Have you thought of approaching the Office or Department of Vocational Rehabilitation in your area (can be located on your state government website or the blue pages of the telephone book)? They have programs designed to help disabled people enter or re enter the workforce. I have a disabled friend near your age who has used them in the past. Also, I recommend filling out the FAFSA form to see if you qualify for the Pell Grant. In addition, the community college should have programs designed to help you. I have included some readings below which should help. Good luck!

unless that woman is wealthy (and more than likely she is not and will not be because she’s planning on being on disability benefits) she should not get a college degree or loans toward a college degree for many reasons. I’m talking from experience here. The things holding her back from making this work for her would be her age, her disability, her benefits income level, her transportation from that income, her inability to repay any student loan (and her need for medical assistance and prescriptions would deplete what little money she would get), plus anyone over 35 would not be trained for a management position, and it would be difficult to find work if she is on disability benefits, plus she could only earn up to $6,000 a year. Normally a person who wants a college degree would hopefully earn starting at $35,000 a year and so this woman lose some of her disability benefits.

I suggest she sack the degree, but if she can afford it take a couple of courses to help her get a part-time job or to enhance what education she already has…and then take some SBA courses (do a 5-year business plan from the sba.gov website) and then start her own business so she can make the income she wants. Going for a degree at this age will prevent her from saving any money for her retirement and will obligate her too heavily and that would hurt her.

IF she had a decent job prior to going on disability she would probably receive a small amount from ssi when she wins her disability case, and with that money she should invest in some decent transportation for herself (that will last maybe 20 years and car insurance) and buy any medical things she needs and then save some of it for emergencies. Hopefully her attorney will also get her on medicare.