Disability Benefits: The Numbers Tell the Story
Reading Time: 2 MinutesLast Updated: September 8, 2015
Social Security provides an economic lifeline to America’s workers through our benefit programs. We run the largest disability program in the nation. We want to make sure that everyone has a clear picture of the disability insurance program and of the people living with severe disabilities, who receive its benefits.
Because the Social Security Act sets out a strict definition of disability, our beneficiaries are among the most severely disabled people in the country. We provide modest benefit payments to workers who contributed into the Social Security trust fund before becoming disabled. The average disability beneficiary today paid into the disability trust fund for 22 years before becoming entitled to Social Security disability benefits.
When disability happens, Social Security provides support for insured workers and their families. For many disabled Americans, this earned benefit is the only thing standing between them and poverty.
To create awareness about the positive economic impact of our disability program, Social Security is releasing two new online data resources — our new state disability fact sheets and our national disability issue paper. These two online resources show how Social Security continues to fulfill our intergenerational promise of support to America’s workers and their families.
The state disability fact sheets include information by state and congressional district about disabled workers, children of insured workers, and spouses of insured workers who are receiving disability benefits. They also show the average annual disability benefit in relation to the poverty threshold, as well as more specific data about the recipients in those areas.
The national disability issue paper describes the fundamental principles of our disability program, its economic impact, and how it continues to live up to its founding ideals.
We invite you to go to our website and try these useful new resources.
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Tags: Disability, social security
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Doug Walker, Deputy Commissioner, Communications
Deputy Commissioner, Office of Communications
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Effie S.
I do not understand how you figure your average foe disability. I received disability starting in June of 2010, I cannot not walk or stand. I have only 37% use of my lungs. I only started with $188.00 a month. I used my ticket to work and worked out of my home for NTI until January 2012 I was then laid off and have never found another job. In August of 2012 I applied for spousal benefits and by check for that was 400.00 They combined the two checks this year in January and both together is just 654 dollars. I would like to know why I can not get more money a month.
angel
i’d like too know why some people get ssi/ssd, i have friends where i live in a small town live in a hud funded housing unit. and 10 out of 19 of my friends are getting ssd/ssi? i just wanna know why? and how do you(myself)apply for it if im allowed too have
Randall K.
These stories emphasize the importance of persistence and mentoring. Our disabled neighbors CANNOT fight the disability application battle alone. They are busy fighting the pain and suffering. I am a volunteer mentor. My secretary and I do all the busy work so the Disabled can focus on their medical condition. There are times that I wish I could financially do more. Everyone needs a volunteer mentor – this is NOT a battle to fight alone. Attorneys are looking for slam dunk cases. Their fees are small and the attorney needs to pay his bills. If you feel in your heart that your FRIEND is handicapped and cannot work then lead the charge, it takes a village. AND there is a difference, a BIG difference, between SSDI and SSI. It is very important to understand the acronyms and to use them correctly. There is much more to helping people get SSDI, you also need to learn about food stamps, subsidized rentals, medicaid, pharmaceutical foundations, food banks, etc. This is a package deal, one band aid is not going to fix the financial challenges of trying to live on SSDI. A person who has paid the max into SS will find it difficult living on SSDI – because of the medical expenses. Medicare does not kick in right away. It is an uphill fight until Medicare does kick in. The most useful tool is a fax machine. Most of the agencies will let you fax in forms and papers. Forms can be printed off of web sites and faxed in. I also make sure that a SS employee knows about every time the Disabled person sneezes until the claimant is on full benefits. You will also need to learn about the various Doctors your claimant is using AND be sure to go to every SS hearing or meeting, keep all documents by date. I scan and keep them as pdf files.
Lorie
It’s sad I worked all my life and I can not afford my medical bills on my MEDICARE and ins but I see people that never worked and get every thing free for medical and get loans for cars food share and get thee heat bills paid and wast there money have big tvs and sit in the bars I can’t even afford food I don’t get food share or help with my heat because I have high dr bills and high meds to pay
John H.
“most severely disabled”
My close “relative” on disability now makes really good income. Disability + x2 side businesses. Cash payments as much as possible to hide it. Lots of time to hunt and vacation. I’m really not sure what his disability is, he is healthier than a lot of the working people I know. Carrying his deer and elk, hiking miles in the mountains, loading steel and copper for scrap ( one of his cash buisinesses ) Etc. 🙂 also pastors a church….
Marylou S.
I really feel for all the people who need that heroin
and how dedicated MEDICARE is about making them well . But I come from a different pain and mine is staying in remission .If I cannot get Medicare insurance to agree to honor and pay for my drug , I risk liver cancer or MS .The addict can get well with more help than I ever seen for my chemo before .
They are eager for that moment before death so your fighting a loosing battle with most .
They have to want to stop anyway and most I am not sure .You are justifying a drug that seems to get more players
I just really do not want another 245 months of chemo and after this last diagnose thru a DNA TEST
I really need the Folic Acid (prescription) and cannot believe for life of me .that Anthem Blue Cross/Medicare will not cover this but has a say in the Heroin trouble and cover that trouble but the important little people do what? I have SSD of 850 a month .Which also makes you wonder HOW are they affording all that and cigarettes and rides and YOUR getting the well ? I said enough
FedUp
Why don’t you simply end it? You’re terminal so do what comes naturally. Such a life has run its course and really isn’t worth fighting for my mother refused further treatments for cancer. You should do the same. There’s a dignity in death.
Jose
Yo ya tengo cita con el seguro social yo tengo más de dos años que la solicite
Charlie M.
Why destroy Social Security Disability granting people that are able to work. I worked 51 years with a disability. You see people just about dead but after getting their Disability they work, they hunt with four-wheelers killing deers and dressing them in the field and yet say they have back problems. The Disability Insurance is running out of money next year. There are jobs people with disability. They need only to train them.
Marylou S.
YOU and they will always have SSI SSD ..Social security will be here long after you and I are gone .there is no worry in loosing ssi NONE ..trust me .It will be the last man standing
eliedith
there are many disabilities that employers have no patience for. for example neurological disabilities where a person may be very intelligent but due to perceptual motor disabilities cannot do any job other than talk about what they know. a person like that needs SSDI because they cannot pass probation because they get fired from every job because employers have no patience and some disabilities like CP, ataxia, perceptual motor disabilities, and other neurological impairments impair motor skills, mobility, perceptual spatial skills and judgement and problem solving as well as speed and production. also disabilities such as fibromyalgia and arthritis impair mobility and judgment and cause severe chronic pain making concentration difficult. when a person has all of these conditions, no employer will keep them. such people need some kind of help
i am a business prof and i teach my students about these issues so that when they become HR personnel or employers they can be more sensitive and patient to people with such disabilities
misery c.
Bless you for your honorable work, it is much needed!
Megan S.
Those people need to be turned in for fraud!
In 7/2006, my mother was in a terrible accident. She was resuscitated 4 times. Her doctor said she should be dead, not sitting in her office for a follow up to the accident. Within 2 days after the accident, my mother was back at work. She had always been a workaholic, going back as far as I can remember (toddler age). She also continued to work for just under 2 years after the accident. Unfortunately, she just couldn’t do it anymore. She was an accountant, who knew her numbers inside and out. Her regional manager could call her while she was at one client location, and rattle off Whatever financial information needed for any client location her was asked about and freaky as it is, she was always right. So when paychecks suddenly were incorrect, financial statements were wrong, etc she had to quit, but was fired first while one of her frequent hospital trips due to constant seizures (Epilepsy). Even now, she averages 50 overnight hospital stays in a 60 day period. Sometimes she’s there for weeks at a time. SO FOR YOU TO SAY FOR THE DISABLED INDIVIDUALS TO GET OFF SSDI, IS NOT ONLY WRONG, AN UNEDUCATED/UNINFORMED REASON FOR A SOLUTION, A DEFINITE SIGN OF A CRUEL/UNCARING AND SELFISH PERSON WHO BY THE SOUNDS OF IT, IS ONLY THINKING OF ONES SELF. ARE YOU THAT IGNORANT THAT YOU CAN NOT UNDERSTAND OR OPEN YOUR MIND TO THE FACT THAT EVERY CASE IS DIFFERENT AND EVERY PERSON IS DIFFERENT. NOT TO MENTION, NOT EVERYONE IS RECEIVING SSDI.
ALSO, IF YOU KNOW FOR SURE A PERSON ON SSDI (NOT SSI) US IN FACT USING ANY TYPE OF ILLEGAL STREET DRUGS, CONTACT YOUR LOCAL DSA OFFICE. WITH ENOUGH COMPLAINTS/EVIDENCE OR MAYBE WITH LESS, SSA WILL DRUG TEST. IF THE TEST RETURNS POSITIVE, THEIR SSDI AND MEDICARE BENEFITS WILL IMMEDIATELY BE DISCONTINUED!
STOP BLAMING EVERYONE FOR SOME PEOPLES FLAWS/WRONG DOINGS!
FedUp
You mom should visit Dr. Kavorkian. It’s time. Yes, I’m cruel and uncaring and damned right. The only fair & equal thing to do is give nothing. You mom is wasting millions of dollars in her treatments and she didn’t pay that kind of money into the fund. All welfare programs need to be dismantled a.s.a.p. You have to be cruel to be kind.
carl d.
I just want to say that the previous post where I ranted about others getting ssdi was all wrong! They are getting ssi which is not taken out of the SS fund! I just didn’t know! So, please excuse this old man as I guess I had a senior moment! Still, I think many echo my concerns, however, cause they don’t know either!
Alan L.
I applied for benefits in May 2015, and have not received them. Sincerely, Alan L. Fusco
Kimberlee m.
It took me almost 10 yes to get awarded my disability.and watched my benefits go down every year I was out of work.
But at best it is a lengthy process.I was advised 3-5 yes.You have to be determined and keep appealing.
From May to Sept…..no way
Megan S.
It took my mother 1 ¹/2 plus years before she finally was placed before a SSA Administrative Judge. She was finally awarded SSDI benefits. Since the funds she receives is technically her own earned income during her years being employed, I’m baffled as to why and how SSA seems to make up some rules as they go, as well as implementing regulations where and when they deem appropriate. My mother applied December 2, 2008, with documentation indicating date of disability onset as November 18, 2008. She if course was initially denied. She appealed. During such time, she requested that the SSA doctors also examine/diagnose her. NEVER happened, just another denial in 2009. Finally in June 2010, within a month of retaining Binder and Binder attorneys, she was in front of a judge. She was awarded benefits. The judge set her disability date as 11/18/08. Now how is it, if the funds are actually monies earned during her years of employment, and her disability date is set by a judge who has the final word, SSA can say she then has a 6 month waiting period before they will begin calculating all the back pay, as well as when her Medicare would start which by the way 6 months from the date you are awarded benefits. So she’s determined disabled by a judge as of 11/18/08, but can not start collecting until 5/1/09 (SSA does not prorate), and then she can’t get her medical benefits through Medicare until 5/1/11. Yet, from the time she was 15 1/2 years old, every single paycheck issued to her, she had paid into both SS and Medicare (a.k.a. FICA). Why is this? If people pay for it, then they should be able to receive upon being awarded benefits as well as the collecting of back pay be the date of disability the judge has indicated in his answer. Same with Medicare. I mean, if SSA is going to implement the judges “recommendation ” in his answer that a “Representative Payee” be put into place as they believe my mother at the time was not mentally capable of handling her finances (she was at that time, but by mid 2012 she absolutely was not) plus when she did choose a Representative Payee, they said no, that it’s recommended that it be a family member. In her family, that would have been much worse. So, I agreed at the age of 18 to handle her funds and still do.
Now, what I would also like to know is, why is it that the recent rumors of people now being able to receive approximately $2400-$2600/month in SSDI benefits, but only if you do not already receive funds. Now if you are supposedly paid according to what you made during the years you were employed, how can they suddenly give you a specified amount for all? Why wouldn’t those already collecting also benefit? And why is your monthly benefit amount based on what you made and not what was paid into it? And finally, don’t you think that if a person is totally and completely obviously unable to work, shouldn’t the benefit amounts be calculated to where the disabled person Will be able financially survive? My mother gets $1070/month, with having $300/month garnished by an order obtained by my father after committing perjury in court and falsifying Proof of Service documents (I’m currently fighting this), so she lives on $770/month (my dad lives in a million dollar house, go figure), her monthly rent alone is $1050. Because she requires 24 hour care, we have a caregiver who lives with us full time, and is paid by our local County agency for these services. I also live with my mother with my toddler child, as she needs care while the caregiver is out on errands and during the caregivers days off. I receive $541 a month, so she doesn’t qualify for Section 8 housing even though she is not married. What are individuals in her position to do? This is wrong! Meanwhile, we have neighbors collecting who have barely worked during their lifetime receiving more than she does and also receives housing benefits.
Oh, and who sits in the SSA office deciding who gets and doesn’t get benefits? Between the dozen or so daily seizures, the physical disabilities, and the severe mental disabilities, she should have been approved much sooner than she was!
THE DEFINITION, RULES, AND REGULATIONS TO DETERMINE WHETHER A PERSON IS DISABLED OR NOT BY SSA REALLY MUST BE RE-EVALUATED! WHY NOT MAKE THESE DECISIONS USING SOME TYPE OF SLIDING SCALE. AFTER ALL, EACH PERSON AND THEIR CASE IS DIFFERENT.
THANK YOU
FedUp
If your mom doesn’t get housing benefits then how can you know that your neighbor gets them? You both live in the same neighborhood same zip code.