The Social Security Administration (SSA) has recently implemented a significant change in how it evaluates disability claims for its Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program. This change could have a major impact on current and prospective SSDI applicants.
By updating the criteria for determining disability, the SSA aims to better reflect the realities of today’s labor market. If you are currently receiving SSDI benefits or plan to apply, it’s essential to know these changes and how they might affect your eligibility.
Disability
Previously, the SSA defined disability as the inability to engage in any substantial gainful activity (SGA) due to a medically diagnosed physical or mental impairment that is expected to result in death or last for at least 12 months.
However, the SSA has now revised this definition based on new findings. It observed that many of the jobs used to assess whether a disabled person could perform alternative work were either obsolete or rarely available in today’s labor market.
The SSA identified 114 occupations that were no longer considered viable for determining disability eligibility. These roles, including models, astronomers, and agricultural engineers, had minimal job openings across the country, leading the SSA to stop using them in the evaluation process. This change means that fewer individuals will be denied benefits based on these outdated or low-demand positions.
Jobs
Alongside the 114 occupations removed from the evaluation process, the SSA also flagged 13 other jobs that raised concerns among judges. These professions were deemed unsuitable to deny SSDI claims, as they did not represent real employment opportunities for many disabled individuals. As a result, these jobs will also no longer be used in determining whether someone is eligible for disability benefits.
Martin O’Malley, the Social Security Commissioner, highlighted the need to align disability evaluations with the current job market, ensuring that SSA’s decision-makers base their assessments on realistic employment options. This is a critical step toward fairness for SSDI applicants, as outdated professions will no longer be used as a basis for denying benefits.
Application Process
This update is expected to streamline the SSDI application process, making it more efficient and equitable. By focusing only on relevant and available occupations, the SSA can better assess whether applicants truly qualify for disability benefits. The change will also eliminate confusion, as applicants will no longer be evaluated based on unrealistic job expectations.
The SSA plans to continue evaluating data from the Occupational Requirements Survey, conducted by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, to guide future changes. This ensures that the SSA’s disability evaluation process remains current and reflects the real employment opportunities available to disabled individuals in the United States.
Benefits
In May, the number of disabled workers receiving SSDI benefits dropped to 7.23 million, a decline of 20,000 from the previous month. These workers received an average monthly benefit of just over $1,500, and the SSA paid out a total of $11 million during that period.
Retirement specialist Burt Williamson of PlanPrep speculated that this decrease might be due to various factors, including the deaths of beneficiaries, individuals switching from disability to retirement benefits, or the loss of eligibility for benefits. While these explanations are not confirmed, they provide insight into potential reasons for the declining number of SSDI recipients.
Changes
The SSA’s updated definition of disability marks a positive shift in how disability claims are evaluated. By removing outdated professions from consideration, the agency ensures that applicants are judged based on realistic job opportunities. This change is expected to lead to fairer outcomes for SSDI applicants, with fewer people being denied benefits based on irrelevant job roles.
In the long term, this reform will enhance the SSA’s ability to fairly assess disability claims. The continued reliance on the Bureau of Labor Statistics will help the SSA maintain an up-to-date evaluation process, ensuring that disabled individuals receive the support they need based on real-world conditions.
In conclusion, the SSA’s decision to update its definition of disability for the SSDI program is a significant step toward improving fairness and accuracy in disability evaluations. By focusing on jobs that are actually available in the modern economy, the SSA will ensure that disabled individuals receive the benefits they are entitled to without being unfairly judged based on obsolete professions.
FAQs
What is the new SSA disability definition?
The SSA has removed outdated jobs from its evaluation process, focusing only on relevant occupations when determining disability eligibility.
Which jobs were removed from consideration?
The SSA identified 114 occupations, including models, astronomers, and agricultural engineers, that will no longer be used in disability assessments.
How will this impact SSDI applicants?
It will likely improve their chances of qualifying for benefits, as they will no longer be evaluated based on obsolete jobs.
Why did the SSA make this change?
The SSA found that many jobs used in evaluations were no longer viable in today’s labor market, making it unfair to deny benefits based on those roles.
How many people receive SSDI benefits?
As of May, 7.23 million disabled workers were receiving SSDI benefits, with an average monthly payment of $1,500.
