of community support, healthcare disparities, and a higher cost of living.
It is essential to carefully consider these factors when deciding your retirement state.
Continue reading below to learn more about the potential challenges that people with disabilities face in less disability-friendly states.
Challenges of Retiring in Less Disability-Friendly States
Below are some of the significant challenges that disabled retirees face in less disability-friendly states.
Housing
Living with a disability can be expensive because it requires spending money on prescriptions, treatment, and regular trips to the doctor, as well as on a wheelchair-accessible vehicle, assistive devices, in-home assistance, adapted gadgets, and clothing, in addition to everyday expenses. Disabled retirees also tend to begin their retirement with fewer assets than retirees who are not affected by disabilities.
In such circumstances, it may be difficult for disabled people to find housing, especially in less disability-friendly states where the cost of housing is higher.
A single room in Virginia, for instance, would cost approximately $1,344 per month, and the state has a cost-of-living index of 101. In the worst-case scenario, this may even force a disabled retiree into homelessness.
Accessibility
Physical accessibility is a significant part of the accessibility concerns that many disabled retirees may have. It can be challenging for disabled retirees to carry out their everyday outdoor activities due to mobility issues, chronic pain, and fatigue.
Historically, people with disabilities did not have easy access to accessible public transit, restrooms, and buildings.
One of the primary goals of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was to ensure that all public places, including restrooms, contained facilities that could accommodate people with disabilities. While the ADA did take steps to reduce physical accessibility issues, it was unable to eliminate them entirely.
Even today, people with disabilities continue to face physical accessibility issues that limit their ability to participate in daily activities fully. Some states and cities in the U.S., for instance, make it impossible to use sidewalks, despite the ADA’s guidelines for improving sidewalk accessibility.
Healthcare Accessibility
Disabled adults in the United States face significant challenges when trying to gain access to necessary medical care. It is estimated that one in three persons with disabilities between the ages of 18 and 44 do not have a regularly scheduled healthcare provider.
Furthermore, many of these adults acknowledge that they have failed to meet a health-related need because they were unable to pay for the costs associated with medical care.
People with disabilities are at a lower risk of not getting critical healthcare treatments that the general population receives on a routine basis, such as cancer screenings or semiannual dental cleanings.
These findings are concerning since people with disabilities have a greater need for medical attention due to the increased likelihood that they may suffer from health problems.
A 2020 World Health Organization report stated that people with disabilities face numerous obstacles when it comes to healthcare, such as financial constraints, limited access to services, inaccessible medical equipment, and healthcare providers lacking the necessary expertise to alleviate their symptoms.
Additionally, these people encounter discrimination and barriers when they try to access medical treatment, such as not being treated with respect by their doctor or being denied entry into the doctor’s office.
These issues are exacerbated when disabled adults retire in less disability-friendly states. For instance, Georgia’s healthcare system has been ranked as one of the worst in the entire country due to lack of healthcare coverage. As a result, it has the second-highest percentage of people who are unable to access the health care needed due to the high costs involved.
Social Isolation and Lack of Community Support
Research has shown that older adults who have disabilities are more likely to suffer from depression and social isolation when compared to their non-disabled counterparts.
A significant number of disabled and older adults have a more difficult time going out and interacting with other people. Accessibility issues in certain states can make it more challenging for them to get out of the house, even for social activities.
An increasing number of retirees with disabilities prefer to reside in their local communities instead of being placed in institutional settings.
Nevertheless, in the absence of well-established community-based care systems, people with disabilities continue to be placed in clinical settings, even if they are unwilling to be there or when it may not be suitable for them.
This is also exacerbated by a loneliness epidemic in some states. For example, Maine topped the list for the loneliest state in the U.S., in part due to its small population and high number of single-person households.
High Cost-of-Living
The term “cost of living” refers to the amount of money that is necessary to maintain a particular standard of living, including the costs associated with housing, transportation, food, and health care.
A high cost of living might make it difficult for disabled retirees to access necessary support services. Some states have higher housing costs than others, which can make it harder for retirees with disabilities to find affordable and accessible housing. For example, Hawaii has a high cost of living index of 184.
To live comfortably in Hawaii, an annual income of around $70,000 to $100,000 for a single person, or $120,000 to $200,000 for a family, is recommended, making it known for its high cost of living due to factors such as housing, groceries, utilities, and transportation.
Financial Support for Disabled Retirees
Fortunately, despite the challenges faced by disabled retirees, they can qualify for financial assistance from the following two federal programs:
Social Security Disability Insurance
Disabled individuals who have taken early retirement can apply for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). SSDI is a government-funded program that provides financial assistance to people who are unable to work due to a qualifying disability.
Supplemental Security Income
Disabled retirees may also qualify for Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Similar to SSDI, SSI is also managed by the Social Security Administration. It aims to provide financial assistance to disabled individuals with low incomes. Unlike SSDI, a retiree may not need to be disabled to qualify, as long as they have low incomes.
Conclusion
The challenges described above in this article make it clear why it’s essential to make sure you retire in a disability-friendly state. Doing so can ensure you spend your retirement years without having to worry about finances.
