Individuals who can no longer work because of an illness or injury often find Social Security disability benefits to be hugely beneficial. However, millions of Americans are waiting to be approved. According to one news source, there are currently 1.8 million pending claims. The millions who are waiting to be approved for Social Security disability benefits sometimes have to wait as many as 800 days.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 13 percent of the 27 million Americans age 16 and older with disabilities are unemployed. Although that is slightly less than last year’s unemployment rate, which sat at 14.3 percent, some people suggest that more Americans with disabilities are simply dropping out of the job market. The BLS reports that the market participation for people with disabilities dropped by 0.3 percentage points to 20.7 percent.
Last year, about 2.9 million Americans applied for Social Security disability benefits. While that number is two percent less than the year before, millions of Americans are still waiting to receive SSDI. With no job and no disability benefits, individuals may find themselves in a troubling situation.
Those who have dropped out of the workforce because of an illness or injury may find it beneficial to work with an experienced attorney as they begin the SSDI application process. As evidenced by the long waiting period, it can be difficult to work with government agencies. An attorney can help an individual throughout the entire process, and in some cases, help them get the financial support they need and deserve faster.
Source: LifeHealthPro, “More People with Disabilities Find Jobs,” Allison Bell, Jan. 20 2012
