Disabled Workers Latest Victims of Recession

Ian C. Langtree - Writer/Editor for Disabled World (DW)
Published: 2011/10/12 - Updated: 2024/09/14
Publication Type: Informative
Category Topic: Disability Press Releases - Academic Publications

Page Content: Synopsis - Introduction - Main

Synopsis: The recession is currently hurting another group of innocent people who can least afford it - workers with disabilities. "What is a disability?" is a key question to determine if a person qualifies for disability benefits

Defining Recession

Recession

A recession is a macroeconomic term that refers to a significant decline in general economic activity in a designated region. During a recession, the economy struggles, people lose work, companies make fewer sales, and the country's overall economic output declines. The point where the economy officially falls into a recession depends on various factors. In the United States, a recession is defined as "a significant decline in economic activity spread across the market, lasting more than a few months, normally visible in real GDP, real income, employment, industrial production, and wholesale-retail sales." In the United Kingdom, a recession is defined as negative economic growth for two consecutive quarters.

Introduction

People entitled to receive government assistance in the form of Social Security Disability benefits have to wait longer and longer - sometimes as long as three years. That's because there are so many people applying for benefits. The system is backed up and can't process all the disability claims promptly.

Main Content

"What is a disability?" is a key question to determine if a person qualifies for disability benefits:

If a worker has a disease, condition or disability that limits or prevents them from employment, they may be eligible to receive government assistance in the form of Social Security Disability benefits (SSD). SSD provides cash benefits on a monthly basis for persons who are totally disabled.

In most cases you must be suffering from a condition that has or will prevent you from being employed for at least 12 months or a condition that will result in your death. This could include aging workers whose bodies have deteriorated and can no longer perform their past physical work. As our workforce gets older, their bodies are giving out and they cannot be trained for other manual labor.

In applying for these benefits, there may be several levels of appeal that must be pursued. A denial at any one level or a past denial may not disqualify you from receiving benefits. Many people with disabilities give up when they are rejected unfairly because they don't know what else to do.

First, they should get treated for their ailment, and second, everyone should get the records from their doctor to ensure that their medical provider is accurately representing the problems they are dealing with.

Unfortunately, many people who are unemployed can't afford to go to doctors. We advise them to go to free health clinics, or a public health facility which has a sliding fee scale, so they can get treatment and get their documentation.

If you are suffering from any of these conditions or any other condition that prevents you from work, you may be entitled to disability benefits:

Author Credentials: Ian is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Disabled World, a leading resource for news and information on disability issues. With a global perspective shaped by years of travel and lived experience, Ian is a committed proponent of the Social Model of Disability-a transformative framework developed by disabled activists in the 1970s that emphasizes dismantling societal barriers rather than focusing solely on individual impairments. His work reflects a deep commitment to disability rights, accessibility, and social inclusion. To learn more about Ian's background, expertise, and accomplishments, visit his full biography.