According to DisabilityScoop, there was a decrease in the number of unemployed disabled Americans in September.
The website reported that employment numbers from the U.S. Department of Labor were held up for several weeks due to the federal government shutdown. However, for the second consecutive month, disabled unemployment numbers for Americans fell, this time from 14.1 percent in August to 13.1 percent in September.
DisabilityScoop reported that the jobless rate for the general population remained relatively steady at 7.2 percent, as the economy added 148,000 jobs. The statistics for people with disabilities includes people who are over the age of 16, who do not live in institutions.
It is always encouraging when unemployment numbers dwindle. However, the gap between the rates of those who suffer from disabilities and those who do not is still alarming. Many 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 determine benefit eligibility including the “Duration of Work Test” and the “Recent Work Test”, which 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
