Participation by working-age people in Social Security disability programs has grown from less than 4 million people in 1985 to 6.6 million in 1995.The U.S. General Accounting Office reports that the cost of cash benefits for disabled beneficiaries in 1995 was approximately $60 billion.

Figure 3 . How many people with a work disability receive benefits from the Social Security Administration?

 

Note: Includes SSDI benefits to disabled workers and federal-only SSI benefits to all SSI blind and disabled beneficiaries regardless of age.

Source: Annual Statistical Supplement to the Social Security Bulletin (Sept. 1996)

 

 

Figure 4. More than two-thirds of people with mental disorders have a disability.

 

 

The recent National Health Interview Survey on Disability conducted by NIDRR estimates the extent of disability associated with mental disorders, using four definitions of disability:

Functional disability: any serious symptoms of mental illness that severely interfered with life for the past year, including limitations based on physical, sensory, and other impairments.

Work disability: limitation in or inability to work as a result of physical, mental, or emotional conditions.

Perceived disability: whether individuals consider themselves to have a disability or are considered by others to have one

Disability program recipient: anyone covered by Social Security insurance, special education and/or a disability pension.