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Are disability benefits actually enough to live on?

Using 2022 data from the Social Security Administration, Atticus researchers found disability benefits are rarely enough to cover even half of someone’s cost of living.

By Sarah Aitchison | March 23, 2023 at 12:03 PM
woman in wheelchair with office colleagues in background (Photo: Shutterstock)

Social Security disability benefits are available to people who can’t work because of an injury, illness, or other health condition. For recipients, the monthly benefits payments are a vital source of income. However, that doesn’t mean they’re worth enough to live comfortably.

Looking at Social Security disability benefits by state, Atticus found that benefits are never worth enough to cover someone’s living expenses. In fact, there are only three states where the average disability benefit is worth enough to cover even half of the cost of living. In some areas, the average benefit covers one third or less of annual living costs.

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