Data recently published by Statistica shows that the United States’ unemployment rate is currently the lowest that it’s been in years at right around 4 percent. This low of an unemployment rate would usually make it difficult for business owners to find employees to fill their vacancies.
One type of worker that may benefit from this low unemployment rate are those with disabilities. Currently, they only occupy 3.2 percent of all positions in the country. In 2016, their unemployment rate was just over 10 percent, more than double that of the general population.
Many workforce analysts argue that the unemployment rates of disabled workers remains high because many employers are unwilling to make minor modifications to an employee’s job tasks or work spaces.
Forward-thinking employers are starting to understand that disabled workers’ life experiences can give these employees a work ethic that’s unparalleled among their other staff members. As more employers realize this and disabled workers get hired on, it gives way to questions about how Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) eligibility works.
Workers receiving SSDI generally can continue to receive it so long as they don’t earn more than $1,180 per month on the job. A recipient may even be able to make more than that during nine months during a three year period and continue receiving benefits during the months they earn lower than that as well.
The Social Security Administration (SSA) announces its forecast annually for how much longer funds will be available to fund payouts to older Americans and disabled individuals if the programs aren’t reworked. The return of workers who of historically received SSDI has the potential to greatly diminish the amount of payouts and thus extend the longevity of this SSA-administered program.
What’s not likely to change though is the rate with which disabled people are approved to receive SSDI benefits. More people apply to receive assistance each year than SSA staff can handle. This and a applicant’s poor preparation often results in regular denials of first-time claims.
This is one of the reasons that it may be in a prospective recipient’s best interest discuss their situation with a Trenton Social Security Disability Insurance attorney. By doing so, it may shed light light on potential errors that may end up with an application being denied.