About Social Security Disability Insurance

Established in 1956, Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) serves as an essential social insurance program, supporting individuals whose physical or mental impairments are so debilitating that they are unable to engage in substantial work. The inability to work, compounded by disability-related expenses, can render meeting basic financial needs extremely challenging.

• The Social Security system safeguards American workers and their families against disability, death, and retirement.
• SSDI delivers crucial economic security to over 8 million disabled workers.
• Limited alternatives are available; merely 1 in 3 private sector workers possess employer-provided disability insurance.
• Eligibility for benefits requires workers to have contributed to Social Security through payroll taxes
• Average benefits are modest, with the typical disabled worker receiving approximately $1,360 per month
• Strict Social Security disability criteria must be met for qualification
• For most disabled workers, benefits replace half or less of pre-disability earnings
• By maintaining the program's strength for contributors, it helps prevent severe consequences such as homelessness caused by foreclosures, evictions, and bankruptcies.

The anticipated growth in Social Security disability insurance enrollment can be attributed to demographic factors.

The recent increase in SSDI recipients was expected, but it is now stabilizing. What factors contributed to this growth?

BABY BOOMERS: Aging and entering their "peak disability years." The likelihood of being disabled doubles from age 40 to age 50 and doubles again from age 50 to age 60. WOMEN: A growing number of women have joined the workforce in recent decades, making them eligible for benefits. 

INCREASED RETIREMENT AGE: As the Social Security retirement age increases, disabled workers remain on SSDI for longer periods before transitioning to retirement benefits.