The SSDI Basics

Since 1956, Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) has been a very good social insurance program that helps people whose physical or mental disabilities are so severe that they are unable to do substantial work. Not being able to work, along with disability-related expenditures, can make meeting basic monetary needs extremely difficult. That’s why the law offices of Kassin and Carrow are here in the St. Louis area to help the people of Wentzville, St. Charles, Kirkwood, St Peters, St. Louis, Collinsville, Litchfield, and Edwardsville.

Key Facts

• Our Social Security system guards American workers and their families against death, disability, and retirement.
• Few workers have other options; only 1 in 3 private sector employees has employer-provided disability insurance.
• SSDI provides vital economic security to over 8 million disabled workers.
• Workers must have paid in to Social Security via payroll taxes to be entitled to benefits.
• They need to also satisfy the rigid Social Security disability standard to qualify.
• Average disability benefits are small: Individuals, $1,132 per month; for a family, $1,919 per month.
• Benefits replace half or less of pre-disability earnings for the majority of disabled employees.

By continuing to keep this program strong for individuals that have paid into the system, it prevents significant burdens such as homelessness brought on by foreclosures, evictions, and bankruptcies in the St. Louis, MO area.

Growth in Social Security Disability Insurance

Although the growth in the number of individuals receiving SSDI was expected, it is leveling off. What explains the rise in the past few years?

• Baby Boomers: aging and getting “high disability years.” People are two times as likely to be disabled at the age of 50 as they are at age 40 and two times as likely to be disabled at the age of 60 as they are at age 50.
• Women: increasing numbers of women in the workforce in recent decades who are now themselves eligible to receive benefits.
• Raised Retirement Age: as the Social Security retirement age rises, disabled workers get SSDI for longer before converting to retirement benefits.

Regardless of your situation, the law offices of Kassin and Carrow are available to the people of St. Louis, Missouri and the Metro East St. Louis area to assist those who're in need of benefits.