When you are unable to work, the Social Security Administration (SSA) has benefits in place to help you live with dignity, accounting for your needs and the challenges you face. One of these benefits is know as social security disability insurance (SSDI/SSD), available to injured and impaired adults.
The Provo, UT lawyers at Flickinger Sutterfield & Boulton would like to go over some basic numbers about SSD/SSDI to help you understand how these benefits help people. If you run into any issues with disability payments or receiving benefits, we can help you. Also of the figures cited below cover numbers at the end of 2016 and are from the SSA.
Total Number of Benefit Recipients
According to the SSA, there were a grand total of 10,153,205 social security disability recipients in December 2016. That is slightly down from 10,237,204 social security disability recipients in 2015.
Breakdown of the Social Security Disability Recipients
Looking at a breakdown of the recipients of benefits, the SSA found that 8,808,736
were disabled workers (86.8 percent), 1,085,262 were disabled adult children (10.7 percent), and 259,207 were disabled widows or widowers (2.6 percent).
In terms of breakdown, this is a generally consistent percentage when looking at recipients in 2015: 8,909,430 recipients were disabled workers, 1,068,443 recipients were adult children, 259,331 recipients were widows or widowers
Most Common Impairments Among Disabled Worker Beneficiaries
Among 2016 beneficiaries who are disabled workers, the most common impairment was musculo-skeletal system and connective tissue injuries. These accounted for 32.3 percent of disabled worker beneficiaries. The next highest was mental disorders that are not classified as intellectual disability. These accounted for 26.3 percent of disabled worker beneficiaries.
Most Common Impairments Among Adult Children Beneficiaries
Among 2016 beneficiaries who are adult children, the most common impairment was intellectual disability. This amounted for 45.9 percent of adult children beneficiaries. The number is staggering. By comparison, the next highest impairment among adult children beneficiaries was mental disorders that are not classified as intellectual disability, which accounted for 25.9 percent.
Most Common Impairments Among Widow/Widower Beneficiaries
Among 2016 beneficiaries who were widows or widowers, the most common impairment was musculo-skeletal system and connective tissue ailments. These accounted for 36.9 percent of widow/widower beneficiaries. The next highest was mental disorders that are not classified as intellectual disability, accounting for 25.1 percent of widow/widower beneficiaries.
The Average Age of Beneficiaries
In 2016, the most common age range for social security disability beneficiaries was 60-64. Of that group, 29.9 percent of recipients were men and 29.1 percent were women. There is a precipitous drop in disability benefits after this age range since disability benefits automatically convert to social security retirement benefits after a person reaches the age of 65-67, depending on their date of birth.
The next highest age ranges for recipients were age 55-59 (24.5 percent male recipients; 24.7 percent female recipients) and age 50-54 (15.2 percent male recipients; 15.9 percent female recipients).
The Average Monthly Benefit Payment
The average monthly payment can vary depending n the type of beneficiary.
- For male disabled workers, the average payment was $1,293.38; for female disabled workers, the average payment was $1,042.87
- For male adult children, the average payment was $755.31; for female adult children, the average payment was $770.33
- For widowers, the average payment was $535.23; for widows, the average payment was $731.88
Learn More About Social Security Disability
To learn more about social security disability matters and how our law firm can help you, be sure to contact our experienced social security disability lawyers. The attorneys of Flickinger Sutterfield & Boulton are here to help. You can reach our Provo office by phone at (801) 753-1616, our West Jordan office at (801) 509-7102, our Orem office at (801) 669-8835, and our Saratoga Springs office at (801) 341-8424.