The December 2018 SSD benefits statistics report is out from the Social Security Administration (SSA). This monthly update shows any changes over the last 30 days to SSD beneficiary numbers and average monthly payment amounts. We track these reported changes so you can compare your own benefits against the national average. Below, we’ll explain how these numbers changed once the 2019 2.8% COLA went into effect.
December 2018 SSD Benefits Statistics Update
Total Number of Social Security Disability Beneficiaries: 10,162,000
Disabled Workers: 8,537,000
Spouses of Disabled Workers: 119,000
Children of Disabled Workers: 1,507,000
Average Monthly Social Security Disability Benefit Amount: $1,096.99
Disabled Workers: $1,233.70
Spouses of Disabled Workers: $350.37
Children of Disabled Workers: $381.11
How the December 2018 SSD Benefits Statistics Report Affects Beneficiaries
The December 2018 SSD benefits statistics report reverses the beneficiary increase we noted in last month’s update. While 12,000 more people total got SSD benefits in November, the latest report lists 21,000 fewer total beneficiaries for December. With both spousal and child beneficiary categories staying flat month-over-month, disabled workers make up virtually all losses in December’s report.
This lower number also includes any fraudulent, deceased or ineligible cases struck from the SSA’s disability rolls since November. Ready for the best news we gathered from this month’s report? Fewer claimants mean the SSA can potentially review and approve new benefit applications that much faster!
December 2018 SSD Benefits Statistics: Looking Deeper at the Monetary Stats
Every claimant category in the December 2018 SSD benefits statistics report got a 2.8% pay raise this month. Disabled workers got paid $33.79 more this holiday season. Spouses received another $9.74 in this month’s deposit, and dependent children saw $11.09 more compared to November’s payments. The total average beneficiary payment amount for December rose $29.91 month-over-month nationwide.
If you’ve considered applying but just haven’t gotten around to it, what are you waiting for? There’s never been a better time to file your Social Security disability claim!
How to Qualify for Legal Assistance With Your Claim
If you haven’t yet applied for disability benefits, why not get a professional to help you file for free? Every year, 2 in 5 first-time claimants get denied benefits over basic paperwork mistakes! You have 60 days to appeal after denial, but getting your case before a judge takes 17.3 months, on average. If you apply today and make a single mistake, how long will it take to get your first disability payment? If your SSD claim’s approved on appeal, you likely won’t get your first payment until March or April 2021.
An experienced lawyer knows how to avoid these mistakes and what medical evidence best proves that your case qualifies for SSD. All Social Security disability attorneys work on contingency, so you’ll pay nothing unless a lawyer helps you win. And if you do win, you’ll only pay a small, one-time fee. It’s the best way to get paid the most benefits you’re owed faster than you would filing on your own.
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.