Social Security Disability Insurance

About Social Security Disability Insurance

Social Security Disability is essentially a type of long term disability insurance, with the distinction that it is, for most people in the United States, mandatory. It is thought that many people will not exercise the discipline of setting aside part of their income to pay for disability insurance, so the Federal Government requires most employers throughout the country to withhold a portion of their employees' wages as an automatic deduction to fund the Social Security Disability Insurance program. The current rate of deduction is 7.65%, and the employer is required to match the deduction-so all told, 15.3% of the money that your employer could be paying you goes to pay for SSDI.

The Social Security Administration estimates that the average 20-year old American worker has a three-in-ten chance of becoming disabled before reaching the age of retirement. If you have sustained an injury or illness which has left you disabled, you are not alone. In fact, there were more than 9.8 million people receiving disability benefits through SSDI in 2011, with payments totaling approximately $10.4 billion. The average monthly benefit paid to a SSD recipient was $1,110.50, though the benefit amount is adjusted periodically according to fluctuations in the cost of living and the consumer price index (CPI).

Filing a Claim for SSDI

The best action you can take to maximize your chances of a speedy and smooth claim process is to hire an attorney from Clawson & Clawson, LLP. Our attorneys have more than 100 years of combined experience, and we are prepared to help you navigate your way through every stage of the process, from preparing your application to representing you with the SSA staff and even appealing a wrongful denial of your claim.