THE FUTURE OF SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY BENEFITS
THE SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY PROGRAM IS GROWING
The Social Security Disability program has seen significant growth in both costs and the number of beneficiaries in the last 25 years. Since 1990, the age of the working population getting Social Security disability benefits has doubled—from about 1 in 40 individuals to about 1 in 20.
Government spending on the Social Security disability program has doubled since the year 2000. Some of this growth is due to aging baby boomers filing for and receiving SSDI benefits. Additionally, some growth is due to a greater number of women becoming part of the workforce. Also, the Social Security program is growing because the retirement age has increased over the past decade.
About 1/3rd of the drop in labor force participation from 2007 to 2013 is due to 2.1 million more Americans going on Social Security Disability Insurance. This may be because some individuals turned to the program as early retirement and a long term unemployment program, particularly during the recession.
The problem with this is that when those with temporary disabilities succeed in getting on benefits, they tend to stay in the program. Subsequently, over time their work skills erode. As individuals age and fail to gain new skills, it also becomes difficult for them to find a job.
HOW WILL THE SSA ADDRESS THE TRUST FUND SHORTFALL?
How will our government address the coming SSA trust fund shortfall?
First, the SSA has already spent significant amounts of money trying to root out fraud in the program (although there is very little evidence they have done anything other than waste resources and time).
Second, they also manipulate the administrative law system by reviewing every ALJ decision (both favorable and unfavorable) throughout the nation. This places a judge’s decision in the hands of a non-lawyer who reviews the case for conformity, rather than merit. There are many who question how a judge can objectively decide a case, when he or she is being forced to deny cases for a conformity quota.
The SSA’s efforts are misplaced. The SSA should consider replacing permanent benefits with a period of disability benefits that better reflects many medical conditions. Also, if they award short term benefits, then this allows for the possibility of future work capacity.
SSDI benefits, however, should not be eliminated or replaced. Instead, Congress should acknowledge that many people have severe medical conditions that are lengthy, but temporary. These people could return to work if given vocational rehabilitation and the incentive to do so.
OTHER CHANGES IN THE SOCIAL SECURITY PROGRAM
In the past few months there have been other changes in the Social Security program. First, the Trump administration and Elon Musk fired over 7000 SSA workers. The SSA program does not just process SSDI and SSI benefits. They also process retirement benefits to over 60 million Americans. Arguably, there were not enough SSA workers to process benefits to begin with.
Next, the SSA began to limit the ability to individuals to have easy access to SSA offices. They now no longer allow walk in visits to the local office. This includes visits for those who wish to retire or obtain a Social Security card. Instead, local offices require you to make an appointment if you wish to visit the office. The appointment needs to be made by phone. But, as anyone who has ever tried to call an SSA office knows, it can take hours for the SSA to answer the phone. Even then, once you are through a long wait, the SSA worker may hang up the phone and you have to call back.
The SSA is trying to force people to use the online system. They also want you to create a MySSA account. The SSA wants you to do this because by creating an account they can secure your identity online. Unfortunately, they seem more concerned about security than the people who do not have access to a computer, are computer illiterate, or who cannot physically travel to an SSA office. It remains to be seen if any of these changes will be useful to the program.
THE SOCIAL SECURITY PROGRAM & QUALIFYING FOR SSD BENEFITS
If you work and pay taxes, then you earn coverage in the Social Security program. However, you have to earn work credits to qualify for SSDI benefits. Qualifying for benefits requires 20 work quarters during the past 40 quarters prior to the onset of your disability. Another way to put this is you need at least 20 quarters of coverage (5 years) within a 10 year period to qualify for benefits.
During a quarter of coverage, an employee pays Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) taxes. Each year has four quarters. So, you have 4 chances each year to obtain a quarter of coverage. In 2024, you must earn $1730 in one quarter to obtain a quarter of coverage. Similarly, in 2025, to obtain a quarter of coverage you needed to earn $1810.
Social Security Disability is an insurance program. One that you work for. You pay into this program during your working life. All workers who pay taxes, pay into the program. Therefore, if you can no longer work and you apply for SSDI benefits, then you are asking the government to pay you your own money. The benefits are not welfare. Instead, they are benefits that were put aside for you in case you became disabled.
Likewise, they are not a handout from the state or the federal government. It is money you worked for and that belongs to you, if you can no longer work due to a severe medical condition.
That is why the government should not eliminate the SSDI program. The program belongs to the workers who pay, through their work and taxes, for the benefits. You can find out if you qualify for SSDI benefits by creating your account on Social Security’s website.
WE CAN HELP YOU WIN SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS
Our SSD law firm specializes in winning Social Security benefits under the SSA’s program. For the past 30 years, our legal team has focused on winning SSDI and SSI benefits. Our main office is in Salt Lake City, Utah. However, we also practice in Nevada, Idaho, and California. We have lawyers admitted to the bar in all of these states.
Because we have been in business for so long, we have extensive legal experience. We have won over 20,000 SSDI and SSI cases for our clients. We can help you win your benefits too. However, it is important to remember that winning Social Security benefits is a team effort. Our legal team cannot prepare your case without your help.
For example, we don’t automatically have access to your medical records. You need to provide us with that information. Then, you must give us permission to access your records. Also, we can’t fill out Social Security forms for you. We can’t do that because we don’t know how your pain impacts you.
Also, we don’t know how your mental condition may keep you from being a reliable employee. That is why we say that hiring us is hiring a legal team. One you can count on. We can help you fill out forms and file your application. Contact our law firm today for a free review of your SSD benefits.
