Data from the U.S. Department of Labor shows that the unemployment rate for Americans with disabilities is rising. According to DisabilityScoop, data released earlier this month shows that the unemployment rate for individuals with disabilities reached 13.6 percent in May—up from 12.9 percent in April.
According to the DisabilityScoop, “the Labor Department said that the unemployment rate for the general population ticked up slightly to 7.6 percent in May from 7.5 percent the previous month while the economy added 175,000 jobs.” Therefore, the unemployment rate increase among disabled workers is greater than that of the public.
The data on disabled workers covers people over the age of 16 who do not live in institutions. It should be noted that earlier this year, it was reported that more than 50 percent of disabled workers earn less than $25,000 annually.
Disabled people who are searching for work may be eligible for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits, which are determined based on a person’s work history. The Social Security Administration (SSA) uses two different tests to evaluate a person’s work history. The first of these tests is the “Duration of Work Test,” while the second is the “Recent Work Test.” These tests take into account how long you have worked as well as how recently in order to determine whether you qualify for disability benefits.
If you have questions about applying for disability benefits, contact a Tulsa Social Security disability attorney. We offer free evaluations of your case, and you may reach us by phone at (918) 265-1404. Contact us today to learn more about your rights.
Troutman & Troutman, P.C. – Tulsa Social Security disability attorneys
Troutman Touts: To view your earning history, you should check your annual Social Security Administration statement.