In December 2014, the Social Security Administration (SSA) released its Annual Statistical Report on the Social Security Disability Insurance Program, 2013. The information provided in the report is interesting, but how important is it to you?
First the Facts
Some of the highlights of the SSA report included the following statistics:
- Approximately 10.2 million people receive Social Security disability benefits from the SSA.
- More than 87% of those receiving Social Security disability benefits were disabled workers. The remaining beneficiaries were relatives of disabled workers who qualified for benefits.
- About 33% of Social Security disability benefits were based on a diagnosis of a mental disorder.
- The average age of a Social Security disability beneficiary was 53.
- The average monthly payment to a Social Security disability beneficiary was $1,146.42.
- In Texas, approximately 617,950 people received Social Security benefits in 2013. This accounted for about 3.8% of the population aged 18-64. Mental disorders were the most common reasons for Texans to receive Social Security disability. However, many other conditions also qualified individual Texans for benefits.
The 184-page report breaks down these numbers further by residency, age, sex, and disability for the last 40 years. It also details reasons for denial and termination of benefits and many other aspects of the Social Security disability insurance program.
Ultimately, the Facts of Your Claim Are What Matter
Your Social Security disability application is going to be decided based on the unique facts that you present to the SSA. If you can establish that you meet the requirements for Social Security disability, you should get benefits regardless of how other cases have been decided.
For more information on how to protect your rights, please read our free guide, Social Security Disability: What You Need to Know.
by Paul B. Burkhalter Managing Partner of Morgan Weisbrod , Board Certified in Social Security Disability Law.