Social Security Disability Attorneys Discuss Prevalence of Disabilities in America

by Norris Injury Law | August 4th, 2015

The Social Security Disability program is designed to provide financial assistance to those permanently unable to work due to injuries or illnesses. The Birmingham Social Security Disability attorneys at Norris Injury Lawyers explain that the program is now more important than ever before, as the number of Americans living with disabilities is climbing.

Tech Times provides data that shows 1-in-5 U.S. citizens are living with a disability. The raw data for the study was collected in 2013 using the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. The survey is conducted through random calls to U.S. citizens. Those individuals answer a series of questions, which provides information into their health.

The program organizes disabilities into five distinct categories:

1. Vision
2. Cognition
3. Mobility
4. Performance of self-care tasks
5. Independence

Disabilities affecting mobility and cognition were the most commonly reported conditions. Almost seven percent of respondents suffered a vision disability, while nearly 17 percent were afflicted with cognition impairments. Still, 6.2 percent of survey takers reported trouble with self-care and 10.8 percent responded that they have trouble living alone.

This information is giving federal and state officials insight into what some of the most common disabilities are in America so resources can be focused on these conditions.

At Norris Injury Lawyers, we are aware of the important role the Social Security Disability program plays in providing for disabled citizens. Our Birmingham personal injury attorneys are hopeful the information gathered in this study can be used to make our nation’s Social Security Disability program stronger and more reliable than ever before.