WELFARE
Why do so few Americans understand how SSDI payments work?
A survey conducted by law firm Atticus has shown that startlingly few seniors understand the rules regarding disability benefits and how to access them.
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is one of the most important benefits programmes available to Americans. More than 8 million people right now can access it, providing many with access to funds after being ruled unfit for work. They aren’t quite as freely available as the more common Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments, however.
Everyone can access SSI payments when they retire, but the same is not the case for disabled Americans and SSDI payments. Aspects like work credits and definitions of disability make the process difficult and confusing, potentially preventing people who are eligible for the support from accessing it.
Indeed, a survey conducted by attorneys at Atticus, a law firm specialising in helping seniors access their benefits, has found that the vast majority of Americans do not know their rights with regard to SSDI payments.
They sent an assessment to more than 1,000 people with disabilities to find out how many knew the facts about SSDI coverage. Only 5% got every question correct.
Headline figures from the Atticus study
- 1 in 8 Americans with disabilities have applied for Social Security retirement benefits.
- 35% of people did not know that your spouse and child may be eligible for SSDI benefits if you are approved.
- Nearly 40% of people do not know you can receive both SSDI and SSI payments at the same time.
- 44% of people did not know that the severity of disability affects the support you can access.
- 46% of people wrongly believed you need to pay 10 years of taxes to access SSDI payments.
On average, it took seven months for an initial decision to be made.
“Legally, advice we always have for applicants is apply as soon as their condition prevents them from working — and not to wait to see if they’ll get better/be able to go back to work,” said Sarah Aitchison, lawyer at Atticus.
“Like those surveyed know: the process is long — and it could be years before they’ll be approved,” she added. “If they can’t work, and wait too long to apply, they may jeopardize their eligibility — or the size of their benefit checks.”
Why do so few Americans understand how SSDI payments work?
SSDI eligibility is based on a combination of factors, including work history, disability severity, and financial need, which makes an application daunting at first. Some disabilities are not covered in the list of conditions, making decisions take longer as applicants must prove the injury or illness prevents them from performing “a substantial gainful activity”.
Some disabilities would mean applicants are incapable of completing the process themselves. Wider education on SSDI or the use of specialists during applications are likely to speed up the process and ensure no mistakes. Indeed, the Atticus study found applicants using lawyers were far more aware than those who didn’t about the ins and outs of the system.