Earlier this month, the Center for American Progress released an excellent report about how important Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits are for poorer Americans.
You can view the report by clicking on the source link below. According to its authors, which includes Rebecca Vallas, the former deputy director of government affairs at the National Organization of Social Security Claimants’ Representatives, SSDI now protects more than nine out of every 10 Americans in the event of a life-changing disability.
“While benefits are modest, averaging just $1,165 per month, [SSDI] plays a significant role in boosting economic security for beneficiaries, and for 8 out of 10 beneficiaries it is their main or only source of income,” the report stated.
Without benefits, more than 4 million more Americans would live in poverty, the report said. SSDI benefits are also incredibly important to workers in low wage positions, as very few (just 7 percent of workers making less than $12 an hour) work for employers who provide alternative disability insurance options.
According to the Center for American Progress, the federal poverty line for an individual is $981 per month or about $11,770 per year—this is slightly less than the average SSDI recipient benefit as of April 2015. ‘[SSDI] is a lifeline to millions of Americans, providing critical economic security when it is needed most,” the organization reported.
Our Social Security Disability Attorneys Are Here for You
Over the last two years, there have been attacks on SSDI in the media, as recipients are portrayed as lazy or entitled. This could not be further from the truth. The overwhelming majority of beneficiaries are disabled because of accidents or life-threatening illnesses. Most are forced out of the workforce, with limited income options.
Remember, in order to collect SSDI, you must have earned work credits. If you need assistance with an application or appeal, contact our Tulsa SSDI attorneys today.
Our firm is committed to assisting people who are unable to work due to their disabilities, who need a lending hand.
Troutman & Troutman, P.C. – Tulsa Social Security disability attorneys
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