Americans typically underestimate their risk of experiencing a long-term disability.
A study conducted by the independent non-profit Council for Disability Awareness found that 64% of workers believe their chance of being disabled for 3 months or more during their career is less than 2%.
The truth, according to the United States Social Security Administration is that 30% of workers will become disabled at some point in their working lives.
Americans also believe that disabilities are limited to older workers, those in high-risk career fields, and workers with identified health risks (smoking, weight problems, etc.). CDA research also shows that perception to be false.
- A healthy female office worker, age 35, has a 24% chance of becoming disabled for 3 months or longer, with a 38% chance that the disability will last 5 years or longer.
- A healthy male office worker, age 35, has a 21% chance of becoming disabled for 3 months or longer, with a 38% chance that the disability will last 5 years or longer.
According to research by the SSA, CDA, the Consumer Federation of America, the American Payroll Association, the American Journal of Medicine, and the U.S. Census Bureau:
- 60% of adult Americans have no money set aside for emergencies.
- 71% of Americans say they would have trouble paying their bills if their next paycheck were delayed for as little as a week.
- 65% of Americans could not cover normal living expenses for a year without their employment income; 38% couldn’t even last 3 months.
Disability is a real risk for Americans from all fields of employment and every walk of life. Accidents and illness can hit anyone. Supplemental Disability Insurance Programs allow workers to manage risk and protect their families.