The Social Security Administration (SSA) just released its February 2018 SSD benefits statistics report. The SSA publishes this monthly report to reflect any changes in the last 30 days. Anyone getting SSD today can compare payment amounts to the national average. You can also see SSD claims data for widowed spouses and dependent children. Learn how these changes might impact your own claim below.
February 2018 SSD Benefits Statistics Update
Total Social Security Disability Beneficiaries: 10,376,000
Disabled Workers: 8,663,000
Widowed Spouses: 124,000
Dependent Children: 1,589,000
Average Monthly Social Security Disability Benefit Amount: $1,059.83
Disabled Workers: $1,197.14
Widowed Spouses: $335.46
Dependent Children: $367.73
How the February 2018 SSD Benefits Statistics Report Affects Beneficiaries
There were 15,000 fewer total beneficiaries in the February 2018 SSD benefits statistics report than January. The disabled workers category lost 14,000 claimants in the last 30 days. However, widowed spouses and children stayed the same from January to February 2018. The other 1,000 beneficiaries taken off this month’s rolls are harder to explain. Anytime people pass away, find work or reach full retirement age, they’re taken off SSD payment rolls. This might explain some unusual shifts in the February 2018 SSD benefits statistics report.
February 2018 SSD Benefits Statistics: Looking Closer at Monetary Averages
Monetary averages in the February 2018 SSD benefits statistics report varied widely. Average payments were one cent less than the previous month. Disabled workers got another $.07. Still, this isn’t much considering how many dropped off this month’s rolls. Widowed spouse claim numbers stayed the same in January and February. However, they got paid $.15 less this month. Disabled workers’ children got paid $.51 more this month. February’s report shows that beneficiary numbers may not directly impact these average payment amounts.
You May Qualify for Free Claim Assistance
Many people find applying for benefits confusing. They may spend weeks just filling out the forms. According to the SSA, simple paperwork mistakes are the number-one reason claims get denied. Luckily, you don’t have to pay anything now to get professional help filing your claim.
Even if you’re working on your application now, it’s in your best interest to have a lawyer review your claim. Just one mistake is enough to trigger a denial letter from the SSA. If that happens, you’ll wait another 77 days (on average) for the SSA’s answer about your claim. That means you might wait more than a year for your first benefits check, if approved!
Instead, have a Social Security lawyer or disability advocate file your claim. This is the best way to get the most benefits you qualify for paid faster. Our lawyers work on contingency. That means you’ll pay nothing for claim help now. In fact, our lawyers never get paid unless you do. Did the SSA already send you a denial letter in the mail? Then a lawyer can handle your appeal and fight to get you much-needed SSD benefits.
Ready to see if you may qualify? Click the button below to start your free disability benefits evaluation now.
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Lori Polemenakos is Director of Consumer Content and SEO strategist for LeadingResponse, a legal marketing company. An award-winning journalist, writer and editor based in Dallas, Texas, she's produced articles for major brands such as Match.com, Yahoo!, MSN, AOL, Xfinity, Mail.com, and edited several published books. Since 2016, she's published hundreds of articles about Social Security disability, workers' compensation, veterans' benefits, personal injury, mass tort, auto accident claims, bankruptcy, employment law and other related legal issues.