When an injury keeps you from working, the bills do not wait. In Wyoming, help usually comes from several places at once, and each has its own rules and deadlines. Knowing which programs fit your situation can help you cover the gap while you recover.
Workers’ compensation may cover a work injury
If you were hurt on the job, this is your first stop. Workers’ compensation may cover medical treatment, temporary wage-replacement benefits, and rehabilitation. You must report the injury to your supervisor within 72 hours and file a Report of Injury with both your employer and the state Workers’ Compensation Division within 10 days.
If you cannot work, you then apply separately for temporary total disability benefits with supporting certification from your healthcare provider.
Social Security may help if your disability lasts a year or more
Social Security pays disability benefits only if a health problem keeps you from working for 12 months or longer, or is likely to end in death. It does not pay for short-term disability.
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is for people who have worked and paid Social Security taxes. SSDI benefits begin after a five-month waiting period, but they can reach back up to 12 months before you applied. After 24 months of SSDI benefits, Medicare, the federal health insurance program, begins.
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a separate program for people with a disability and limited income and resources. SSI has no waiting period.
State programs can help while you wait for a decision
Four programs can help in the meantime:
- Food: The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) helps with food, and you can apply online or in person at a local Department of Family Services (DFS) office.
- Heating: The Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP) helps with winter heating bills, and applications are open through April 30, 2027.
- Cash assistance: Families with a child under 18 may qualify for POWER cash assistance, which includes services during recovery from a temporary illness or injury.
- Medical bills: Wyoming Medicaid covers certain groups, including people who meet federal disability standards or have dependent children. Because Wyoming has not expanded Medicaid, adults without a recognized disability may not qualify.
Each program has its own application and eligibility rules, so applying early to the ones that fit can help.
A personal injury claim may recover your losses
If someone else’s carelessness caused your injury, you may be able to get compensation for your lost income and medical costs. A settlement can also affect benefits that depend on your income and savings, such as SSI and Medicaid.
Additionally, if workers’ compensation already paid benefits, the state may have a right to be repaid from your settlement. A personal injury attorney can explain both before you agree to anything, which may help you protect your claim and your benefits.
