Records show that more than four million Americans with disabilities are employed while they receive Social Security Disability Benefits. However, a majority of those individuals make less than $20,000 per year, which is barely above the poverty line.
These numbers have prompted officials with the Social Security Administration (SSA) to focus on improving the opportunities for those who are disabled so that they can sustain financial independence. Bob Williams, the Associate Commissioner for the SSA’s Office of Employment Support Programs, including “Ticket To Work”, recently offered several improvement ideas during a hearing with a House of Representative’s committee.
Williams, who suffers from cerebral palsy and requires an electronic tablet to speak, suggested the key to getting the disabled back to work is creating fully supported career paths for individuals in the program, rather than just creating jobs. In an article from LifeHealth Pro, Williams says providing training, support, and counseling to participants will create long term opportunities for the disabled.
Most lawmakers tended to concede this fact and agreed that the few who are able to work and refuse to reenter the workforce are a minority. Data indicates that while only 0.5 percent of disability recipients earn enough money through work to exit the program, 40 percent of recipients say they would like to get back to work.
The Social Security Disability Lawyers with Newlin Disability are hopeful the suggestions Williams made will be considered in order to help the disabled get back to work.
