If you have flown or plan to fly on an airplane with a disability, you need to hear this. According to the most recent Government Accountability Office data available, from 2005 to 2015, the number of disability-related complaints filed against major airlines more than doubled. Per the Government Accountability Office data, in 2005, there were less than 14,000 disability-related complaints filed against airlines. In 2015, the number of complaints filed by disabled people against major airlines increased to more than 30,000.
Why Are People with Disabilities Filing Complaints Against Airlines?
Over half the complaints (58 percent) had to with the airlines not providing disabled people with the help they needed, including failing to assist people with their wheelchairs, problems related to service animals, failing to provide proper seating accommodations and providing passengers with disabilities with damaged assistive devices.
In addition to the complaints included in the Government Accountability Office’s data, the US Department of Transportation received 944 disability-related complaints in 2015. This is a major increase from 2005 when the Department of Transportation received 511 similar complaints from disabled airline passengers.
What Types of Disabilities Qualify Me for Social Security Disability Benefits?
In the video below, Tulsa disability attorney Steve Troutman explains what types of mental and physical disabilities qualify people for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI).