Disability Facts   

Disability is more common than you think, it can happen to anyone:

·    According to the United States Census Bureau, over 51 million Americans are classified as disabled.

·     A disabling injury occurs every two seconds. 

·    Three in 10 workers entering the work force today will become disabled before retiring.

·    Over 6.8 million workers are receiving Social Security Disability benefits, almost half are under age 50.

Disability often keeps people out of work:

·     An illness or accident will keep 1 in 5 workers out of work for at least a year during their working careers.

·     One in 7 workers can expect to be disabled for five years or more before retirement

·     The average long-term disability absence lasts 2.5 years.

Disability can cause financial hardship:

·    Two-thirds of American families live from paycheck to paycheck.

·    Unexpected illnesses and injuries cause 350,000 personal bankruptcies each year.

·     Disability causes nearly 50% of all mortgage foreclosures, 2% are caused by death.  

Most American workers can't afford to become disabled:

·    Over 70% of working Americans do not have enough savings to meet short-term emergencies.

·     According to the Federal Reserve, 44% of U.S. families spend more than they earn.

·    For the average American household, the savings rate is negative, the lowest since 1933, and credit card debt is at an all-time high.

·    Over 50% of the workforce has no private pension coverage and a third have no retirement savings.

Social Security and Workers' Compensation may not be adequate:

·    Over 90% of disabling accidents and illnesses are not work related.

·    The average monthly Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefit is $978.

·    Less than half - 39% - of the 2.1 million workers who applied for SSDI benefits in 2005 were approved.

Most American workers are not covered by disability insurance:

·    Over 100 million workers do not have private disability income insurance.

·    70% of the private sector workforce has no long-term disability insurance.