How Many People Receive Disability Benefits?

When an adult becomes disabled due to an injury or a serious disease or condition, it is important to find out more about eligibility for disability benefits through the Social Security Administration (SSA). There are different kinds of disability benefits available to many people, including private disability benefits (often through an employer), as well benefits through the SSA. In general, the SSA administers two separate disability benefits programs: Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Thousands of disabled Americans receive these benefits on a monthly basis, and it is important to know that you are not alone in seeking SSDI or SSI benefits that you need.

When you are in the early steps of applying for disability benefits or considering applying for disability benefits, you may be wondering: how many people receive disability benefits? And does the total number of disability benefit recipients impact application approvals? Our national SSDI lawyers can give you more information.

Understanding SSDI and SSI 

Before we discuss the numbers of SSDI and SSI recipients, it is important to learn a little more about these two disability programs administered by the SSA.

The SSDI program pays benefits to disabled workers who have worked for a long enough period of time, and for a sufficient number of hours, to earn SSDI protection. General eligibility is not based on your income (or lack of income or assets), although the amount you receive will be based on your paycheck when you were working. Differently, SSI is a program designed for disabled people with limited income and assets. You do not have to prove any work record to be eligible for SSI benefits, but your eligibility will be based on your having proof of limited income and assets.

Both SSDI and SSI require recipients to show that they have a disabling condition that prevents them from engaging in substantial gainful activity (i.e., work), and that their condition is expected to last for at least one year or to result in death.

Numbers of SSDI and SSI Recipients 

How many people receive SSDI and SSI benefits, and can that affect your eligibility for benefits? In short, the current rate of people receiving benefits does not impact whether a new applicant will be approved. Your application will be considered based on the specific requirements for SSDI or SSI, depending upon which you are seeking.

Now, how many people currently receive these benefits? According to data from the SSA, in June 2023, there were more than 8,700 recipients of SSDI benefits (including more than 7,500 disabled workers as well as their spouses and children), and nearly 7,500 SSI recipients. Data from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities suggests that nearly 156 million workers in the U.S. currently have sufficient work credits to be eligible for SSDI benefits if they were to develop a disabling illness or injury.

Contact a National SSDI Attorney 

If you have questions about seeking Social Security disability benefits, you should reach out to a national SSDI benefits lawyer at the Law Offices of Stephen Barszcz today for assistance.

Sources:

sa.gov/disability/

cbpp.org/research/social-security/social-security-disability-insurance-0#:~:text=SSDI%20is%20an%20earned%20benefit,disabled%2Dworker%20benefits%20from%20SSDI

ssa.gov/policy/docs/quickfacts/stat_snapshot/