Disability Insurance Statistics

A disability can happen to anyone…at any time.

At age 40, the average worker faces only a 14 percent chance of dying before age 65 but a 21 percent chance of being disabled for 90 days or more.
– Insurance Information Institute, www.iii.org November, 2005

A 20-year old worker has a 30% chance of becoming disabled before retirement age, and only a 17% chance of dying before age 65.

– Social Security Administration Disability Benefits Publication; National Vital Statistics Report, 1999

51.2 million Americans have some level of disability. They represent 18% of the population.
– U.S. Census Bureau, July, 2006

The number of disabled workers in America has risen by 35% since 2000.

– Social Security Administration, 2007

In 2007, 12.8% of people ages 21-64 surveyed have a disabling illness.
– U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2007

You have a 1 in 21 chance that you’ll have a disabling accident.
– 2005 Field Guide to Estate Planning, Business Planning &Employee Benefits, by Donald Cady

In the U.S., a disabling injury occurs every 1 second, a fatal injury occurs every 4 minutes.
– National Safety Council®, Injury Facts® 2008 Ed.

In the last 10 minutes, 498 Americans became disabled.
– National Safety Council®, Injury Facts® 2008 Ed.

In the home, a fatal injury occurs every 12 minutes and a disabling injury every 3 seconds.
– National Safety Council®, Injury Facts® 2008 Ed.

There is a death caused by a motor vehicle crash every 12 minutes; there is a disabling injury every 13 seconds.
– National Safety Council®, Injury Facts® 2008 Ed.

Almost 3 in 10 workers entering the workforce today will become disabled before retirement.
– Social Security Administration, Fact Sheet, January 31, 2007

In 2007, the employment rate of working-age people with disabilities in the U.S. was 36.9%.
– U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2007

43%of all people age 40 will have a long-term disability event prior tage 65.

– JHA Disability Fact Book, 2006

A new Harvard University report reveals that 62 percent of all personal bankruptcies filed in the U.S. in 2007 were due to an inability to pay for medical expenses.
– June 4, 2009. The American Journal of Medicine.

Unfortunately, most Americans have little understanding of the likelihood of experiencing a disability. A recent CDA survey of workers found:

• 90 percent underestimate their own chances of becoming disabled.
• 85 percent express little or no concern that they might suffer a disability lasting three months or longer.
• 56 percent do not realize that the chances of becoming disabled have risen over the past five years.

– Council for Disability Awareness, 2007 Disability Awareness Survey