Readers in Augusta may be interested in recently published statistics regarding changes in the unemployment rate for people with disabilities. According to a study by Allsup, the unemployment rate for people with disabilities fell in the last quarter of 2011. The recorded rate was the lowest since the final quarter of 2008.

However, for the fourth quarter of 2011, the study indicates that the unemployment rate for people with disabilities was 60 percent higher than the rate for people without disabilities. During all of 2011, about 2.88 million people filed for disability benefits, and almost 1.8 million SSDI claims are pending. According to an analysis of the Social Security disability backlog, the average cumulative wait time for applicants is more than 800 days.

So what do these numbers mean, and what can Georgia residents do?

First, it is extremely important for people with disabilities to apply for SSDI benefits as soon as possible. Doing so can help ensure a more stable financial future when SSDI benefits are most needed. People who are already awaiting SSDI benefits often fall below the national poverty line. Sadly, an Allsup study of about 300 people who were awarded disability benefits found that 35 percent had already used the entirety of their savings and retirement accounts. 9 percent had their utility services turned off while awaiting SSDI benefits.

No-one wants to endure such hardship.

To negotiate the application process, Augusta residents with disabilities may want to contact a sympathetic legal professional who focuses on filing for and securing the maximum SSDI benefits possible.

Source: lifehealthpro.com, "Income at Risk: Unemployment Rate Drops Significantly for People with Disabilities, Allsup Finds," Jan. 18, 2012