Social Security Disability Statistics
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.
Social Security Disability vs. Social Security Retirement Benefits
After suffering a serious injury, your ability to work may be severely impacted. If your injuries result in disability, you may be eligible for assistance from the Social Security Administration. Social security disability (SSD/SSDI) benefits help with the costs of living when you are unable to work following an accident or illness. Many clients who are curious about disability coverage ask our Provo, UT lawyers how SSD/SSDI differs from social security benefits collected during retirement. The legal team at Flickinger Sutterfield & Boulton will compare these two programs below, noting the basic similarities and differences. About Social Security Social security as we know it today began in 1935 under the Franklin D. Roosevelt administration to provide aid for children, those lookin for work, and the elderly. When used colloquially, most people use the phrase “social security” to refer to social security retirement benefits, which people receive upon retiring. In fact, around 70 percent of all people who receive social security benefits are receiving retirement benefits. Qualifying for Social Security To qualify for social security retirement benefits, you must be of a certain age depending on the year you were born. For people born before 1960, benefits kicked in around age 65 to 66. For people born after 1960, retirement benefits an start being collected by age 67. The amount you receive will depend on the amount of work units you earn during your life. About Social Security Disability Social security disability is intended to cover people who have suffered an injury that had rendered them disabled and unable to work. These benefits are taken from the social security trust fund via FICA Social Security taxes. After collecting social security disability for two years, the disabled individual becomes eligible for Medicare. Qualifying for Social Security Disability To qualify for social security disability benefits, a person must be fully disabled, and in such a way that working any of your previous jobs is no longer possible. The injury will also have made working at a less physically or mentally demanding job impossible. Any gainful employment or earnings must be considered as well, since people making more than a certain monthly threshold no longer qualify for social security disability. Social Security and Social Security Disability Similarities As noted above, one of the key similarities between social security retirement benefits and social security disability is that they both draw from payroll taxes from a worker’s wages. Additionally, work credits are used to determine eligibility and the amount of benefits. Social Security and Social Security Disability Differences The primary difference between social security retirement benefits and social security disability is the circumstances in which these benefits are given. There’s a strict set of guidelines to qualify for social security disability benefits. Can I Receive Both Social Security Benefits Simultaneously? No, it is not possible to collect social security retirement benefits and social security disability benefits at the same time. It may be more advantageous to a person to collect one type of benefits rather than another, however. Legal Assistance with Social Security Disability Issues Since social security disability insurance is crucial for many disabled workers, it’s important to have a lawyer on your side for assistance. An attorney can assist you with denied claims and any disputes over amounts given by the Social Security Administration. The expertise and peace of mind will prove invaluable given the complexities of the process an the amount of benefits at stake. Contact Flickinger Sutterfield & Boulton For more information about social security disability issues and how our lawyers can help you with your situation, we encourage you to contact our experienced team of lawyers. We at Flickinger Sutterfield & Boulton are here to help you. You can call our Provo office 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.
Why Do I Need a Social Security Disability Attorney?
Social security disability insurance (SSD/SSDI) can help those unable to work due to injury or disability. Individuals need to apply to receive these benefits, and their claim must be approved by the Social Security Administration. This can be easier said than done since many claims for social security disability benefits are denied and require appeal. The Provo, UT lawyers of Flickinger Sutterfield & Boulton have helped many people who were denied social security disability benefits and needed to go through the appeals process. We’d like to consider why an attorney is helpful for this process, and the benefits of seeking the aid of a lawyer when it comes to any kind of SSD matter. Denial of Social Security Disability Claims The majority of SSD claims are initially denied by the Social Security Administration. This may be due to improperly filled out forms, lack of medical documentation, or other issues. It’s been estimated that between 65 and 75 percent of SSD claims are initially denied, eventually being appealed before an administrative law judge (ALJ). How an Attorney Can Help with Initial Claims Working with an experienced SSD attorney can increase your chances of having your initial claim approved by the Social Security Administration. Some sources estimate that up to 30 percent of people who work with an attorney on their initial claim will be approved. You’ll notice that even with that improvement in approval, there is still a large number of claims that will be denied and require appeal. This is when an attorney’s expertise will be especially helpful. Administrative Law Judge Hearings As noted above, the denial of an SSD claim can be appealed in a hearing before an administrative law judge. You will have 60 days following claim rejection to apply for an appeal. During the actual hearing, the judge will explain issues with your SSD claim. You and any witnesses (such as doctors) will be able to provide testimony and answer questions for the judge. All testimony is provided under oath. Once the hearing is completed, the administrative law judge will review the evidence and proceed to issue a written decision. How an Attorney Can Help with the Administrative Hearing Having professional legal representation with you in an administrative law judge hearing can make a major difference. According to a piece on Nolo, 71 percent of people hired an attorney for their ALJ hearing. Of that number, 50 percent of claimants had their benefits approved, while just 23 percent of claimants did not. An attorney understands which witnesses would be best to appear in your hearing, and what kinds of questions should be asked to provide favorable testimony. If the ALJ hearing does not go your way, further legal assistance will be crucial for a federal court hearing to receive your SSD benefits. At a federal court level, a social security lawyer will most certainly be essential. Is a Social Security Disability Attorney Worth the Cost? This will depend on the individual, but in most cases, yes, the assistance of a lawyer is worth the cost so that you can receive SSD. Many attorneys will only charge their fee if your case is successful. This is why it is so beneficial to you to consider speaking with an experience lawyer as you undergo this process. Contact an Experienced Lawyer About Your Case To learn more about your rights and options and how our legal team can help you, contact the lawyers of Flickinger Sutterfield & Boulton. We are here to answer your questions and address your concerns as they arise. You can also reach our law firm by calling (801) 370-0505.
Social Security Disability Qualifications
When people suffer from long-term disability, they may have the right to seek disability benefits through social security. There are many requirements that must be met for a person to obtain these benefits, and the filing process can be complicated. At Flickinger Sutterfield & Boulton, our attorneys have experience handling various types of lawsuits that cover all areas of the law. Our experienced disability attorneys can be a great asset when filing for social security disability. We understand the social security disability qualifications that our Provo, UT clients must meet to obtain benefits. Our attorneys will gather the evidence necessary to prove our client’s case so they get the disability payments they need to support themselves. Defining Disability Many people do not seek the social security disability benefits they are due because they don’t realize that they qualify. One common misconception is that a disability must be physical in nature for benefits to be available. In truth, disability is defined by social security as any condition (physical or mental) that is severe enough to inhibit a person’s ability to work and earn a livable income. Who Is Eligible? To qualify for social security disability, individuals must meet certain eligibility requirements. Following are some of the factors that will be considered by social security: The severity of the disability: A minor disability is not enough to qualify someone for social security benefits. Instead, the condition must be classified as severe. However, severe is a subjective term. Essentially, a severe disability is one that has a significant impact on a person’s normal daily functions and activities. The duration of the disability: Another important factor that is considered prior to providing social security disability is how long the disability has been present or will be present. To qualify for disability, a condition must last for a minimum of 12 months. Even if a disability completely incapacitates a person, they will not qualify for benefits if doctors believe the condition will resolve itself within less than a year. An inability to return to former work: To qualify for social security disability, the debilitating condition must not only exclude the person from returning to their current work, but any jobs that have been held in the previous 15 years. Disabilities must also be substantial enough that they prohibit the individual from doing some other type of work. In addition to the abovementioned criteria, candidates for social security disability must meet some non-medical conditions. To qualify for benefits, the individual must be able to prove that he or she is either a citizen or has alien status, and that he or she has social security insurance through his or her work record. Other information that may be requested include a birth certificate and any applicable marriage license. Contact Us Social security is often quick to deny disability benefits, so it is important for applicants to have an experienced attorney, such as those at Flickinger Sutterfield & Boulton, working on their side. If you have questions about your rights to social security disability, or need help filing for your benefits, contact us at your earliest convenience.