The May 2018 SSD benefits statistics report from the Social Security Administration (SSA) is finally here. Every month, the SSA publishes a report showing how disability claim numbers changed in the last 30 days. These reports let anyone compare their own SSD check against the national average. You can also see spousal, survivor and dependent claim numbers and average payment amounts. Below, we’ll analyze the May 2018 SSD benefits statistics report and any changes that may affect your own claim.
May 2018 SSD Benefits Statistics Update
Total Number of Social Security Disability Beneficiaries: 10,345,000
Disabled Workers: 8,634,000
Spouses of Disabled Workers: 123,000
Children of Disabled Workers: 1,587,000
Average Monthly Social Security Disability Benefit Amount: $1,060.72
Disabled Workers: $1,198.16
Spouses of Disabled Workers: $336.35
Children of Disabled Workers: $369.56
How the May 2018 SSD Benefits Statistics Report Affects Beneficiaries
The May 2018 SSD benefits statistics report shows 16,000 fewer beneficiaries in this month’s rolls than we saw in April. That’s the lowest number of disability beneficiaries in active payment status since March 2011, according to the SSA.
Disabled workers make up about 12,000 of those struck from May’s report — the largest single-month drop since November 2017. Spousal beneficiaries filed 1,000 fewer claims, while child beneficiary rolls lost 4,000 claimants this month compared to April. Some May 2018 SSD benefits statistics report updates come from people who died, found work or reached full retirement age. So if you’re drawing SSD and turn 65, for example, the SSA automatically switches you to Social Security retirement benefits. The following month, they’ll remove you from the SSD beneficiary reports and start listing you as a retirement claimant instead. The SSA also audits each month’s SSD rolls for fraud and removes ineligible beneficiaries before releasing the next updated report.
May 2018 SSD Benefits Statistics: Looking Deeper at the Monetary Stats
All claimants in the May 2018 SSD benefits statistics report saw their checks go up a little bit this month. Total beneficiaries received an average $.38 raise over last month’s amount, while disabled workers got paid just $.21 more. Spouses enjoyed the biggest month-over-month raise at $.57, while children were a close second with $.55 added to their checks. That’s the second month in a row where everyone’s average benefit amount went up! It’s also a great time to apply for Social Security disability benefits if you think you may have a claim.
How to Qualify for Legal Assistance With Your Claim
Do you know the number-one reason why the SSA turns down qualified applicants requesting monthly benefits? It’s for making basic mistakes while filling out all those forms! About 2 in every 5 applicants accidentally leaves a required field empty, has bad handwriting or a similar paperwork error. When you need those monthly SSD benefits to pay for rent, gas and groceries, it’s a costly and time-consuming mistake.
Luckily, our experienced lawyers can help you file your claim for free. You can also sign up for a free, no-obligation consultation just by clicking the button below. Whether you’re first applying for benefits or preparing to appeal, we can help you. You’ll never pay anything for this legal assistance unless that lawyer helps you win benefits. But if the lawyer gets your claim approved, you’ll only pay a small, one-time fee out of your back pay. We’re not just saying that, either — it’s federal law.
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.