Disability Statistics for the United States

According to a post on "Disability Bits": More than fifty million Americans have some level of disability. Of these individuals, forty-four percent have a disability that is not considered severe and are able to work year round on a full-time basis. Also, of this total number, 80 percent are individuals who are eighty years of age or older. Additionally, among the total number of fifty-plus million (actual number - 51.2 million) are 1 million individuals who report that they are unable to hear and 1.8 million individuals who report that they are unable to see.

This information was drawn from U.S. census data released by the federal government in august of 2006



Return to Home - Social Security Disability Resource Center





How many Social Security disability cases are approved for back pain?
If you have had a heart attack will you qualify for Social Security disability?
How does Social Security consider lupus as a disability?

Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act

The anniversary of the ADA, or Americans with disabilities act, is on July 26th. When was the ADA passed? In 1990. For additional information regarding the ADA, its goals, and its effects on American society, you may wish to view this following page on the Social Security Disability Resource Center:

What is the Americans with Disabilities Act or ADA?


Return to Home - Social Security Disability Resource Center






How is SSI different from Social Security Disability?
Can you file for Social Security disability for a mental disorder or problem?
Is multiple sclerosis considered a disability by Social Security?

Fica Taxes

Unless an individual is self-employed, their social security taxes (to insure them for social security retirment benefits when they reach retirement age and to insure them for disability benefits should they become disabled prior to retirement age) are withheld from their paychecks by their employer. Social security taxes are otherwise known as fica taxes (fica stands for federal insurance contributions act).

How much is withheld from a paycheck by an employer to pay social security taxes? Employers are required to withhold 6.2 percent of a workers gross pay to account for social security taxes. Additionally, an employer must also take out a payroll tax of 1.45 percent to account for medicare.


Return to Home - Social Security Disability Resource Center





What is the process to file a Social Security Disability appeal?
What are the chances of winning disability benefits through an appeal?
How severe must a condition be to qualify for Social Security disability?

Social Security Disability Resource Site

The Social Security Disability Resource Site provides general information about various Social Security disability topics, as well as some information about long-term disability and workman’s compensation, as they relate to Social Security disability benefits. Furthermore, the Social Security Disability Resource Site has a web page that provides “tips” for winning disability if you have certain medical or mental impairments such as fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis, diabetes, anxiety and depression, arthritis, and heart disease. The Social Security Disability Resource Site has a “What’s New” page that is being developed at this time, and this may possibly provide new information about the Social Security disability process when completed. Overall, this website does provide some useful information about Social Security Disability.

Return to Home - Social Security Disability Resource Center




How can you speed up Social Security Disability ?
Is Social Security required to make a decision on a disability case in a certain time period?
What options do you have after a disability claim has been denied?

Wikipedia Social Security Disability Page

Wikipedia provides a page titled Social Security Disability, and the page is informative and concise. Another benefit of the Wikipedia Social Security page is that it is not provided for the purpose of financial gain. Some of the topics covered by the Wikipedia Social Security Disability page are as follows: qualifications (to receive disability from Social Security), how long it may take to process your disability claim at each level of the disability process, and a small section addressing the perceived benefits of SSDI over Long Term Disability insurance. Of course, the last section is subjective in nature, however it does provide some useful information. Additionally, the Wikipedia Social Security page provides many useful links to other sites dealing with Social Security disability.






For information on Social Security Disability, visit the

Social Security Disability SSI Resource Center















Additional Resources

How to get Disability Approved
What does a lawyer do to help on Social Security disability ?
Determination of disability claim

Social Security Blog

Jonathan Ginsberg moderates the Social Security Blog. The Social Security Blog is composed of a question or comment section with answers and commentary provided by Mr. Ginsberg. In reviewing some of the question and answer portions of the blog, it appears that Mr. Ginsberg is providing useful information to those individuals who have asked questions. Along the right edge of the Social Security Blog website, Mr. Ginsberg has provided files, which contain a variety of Social Security Disability program information as well as information about various medical conditions as they relate to Social Security disability. Mr. Ginsberg cites other sources and provides some links to other blogs and websites on a variety of medical and legal subjects. The Social Security Disability Blog appears to provide useful information for individuals who have Social Security disability questions.






For information on Social Security Disability, visit the

Social Security Disability SSI Resource Center















Additional Resources

Hearings for Disability
Social Security Disability Appeals Process
Who qualifies for disability benefits ?

Disability Income Insurance Protection, Part III

There are many different options when it comes to disability income insurance, so it is best to educate yourself and know what you are looking for. You may choose total or partial disability insurance. You may look for a plan that covers you until age 65 or one that only covers a five-year period. You may choose a short or long waiting period, which is the time before your benefits begin. And you may even choose to add a rider, which is an optional, additional coverage on your policy that can be specific to your needs.

All of these choices will affect your benefit premium. Partial insurance is cheaper than total disability, a five-year coverage is cheaper than one that covers you until age 65, and electing for a longer waiting period will be cheaper than electing to receive your benefits immediately. In addition, a rider usually carries a premium.

Although disability income insurance can be costly, one might want to consider how costly it may be to forgo protection and find themselves suddenly disabled and unable to work. Not only will quality of life suffer, but so will quality of medical care.







For information on Social Security Disability, visit the

Social Security Disability SSI Resource Center















Additional Resources

Receive an Approval for Social Security Disability
How often does someone get disability approved in just a few months ?
If a reconsideration is denied for Social Security Disability or SSI

Disability Income Insurance Protection, Part II

Disability income insurance helps to replace a portion of lost earnings and could possibly protect your ability to contribution to your retirement fund due to sickness or injury.

There are alternatives to buying disability income insurance, but they are not exceptionally attractive. One could rely on Social Security, yet qualifying is challenging and the amount of benefits depends upon contribution status, income and age, as well as many other variables. In essence, it is not a stable amount that can be relied upon. One might also try to rely on a company paid long-term disability (LTD) insurance, though it is best to run over these policies with a fine tooth comb. Most of these employer paid benefits only cover between thirty to fifty percent of annual earning, without bonuses and retirement contributions.

Other alternatives include using your savings account or borrowing money. Both of these options are very unstable. The savings account can be drained quickly, and how much can one continue to borrow if they are not meeting their own living expenses? Considering these alternatives, you may choose to opt for purchasing disability income insurance.






For information on Social Security Disability, visit the

Social Security Disability SSI Resource Center















Additional Resources

How often does someone get disability approved in just a few months ?
Can you get a disability decision in under a month ?
Can my child receive disability for asthma ?

Disability Income Insurance Protection, Part I

In the event that you become sick or injured and unable to earn income, your savings could be quickly depleted. In addition, your home, retirement plans and family could be affected, as well as your basic necessities and goals. While no one wants to think that disability could affect them, the truth is that it very well could.

Social Security sources report that while 75% of the private-sector workforce does not have long-term disability income insurance, almost 30% of today’s 20 year-old workers will become disabled before they turn 67. Other reports and statistics are just as staggering in their findings, that nine million people over age 65 currently need long-term care, while estimates say that number will reach twelve million by 2020.

Considering all the costs to keep a life running smoothly, from housing, food and clothing, to vehicle maintenance, monthly utilities and possible medical expenses, the affordability of disability income insurance should not cause hesitation. If you find yourself suddenly unable to bring in a monthly income, the results could be devastating.






For information on Social Security Disability, visit the

Social Security Disability SSI Resource Center















Additional Resources

Are you allowed to work at all if you get Social Security disability or SSI ?
Advice for a Social Security Disability Continuing Review
can I lose my disability benefits at some point ?

Filing for Disability

InfoMin (Medical Information Network) provides a web page, Filing for Disability, the apparent purpose of which is to provide interesting articles about the Social Security disability process, as well as other health related information. Many of the articles about negotiating the disability process are written by Scott E. Davis, Esquire, although there are links to articles written by others as well.

The articles contained on the Filing for Disability web page address Social Security medical listings, work issues and Social Security disability, and Social Security and certain types of illness such as fibroymyalgia and chronic pain syndrome. This website has a multitude of articles addressing all aspects of Social Security disability. Additionally, InfoMin provides links to other informative Social Security disability sites and health related websites such as ImmuneSupport.Com.

Although the site does not appear to have been updated for a couple of years, most of the information is relevant and informative.






For information on Social Security Disability, visit the

Social Security Disability SSI Resource Center















Additional Resources

Social Security Disability Medical Review
Social Security Disability Approval
Social Security Disability Health Coverage

Social Security Disability Claims

Social Security Disability Claims is a website created by a private law firm, which represents individuals who are filing for Social Security disability across the nation. The homepage addresses the definition of disability under the Social Security Disability Act, explains the difference between the two disability programs that are administered by the Social Security Administration, as well as providing an eighteen question FAQ page that addresses other common questions about Social Security disability. The primary function of this Social Security disability website appears to be to provide general information about the disability process and the benefits of obtaining a representative for your Social Security disability claim.






For information on Social Security Disability, visit the

Social Security Disability SSI Resource Center















Additional Resources

An SSI case for disability-who is eligible ?
Social Security disability and assets
Social Security Disability Denial Letter

Sites of Interest

Review of Social Security News
Review of Social Security Disability Claims
Review of Info Min
Review of the social security blog
Review of the Wikipedia social security disability page
Review of the social security disability resource site
Review of Disability Lawyers
Review of Lawyers dot com
Review of Severe
Review of Sheri Abrams attorney site
Review of Disability Facts aka Physicians disability services
Review of Social security disability Radio
Review of Disability Guide
Review of Disability Web ring
Reivew of Social Security Disability - How it works
Review of Dealing with disability
Review of Legal talk network.com
Review of How to get SSI and SSD
Review of site for a Texas Social Security Disability Attorney
Review of Hippofindlaw site
Review of Missouri Social Security Disability Attorneys
Review of Maryland Disability Lawyers
Review of Tips for a person filing for Social Security disability
Review of Disability Benefits
Review of Compliance Alliance
Review of Milebluff
Review of Morrison Law
Review of SSD Petition
Review of Disability forms
Review of Maryland Social Security Disability Attorney
Review of Allsup.inc website
Dynamic Disability solutions
Review of Binder and Binder site
Review of AARP.org website
Review of Social Security Disability Links
Review of Centers for medicare and medicaid services
Review of Disability Attorney.net
Review of Nami.org
Review of Medical information network
Senior Mag.com Review
Review of Al Migliore's site
Review of one of the many About sites
Review of the NALA site
Review of Brown and Crouppen
Review of Munley, Munley, and Cartwright
Review of Heard and Smith

Social Security News

A blog authored by North Carolina Social Security Disability Attorney, Charles Hall. The blog occasionally makes reference to current news stories. However, the primary focus of this blog is the social security disability program and the SSI disability program. More so than any other blog or news source, Social Security News manages to stay abreast of up-to-the-minute changes concerning the social security administration, the budgeting issues that surround that government organization, and the current state of the federal disability system. Additionally, this blog is interactive in a way that few are, as polls are routinely conducted on various issues of interest to both disability claimants and professionals working within the disability system.






For information on Social Security Disability, visit the

Social Security Disability SSI Resource Center















Additional Resources

How to qualify for disability
How do you find out if a Social Security disability claim has been approved or denied ?
Is qualifying for SSI different than SSD or social security disability?

Can you get Long term Disability insurance coverage without a social security disability offset reduction?

Typically, if you are approved for ltd, long term disability benefits, the insurance carrier will want to recover your social security disability backpayment if you are approved for social security disability.

However, The Standard has announced a new product plan that is being offered to employers "with large groups of employees at higher risk for disability, such as retail workers or those who perform physically demanding jobs." which will not reduce benefits if other forms of income (such as social security disability) are received. The tradeoff to this is that the actual ltd benefit amount is lower than usual.






For information on Social Security Disability, visit the

Social Security Disability SSI Resource Center















Additional Resources

Medical Condition - Social Security Disability
Win Benefits – Social Security Disability
Can you appeal a disability claim denial if the deadline has passed ?

Senior Living Community Center houses Brain Fitness Center

There's an old saying: use it or lose it. The Conservatory Senior Living Community Center in Keller, Texas apparently takes that saying to heart by not only equipping the center with a physical fitness center, complete with weights, exercise bikes, and treadmills, but also with a brain fitness center.

Designed for the purpose of maintaining a sharp mind, the center is outfitted with computers and headphones that allow residents to complete exercises that hone and sharpen their memory and concentration skills.

According to Dr. Sandra Chapman, director of the Center for Brain Health at the University of Texas at Dallas, "the brain can rewire itself and become stronger" and "mental stimulation can improve the brain's functioning at any age".

This, of course, is not new news to individuals who have always held the belief that "if you don't want to lose it, you should definitely use it".






For information on Social Security Disability, visit the

Social Security Disability SSI Resource Center

Starbucks forced to settle disability discrimination suit

The Starbucks corporation has agreed to settle a disability discrimination suit that was filed in 2006. The suit was filed on behalf of Christine Drake, a former Starbucks employee in Seattle, Washington, who has bipolar disorder, by the equal employment opportunity commission.

The discrimination suit stems from the firing of Ms. Drake after the coffee shop at which she was employed discontinued her extra training and support.

Starbucks agreed to pay eighty-five thousand to settle the suit, ten thousand of which will go to the Disability Rights legal center, an organization that provides legal services to lower income individuals with disabilities who are faced with discrimination issues.






For information on Social Security Disability, visit the

Social Security Disability SSI Resource Center

Possible Limited Waiver of the Five Month Waiting Period

The U.S. House of representatives now has a bill pending that would waive the infamous five month waiting period for individuals who have been approved for social security disability and are terminally ill. This piece of legislation is named for an individual named Joseph Seall who, because of the waiting period, did not live to see his first social security disability benefit check. The bill was introduced by Congressman Pickering of Mississippi and Congressman Earl Pomeroy of North Dakota. The The Pickering-Pomeroy bill would also have the commissioner of the social security administration review the evaluation process used for disability claims for the purpose of identifying solutions for possible reform.






For information on Social Security Disability, visit the

Social Security Disability SSI Resource Center

A few differences between benefit programs

An individual who becomes disabled (in some fashion and to some extent) may possibly, depending on their employment situation turn to any one of a number of disability benefit systems, including federal disability (social security disability and SSI), Veterans disability, or Workers compensation.

All of these systems are quite distinct and different.

The federal social security disability and SSI system awards benefits on the basis of total disability and the benchmark consideration is that an individual's disabling condition must have lasted a full year or be projected to last that long.

Veterans disability, by contrast, allows for percentage ratings, though, to receive monthly disability benefits, a veteran must be rated 30 percent disabled or greater.

Workers compensation is entirely different from either of these systems. Workers compensation is not a government benefit and is not standardized throughout the country. Quite the opposite, workers compensation benefits and the standards for approval differ from state to state, though, like veterans disability, an individual who is not permanently and totally disabled may receive consideration for the degree or extent to which they are disabled.






For information on Social Security Disability, visit the

Social Security Disability SSI Resource Center

Medicare, FMLA, Health Insurance, and living with Cancer

The following link leads to a response to a news story. The poster details some of the difficulties involved in dealing with cancer treatment while trying to maintain employment. As she states, companies will allow an employee to have 84 days off under the provisions of the FMLA, or family medical leave act. After that, she states "who wants to keep an employee who is going to be out of work more than in?".

Other issues cited by the poster involve the difficulty of maintaining employment due to the fatigue brought on by chemotherapy and the resulting quandry caused by the inability to maintain the health insurance provided by an employer. Cobra only allows an employee to maintain their health insurance benefits for 18 benefits (and this is not free---the former employee must pay the premium). However, after this period is up, the individual must attempt to find private insurance, which can be extraordinarily expensive (premiums of up to one thousand per month are not unheard of).

Crucial information that your average person with cancer has to deal with on a daily basis





For information on Social Security Disability, visit the

Social Security Disability SSI Resource Center

Improvements in Stents for heart patients

According to an article at BBC News, scientists are now working on providing better stents for heart patients who have suffered artery blockages and have been forced to undergo balloon angioplasty followed by stent placement.

Angioplasty involves the inflation of a balloon within an artery to open it up to increased blood flow (decreased blood flow to the heart can result in a myocardial infarction and even death). After the balloon has been removed, stents are inserted to maintain the dilated width of the artery. The need for stents is actually temporary. However, as they are made of metal, they stay in "for life". Unfortunately, stents are subject to becoming blocked themselves.

The solution: biodegradable stents that dissolve in about four months.






For information on Social Security Disability, visit the

Social Security Disability SSI Resource Center

Medicare and Coverage for Spinal disc replacements

Nearly a quarter million spinal fusion surgeries are performed each year in the United States. Spinal fusions, in many cases, are a last resort option for individuals with severe degenerative disc disease. Unfortunately, not all fusions are successful and in some patients continuing pain levels are significant, in addition to lost mobility as a result of having a fusion performed.

Many have hoped that artificial disc replacement would provide a superior alternative to back fusions. However, according to an article by the New York Times, individuals who are over the age of 60 will not qualify for medicare coverage of either ProDisc-L or Johnson and Johson's Charite Lumbar disc.






For information on Social Security Disability, visit the

Social Security Disability SSI Resource Center

Unfunded liabilities and Social Security

According to this Washingon times article, surpluses that would have accumulated in the social security trust fund have been exhausted by the current administration, and there does not seem to be an end in sight for this approach to funding the day-to-day operations of government. The most frightening part of the article is the disclosure from a report issued by the social security administration trustees: SSA's unfunded liabilities come to nearly five billion dollars. This is an incredible burden, no doubt, to continually build up for future generations.

Busting open the lock box






For information on Social Security Disability, visit the

Social Security Disability SSI Resource Center

Chronic fatigue Sufferers

This is a fairly good article about disability and chronic fatigue. However, the tail end of the article may be a bit misleading in that it seems to suggest that there is an actual listing for chronic fatigue as an impairment. Unfortunately, chronic fatigue is not included in the SSA listing manual, as of yet. And it is for this reason, among many others, that it can be difficult to be given an allowance for benefits on the basis of this impairment.

CFS and its legal ramifications






For information on Social Security Disability, visit the

Social Security Disability SSI Resource Center

Medicaid Problems in Kansas

Apparently, medicaid rule changes that are federal in origin and require states to verify citizenship are causing rather huge backlogs in the state of Kansas (and presumably elsewhere). How large is the large backlog? Up to 20,000 cases just in this one state alone. Presumably, this backlog affects MAF eligibility (medicaid - aid to families), MIC (medicaid for infants and children) and medicaid based on disability eligibility.






For information on Social Security Disability, visit the

Social Security Disability SSI Resource Center















Additional Resources

What is Social Security’s definition of disability ?
Appeal a disability claim
How does Social Security determine if I am disabled or not ?

Counseling and Coping for Arthritis Disability

According to an article by Health Behavioral News, individuals who suffer from arthritis (osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis) and who learn certain coping skills along with undergoing psychological counseling may be less subject to disability.

The article referenced a study of over three thousand individuals, seventy percent of whom were women, and the conclusions reached, or rather insights gained, by the study seem to be that therapies that change "unhelpful patterns of thinking" may produce differences in quality of life for arthritis patients.

Some of these therapies include biofeedback, hypnosis, and stress management techniques. In the study, those individuals who received counseling and training for the development of coping skills reported reductions in depression, anxiousness, and psychological disability. Some individuals also reported reductions in the swelling of joints, so a reduction in physical disability was also seen.

The results of the study are really not that surprising when one considers the fact that people with more social contacts and outlets tend to be healthier and individuals who are able to maintain higher mood levels, free of anxiety and depression, seem also to have stronger and healthier immune systems.






For information on Social Security Disability, visit the

Social Security Disability SSI Resource Center















Additional Resources

What happens after I file my disability claim ?
Reconsideration of a disability denial- what does it involve ?
How will an attorney help me win disability benefits ?

An Archive Page

This is an archive page set aside for keeping track of recent and older posts on this blog. Hopefully, as this blog grows, pages such as this will be useful in locating information that has been gathered and produced for this blog.

Too many?
More Disability Resources
Arc Link
Avery Barber
Analytic Rehab
Disability Claim Information
A legal resource page
Shining my light for him
Parsons Law Group
Odds of becoming disabled and unable to work for an extended time period?
Counseling and Coping for Arthritis Disability
Medicaid Problems in Kansas
Chronic fatigue sufferers
Unfunded liabilities and Social Security
Medicare and Coverage for Spinal disc replacements
Improvements in Stents for heart patients
Medicare, FMLA, Health Insurance, and living with Cancer
Differences in benefit programs
Possible Limited Waiver of the Five Month Waiting Period
Starbucks forced to settle disability discrimination suit
Senior Living Community Center houses Brain Fitness Center
Can you get Long term Disability insurance coverage without a social security disability offset reduction?
Social Security News
Sites of Interest
Social Security Disability Claims
Filing for Disability
Disability Income Insurance Protection, Part I
Disability Income Insurance Protection, Part II
Disability Income Insurance Protection, Part III
Social Security Blog
Wikipedia Social Security Disability Page
Social Security Disability Resource Site
Fica taxes
Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act
Disability Statistics for the United States
Disability Lawyers
Lawyers for social security
Social Security Disability Information at Severe
Sheri Abrams
Disability Facts
SSD Radio
Disability Guide
Disability Webring
Social Security Disability - How it works
Dealing with disability
Legaltalknetwork.com
How to get SSI and SSD
Texas Social Security Disability Attorney
Hippo.findlaw.com
Missouri Social Security Disability Attorneys
Maryland Disability Lawyers
Tips for a person filing for Social Security disability
Disability Benefits
Ada Hospitality
Disability and Stroke
Social Security Disability Lawyer Wilson NC North Carolina
Petition online
Disability forms
Maryland Social Security Disability Attorney
Allsup
SSAdisability.net
BinderandBinder
AARP site
Disability Links
CMMS
Mike Murburg
Nami
Infomin
Senior Mag
You can call meAL
About
NALA
Disability Lawyers in Missouri
Disability Lawyers in Pennsylvania
Disability Lawyers in Texas
Bipolar World
Osteoporosis FAQ page

What are the odds of becoming disabled to the point where you can't work for an extended period?

According to the Insurance Information Institute, the odds on this happening sometime during your working career are higher than you might think.

Most people don't think of 35 as an age where one is particularly "old" or subject to disability. However, at age 35 you have close to a 50% chance of becoming disabled for at least 3 months.

This is where LTD, or long term disability insurance can come into play in a big way. LTd policies are designed to provide replacement income if you become injured or sick during the course of your employment. Long term disability is different from social security disability in that SSD provides a monthly benefit based on what you've paid in FICA taxes over the years. And long term disability insurance is different from workers comp insurance in this way: workers comp only covers work-related injury or illness.

Long term disability insurance is actually a good way of covering your bases. How much will long term disability insurance provide you? Typically, this kind of insurance policy will provide you the equivalent of 65 or 66 percent of your base salary. So, about two-thirds.






For information on Social Security Disability, visit the

Social Security Disability SSI Resource Center















Additional Resources


If you get denied on a disability appeal can you get another?
Why do I need an attorney for Social Security disability ?
Will my disability case be reviewed after I have been approved for disability benefits ?