Every day, 80,000 state and federal SSA workers provide crucial services to those who are retired or can no longer work because of a disability or injury. -- Mike Stein, Allsup
Belleville, IL (PRWEB) August 13, 2013
On Aug. 14, the Social Security Administration (SSA) will mark its 78th anniversary, commemorating the development of an important financial safety net for the nation, according to Allsup, a nationwide provider of Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) representation, veterans’ disability appeal and Medicare plan selection services.
The Social Security Act established a new form of economic security for seniors in 1935. This protection later was extended to individuals with disabilities when the disability insurance program was enacted in 1956. Today, more than 152 million U.S. workers are insured for disability benefits.
“Every day, 80,000 state and federal SSA workers provide crucial services to those who are retired or can no longer work because of a disability or injury,” said Mike Stein, assistant vice president of claims for Allsup. “We appreciate their dedication to providing such invaluable services to the public.”
According to the SSA’s Performance and Accountability Report for Fiscal Year 2013, the agency expects to process nearly 5.3 million Medicare, retirement and survivor applications, and receive approximately 3 million initial disability applications this year.
SSDI is federally mandated insurance that operates separately from the retirement and Supplemental Security Income programs. It is funded by FICA payroll taxes paid by workers and their employers. SSDI provides monthly benefits to individuals who are under full retirement age (age 65 or older) and who can no longer work because of a severe disability expected to last for more than 12 months or is terminal.
Workplace Injuries and Social Security Disability Insurance
The value of Social Security benefits also extends to workers who are injured and can no longer work. Injuries are the sixth-leading cause of SSDI claims, according to a recent report from the Social Security Administration’s Office of Retirement and Disability Policy. More than 1 million U.S. workers each year experience an injury that causes them to miss a day or more of work.
The Allsup Study of Workplace Injuries found that rates of serious workplace injury vary widely between states and between workers in the same industry. Allsup used data provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics to compare serious workplace injury rates within industries and across states.
“It’s important to note that many Social Security Disability Insurance claims not filed as injuries may involve impairments related to the claimant’s occupation,” Stein said. “One example is musculoskeletal conditions. These make up the largest category of SSDI claims and include conditions such as degenerative back disorders that may be caused or worsened by performing work duties.”
For more information about eligibility for Social Security disability benefits, contact the Allsup Disability Evaluation Center at (800) 279-4357 for free information and an SSDI evaluation.
Find more about the Allsup Study of Workplace Injury at WorkInjury.Allup.com.
ABOUT ALLSUP
Allsup is a nationwide provider of Social Security disability, veterans’ disability appeal, Medicare and Medicare Secondary Payer compliance services for individuals, employers and insurance carriers. Allsup professionals deliver specialized services supporting people with disabilities and seniors so they may lead lives that are as financially secure and as healthy as possible. Founded in 1984, the company is based in Belleville, Ill., near St. Louis. Visit http://www.Allsup.com or connect with Allsup at http://www.facebook.com/Allsupinc.
