More than 70 million Americans are living with a disability that profoundly affects their daily life, well-being, and ability to work.
Several programs offer financial benefits to ease the burden of a disability, including:
- Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI): Benefits earned based on work credits.
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI): Benefits based on age, income, and disability.
- Veterans Affairs (VA): Benefits for veterans with service-related disabilities.
- Workers’ compensation: Benefits for repetitive strain and acute injuries sustained in workplace accidents and occupational illnesses.
SSDI is the largest disability program in the U.S., with 8.78 million disabled beneficiaries. Below are the top ten disabilities according to the most recent SSDI Annual Statistical Report.
1. Mental Disorders (34.4%)
Mental disorders are the most common category of disabilities in the U.S., making up over a third of SSDI beneficiaries. This category covers a wide range of conditions.
The most common categories of disabling mental disorders are:
- Depressive, bipolar, and related disorders (11.5%)
- Intellectual disabilities (9.0%): Examples include fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS), Down syndrome, and fragile X syndrome (FXS). These types of disorders are the top reason for disabled adult children to receive SSDI benefits.
- Schizophrenia spectrum disorders (4.7%): This includes schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, delusional disorder, and other psychotic disorders.
- Other mental disorders (4.5%): Examples include post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety disorders like generalized or social anxiety disorder, and eating disorders such as bulimia nervosa.
- Neurocognitive disorders (3.0%): This includes all types of major neurocognitive disorders (MND) and dementia. Alzheimer’s disease accounts for 60-80% of cases. Other forms are vascular dementia (15-20%), Lewy body dementia (5-20%), frontotemporal dementia (2-10%), and Parkinson’s disease dementia (3-4%).
- Autism Spectrum Disorder (1.3%)
Mental health issues can deeply affect a person’s ability to work and maintain relationships. Major depressive disorder is the most common type of disabling mental disorder. About 9.5% of adults experience a depressive disorder, like major depression or dysthymia, every year.
2. Musculoskeletal Disorders (30%)
Musculoskeletal disorders impact bones, joints, muscles, and tissues. These conditions are the second most common disability. These types of disorders are also one of the leading causes of workers’ compensation claims. Many musculoskeletal injuries are caused by workplace accidents and sports or recreational activities.
Some examples include:
- Arthritis
- Chronic back pain
- Fibromyalgia
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Spinal disorders, like spinal stenosis and degenerative disc disorder
- Tendinitis
- Fractures
- Amputation
- Burns
These disorders can arise from acute trauma, repetitive stress, or medical conditions. Musculoskeletal disorders significantly limit mobility and physical function and often cause chronic pain.
3. Nervous System Disorders (10.2%)
Nervous system disorders affect the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nervous system. This includes sensory organs.
Conditions include:
- Brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Hearing loss
- Eye injuries or vision loss
- Multiple sclerosis (MS)
- Epilepsy
These conditions often lead to significant motor and sensory impairments. Spinal cord and brain injuries, for instance, frequently result in permanent disability.
4. Circulatory System Diseases (6.8%)
Diseases of the circulatory system primarily affect the heart and blood vessels. These diseases include stroke and heart disease. This broad term refers to many long-term conditions affecting the heart. Examples include peripheral or coronary artery disease, heart failure, heart attack, and arrhythmia.
These conditions can reduce a person’s ability to perform physical activities. They often lead to severe long-term health problems.
5. Injuries (3.4%)
Many disabilities are the result of injuries sustained in accidents, assaults, and other types of trauma. Brain and spinal cord injuries are common examples of catastrophic injuries. This term refers to injuries that cause long-term impairment.
Most life-changing injuries are the result of motor vehicle accidents, like car accidents and truck crashes. Falls and workplace accidents are also leading causes of serious injuries.
6. Neoplasms or Tumors (3.0%)
Both benign and malignant neoplasms, or tumors, can lead to disabilities. Tumors are more likely to be disabling when they involve essential organs or require invasive treatments like surgery or chemotherapy. Cancer, in particular, can be disabling due to the disease itself or the side effects of treatment.
7. Respiratory System Diseases (2.5%)
Respiratory conditions that may be disabling include:
- Asthma
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- Pulmonary hypertension
- Cystic fibrosis (CF)
These conditions can severely limit a person’s ability to breathe and function normally. Advanced respiratory disease can also make it hard to perform everyday tasks.
8. Endocrine, Nutritional, and Metabolic Diseases (2.2%)
These disorders affect hormonal balance and metabolism. Diabetes is the most common type of endocrine or metabolic disease. It affects almost 15% of adults in America. Diabetes can lead to severe complications like nerve damage, vision loss, and amputation.
Other examples include thyroid disorders, obesity, gout, Addison’s disease, and Cushing’s syndrome.
9. Unknown Disorders (1.9%)
In some cases, individuals are diagnosed with rare or unknown conditions that don’t fit into standard medical categories. These disorders, though less common, can still cause profound disabilities and often require specialized care. More than 165,000 SSDI beneficiaries qualify for an unknown or rare condition.
10. Genitourinary System Disorders (1.8%)
Genitourinary disorders impact the reproductive and urinary systems. Common conditions include polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), hernias, kidney disease, and polycystic renal disease.
These conditions can result in chronic pain, urinary issues, and, in severe cases, the need for dialysis or surgery.
Contact an Experienced Personal Injury Lawyer For Guidance If You’ve Suffered a Disabling Injury in an Accident
Living with a disability, especially one caused by an injury or illness, can be incredibly challenging. People with disabilities are more than twice as likely to live in poverty despite programs like workers’ compensation and Social Security. Benefits through these programs are capped, and limitations on assets and earnings can make it hard for disabled people to build any savings or supplement their income.
Are you or a loved one struggling with a disability after an accident? You may be entitled to compensation outside of workers’ compensation or Social Security.
For more information, please contact an experienced personal injury lawyer at Hall Law Personal Injury Attorneys to schedule a free initial consultation today. We have three convenient locations in Minnesota, including Minneapolis, St. Cloud, and Edina.
We proudly serve Hennepin County, Stearns County, and its surrounding areas:
Hall Law Personal Injury Attorneys – Minneapolis
825 Nicollet Mall, Suite 615
Minneapolis, MN 55402
(800) 292-1979
Hall Law Personal Injury Attorneys – St. Cloud
1010 W St Germain St # 320
St Cloud, MN 56301
(320) 255-1000
Hall Law Personal Injury Attorneys – Edina
5200 Willson Rd #203
Edina, MN 55424
(952) 697-5560
