Disability Payments Help Those Who Cannot Work
Many illnesses and injuries can leave people unable to work and provide for themselves and their families. Both physical conditions and mental conditions can make one eligible for Social Security Disability (SSD) payments.
PITTSBURGH, PA, September 17, 2012
Many illnesses and injuries can leave people unable to work and provide for themselves and their families. Both physical conditions (such as traumatic brain injuries, cancer or chronic fatigue syndrome) and mental conditions (such as anxiety or schizophrenia) can make one eligible for Social Security Disability (SSD) payments.The Social Security Disability program began in 1957 to help people who are too sick to work, and the numbers of people receiving help from this program have continued to grow. In 2000, 6.6 million people in the U.S. received disability payments. That number has grown to 8 million Americans this year.
Across the nation, rates of disability vary widely. In 2009, Pennsylvania ranked 17th in the nation for the number of people receiving disability payments and New York ranked 27th. That means 4.5 percent of working-age adults (ages 15 to 64) in New York received disability payments in 2009, while 5.3 percent of working-age adults in Pennsylvania received disability benefits.
As a whole, Americans living in rural areas have higher rates of disability than urban Americans. In rural counties, the average rate of working-age Americans receiving disability payments is 7.6 percent, which is higher than the overall rate of 4.6 percent. In urban areas, the rate is slightly lower at 4.2 percent. In many rural areas, physically demanding occupations in the coal mining and timber industries can cause injuries and conditions that leave people unable to continue their livelihoods.
To claim SSD benefits, people must show that a disability makes it impossible to work and that their condition will last for at least a year. In 2009, the average monthly benefit was $1,067 a month. On average, children of disabled workers received $318 a month and spouses of disabled workers received $287 a month. A qualified Social Security Disability attorney can help determine whether you are eligible to apply for benefits.
Attorney Kenneth Hiller, of The Law Offices of Kenneth Hiller, PLLC, is dedicated to helping disabled clients obtain the Social Security benefits they need and deserve.
Law Offices of Kenneth Hiller, PLLC
301 Grant Street
Pittsburgh PA 15219
http://www.kennethhillerlaw.com