Disability Insurance
Protect Your Income
Unfortunately, most Americans have little understanding of the likelihood of experiencing a disability. The average worker has a one in three chance of becoming disabled from illness or injury at work. Both short and long term disabilities can have a devastating effect on you.
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.
Council for Disability Awareness, 2007 Disability Awareness Survey
Causes of Disability
Illnesses generally cause disabilities, not accidents.
Over 85%of disabling accidents and illnesses are not work related.
– National Safety Council®, Injury Facts® 2008 Ed.
– National Safety Council®, Injury Facts® 2008 Ed.
While many people think that disabilities are typically caused by freak accidents, the majority of long-term absences are actually due to illnesses, such as cancer and heart disease.
– Life and Health Insurance Foundation for Education November, 2005
Stroke is a leading cause of serious long-term disability.
– Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2007
– Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2007
Disability Duration
An average disability may last longer than you think.
The average duration of a long-term disability is 30 months.
– JHA Disability Fact Book, 2006
– JHA Disability Fact Book, 2006
Nearly 1 in 5 Americans will become disabled for 1 year or more before the age of 65.
– Life and Health Insurance Foundation for Education. November 2005
– Life and Health Insurance Foundation for Education. November 2005
Three out of 10 workers between the ages of 25 and 65 will experience an accident or illness that keeps them out of work for 3 months or longer.
– Social Security Administration, Fact Sheet, January 31, 2007
– Social Security Administration, Fact Sheet, January 31, 2007
Nearly 1 in 3 Americans ages 35-65 will become disabled for more than 90 days.
– 2005 Field Guide to Estate Planning, Business Planning &Employee Benefits, by Donald Cady
– 2005 Field Guide to Estate Planning, Business Planning &Employee Benefits, by Donald Cady
Misconceptions
Common back-up plans to loss of income may not be an option.
More than 1 in 5 adults believe that unemployment or Social Security will cover them if they become disabled.
– Disability Literacy: How Consumers Rate Today, April 2005, The Hartford
– Disability Literacy: How Consumers Rate Today, April 2005, The Hartford
Less than half, 39%, of the 2.1 million workers who applied for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits in 2005 were approved.
– Social Security Administration, Office of Disability and Income Security Programs
– Social Security Administration, Office of Disability and Income Security Programs
The average monthly SSDI benefit is $1,004.
– Social Security Administration, Fact Sheet 2008
– Social Security Administration, Fact Sheet 2008
In 2007, the percentage of working-age people with disabilities receiving SSDI payments in the US was 17.1%.
– U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2007
– U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2007
Over 85% of disabling accidents and illnesses are not work related, and therefore not covered by workers’ compensation.
– National Safety Council®, Injury Facts® 2008 Ed.
Over 6.8 million workers are receiving SSDI benefits, almost half are under age 50. This represents only 13% of the over 51 million Americans classified as disabled.
– Social Security Administration, Fact Sheet 2007
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