Employment Opportunities Looking Worse for the Disabled, Social Security Disability Benefits May Be The Only Lifeline

Finding a job in a tough economy is hard for everyone, but unfortunately the disabled face many more struggle than most applicants. While employers are required to make reasonable accommodations to hire a disabled individual, those who are disabled are still restricted to finding jobs that they can feasibly do despite their impaired condition. For many disabled individuals, this means finding a job that allows a flexible schedule to accommodate medical flare-ups, and finding a job that puts minimal stress on the body.

Our Manhattan disability benefits lawyers know that both the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) try to encourage those who are receiving disability benefits to go back to work whenever possible. However, new data on employment opportunities for the disabled suggests that there may be few or no options for the seriously disabled to try to re-enter the workforce and get off the disability rolls.

Unemployment Increasing for the Disabled

According to an article on Life Health Pro in early August, recent economic news was not good for the disabled. In fact:

• In July of 2013, the unemployment rate for disabled individuals increased from 13.6 percent in July of 2012 to 14.2 percent in 2013. This increase occurred at the same time when the unemployment rate for those with no disabilities fell from a rate of 8.4 percent in June 2012 to 7.4 percent in July of 2013.
• The percentage of adults aged 16 and over with disabilities who were either working or attempting to work declined from 20.7 percent to 20.3 percent.
• Women with disabilities, in particular, seemed less likely to be working or trying to find work than they were a year ago. While the unemployment rate for disabled women last year was 17.7 percent, this year it was 18.7 percent. The labor force participation also fell from 28.7 percent a year ago to 38.2 percent in 2013.

There was some good news in that men with disabilities seem to be trying harder to get into the labor market this year than they did in 2012. Last year, 34.4 percent of disabled men were working or seeking work and this year 35.3 percent of men were trying to find jobs. Unfortunately, entering or remaining in the workforce may not be easy for these men who want to work, since the unemployment rate rose from 12.4 percent last year to 15.1 percent this year.

Social Security May be the Only Option

If a person is disabled and unable to find work due to high unemployment and a limited market for jobs the disabled can do, this leaves the individual without many options. Few people have private disability policies and even fewer can just afford not to work at all. The Social Security Disability insurance system is very often the only choice that injured and sick people have in order to support themselves.

Unfortunately, the SSA disability benefits programs have a high denial rate. Those who need benefits because they are too disabled to work or because they cannot find a job with their disability will need to ensure they do everything possible to make a successful benefits claim. Appealing a denial is also important in case the initial benefits claim is not approved.

If you need help with your Social Security Disability claim, contact the Law Offices of Pasternack Tilker Ziegler Walsh Stanton & Romano, LLP today by calling (800) 692-3717.