More than 10 million Americans received disability benefits in 2015. These benefits, paid mostly to disabled workers, totalled $11.4 billion per month.
24/7 Wall St. reviewed the percentage of each state’s population receiving disability insurance using data released annually by the Social Security Administration. While the size of the average disability check tends to be roughly the same in every state, the shares of states' populations relying on these benefits varies a great deal.
Nationwide, 4.7% of Americans 18 to 64 years old are on disability. Across states, the percentage ranges from more than 8% in West Virginia, Alabama, and several other Southern states to less than 3% in Alaska and Hawaii.
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Approximately 8.9 million of the 10.2 million beneficiaries nationwide are disabled workers. The remaining recipients include 1.6 million minors and children of disabled workers, 1.1 million disabled adults dependent on their parents, 260,000 disabled widows and widowers, and 142,000 spouses.
Predictably, the states with the most people collecting disability insurance also tend to have larger numbers of disabled people. The share of a state’s population reporting a disability is also always far larger than the share receiving the benefits.
50. Hawaii
> Residents collecting disability benefits: 2.8%
> Total beneficiaries: 24,694 (6th lowest)
> Total monthly benefits received: $30.1 million (tied--the lowest)
> Labor force participation rate: 63.4% (25th lowest)
> June unemployment rate: 2.7% (3rd lowest)
49. Alaska
> Residents collecting disability benefits: 2.8%
> Total beneficiaries: 13,621 (the lowest)
> Total monthly benefits received: $15.8 million (tied--the lowest)
> Labor force participation rate: 67.2% (11th highest)
> June unemployment rate: 6.8% (the highest)
48. Utah
> Residents collecting disability benefits: 3.0%
> Total beneficiaries: 52,421 (13th lowest)
> Total monthly benefits received: $61.4 million (3rd lowest)
> Labor force participation rate: 70.1% (2nd highest)
> June unemployment rate: 3.4% (tied--12th lowest)
47. California
> Residents collecting disability benefits: 3.1%
> Total beneficiaries: 760,162 (the highest)
> Total monthly benefits received: $923.0 million (4th lowest)
> Labor force participation rate: 61.9% (17th lowest)
> June unemployment rate: 4.7% (tied--11th highest)
46. North Dakota
> Residents collecting disability benefits: 3.2%
> Total beneficiaries: 15,441 (3rd lowest)
> Total monthly benefits received: $17.0 million (tied--5th lowest)
> Labor force participation rate: 72.1% (the highest)
> June unemployment rate: 2.3% (tied--the lowest)
45. Colorado
> Residents collecting disability benefits: 3.2%
> Total beneficiaries: 111,625 (21st lowest)
> Total monthly benefits received: $134.4 million (tied--5th lowest)
> Labor force participation rate: 67.5% (10th highest)
> June unemployment rate: 2.3% (tied--the lowest)
44. Texas
> Residents collecting disability benefits: 3.6%
> Total beneficiaries: 614,056 (2nd highest)
> Total monthly benefits received: $711.7 million (7th lowest)
> Labor force participation rate: 63.5% (23rd highest)
> June unemployment rate: 4.6% (tied--15th highest)
43. Maryland
> Residents collecting disability benefits: 3.7%
> Total beneficiaries: 141,098 (25th lowest)
> Total monthly benefits received: $172.5 million (8th lowest)
> Labor force participation rate: 68.1% (9th highest)
> June unemployment rate: 4.1% (tied--24th highest)
42. Nevada
> Residents collecting disability benefits: 3.8%
> Total beneficiaries: 67,736 (15th lowest)
> Total monthly benefits received: $85.2 million (9th lowest)
> Labor force participation rate: 61.7% (16th lowest)
> June unemployment rate: 4.7% (tied--11th highest)
41. Wyoming
> Residents collecting disability benefits: 3.9%
> Total beneficiaries: 14,080 (2nd lowest)
> Total monthly benefits received: $16.6 million (tied--10th lowest)
> Labor force participation rate: 66.1% (16th highest)
> June unemployment rate: 3.9% (tied--22nd lowest)
40. New Jersey
> Residents collecting disability benefits: 3.9%
> Total beneficiaries: 220,909 (18th highest)
> Total monthly benefits received: $285.8 million (tied--10th lowest)
> Labor force participation rate: 63.5% (23rd highest)
> June unemployment rate: 4.1% (tied--24th highest)
39. Illinois
> Residents collecting disability benefits: 4.0%
> Total beneficiaries: 320,801 (9th highest)
> Total monthly benefits received: $384.1 million (tied--12th lowest)
> Labor force participation rate: 64.4% (19th highest)
> June unemployment rate: 4.7% (tied--11th highest)
38. Connecticut
> Residents collecting disability benefits: 4.0%
> Total beneficiaries: 90,558 (19th lowest)
> Total monthly benefits received: $110.6 million (tied--12th lowest)
> Labor force participation rate: 67.2% (11th highest)
> June unemployment rate: 5.0% (tied--6th highest)
37. Arizona
> Residents collecting disability benefits: 4.0%
> Total beneficiaries: 165,075 (23rd highest)
> Total monthly benefits received: $203.1 million (tied--12th lowest)
> Labor force participation rate: 60.7% (12th lowest)
> June unemployment rate: 5.1% (tied--4th highest)
36. South Dakota
> Residents collecting disability benefits: 4.1%
> Total beneficiaries: 21,041 (4th lowest)
> Total monthly benefits received: $23.0 million (tied--15th lowest)
> Labor force participation rate: 69.1% (4th highest)
> June unemployment rate: 3.0% (tied--6th lowest)
35. Nebraska
> Residents collecting disability benefits: 4.1%
> Total beneficiaries: 46,489 (10th lowest)
> Total monthly benefits received: $51.7 million (tied--15th lowest)
> Labor force participation rate: 68.6% (7th highest)
> June unemployment rate: 2.9% (tied--4th lowest)
34. Minnesota
> Residents collecting disability benefits: 4.1%
> Total beneficiaries: 138,174 (24th lowest)
> Total monthly benefits received: $161.0 million (tied--15th lowest)
> Labor force participation rate: 69.9% (3rd highest)
> June unemployment rate: 3.7% (tied--16th lowest)
33. Washington
> Residents collecting disability benefits: 4.3%
> Total beneficiaries: 192,394 (19th highest)
> Total monthly benefits received: $231.6 million (tied--18th lowest)
> Labor force participation rate: 63.5% (23rd highest)
> June unemployment rate: 4.5% (tied--18th highest)
32. Virginia
> Residents collecting disability benefits: 4.3%
> Total beneficiaries: 229,244 (14th highest)
> Total monthly benefits received: $272.5 million (tied--18th lowest)
> Labor force participation rate: 65.5% (17th highest)
> June unemployment rate: 3.7% (tied--16th lowest)
31. New York
> Residents collecting disability benefits: 4.4%
> Total beneficiaries: 560,817 (4th highest)
> Total monthly benefits received: $679.9 million (20th lowest)
> Labor force participation rate: 61.1% (13th lowest)
> June unemployment rate: 4.5% (tied--18th highest)
30. Kansas
> Residents collecting disability benefits: 4.6%
> Total beneficiaries: 81,498 (17th lowest)
> Total monthly benefits received: $93.7 million (tied--21st lowest)
> Labor force participation rate: 66.9% (13th highest)
> June unemployment rate: 3.7% (tied--16th lowest)
29. Iowa
> Residents collecting disability benefits: 4.6%
> Total beneficiaries: 86,829 (18th lowest)
> Total monthly benefits received: $96.9 million (tied--21st lowest)
> Labor force participation rate: 68.6% (7th highest)
> June unemployment rate: 3.2% (tied--10th lowest)
28. Oregon
> Residents collecting disability benefits: 4.7%
> Total beneficiaries: 117,890 (22nd lowest)
> Total monthly benefits received: $139.8 million (tied--23rd lowest)
> Labor force participation rate: 63.4% (25th lowest)
> June unemployment rate: 3.7% (tied--16th lowest)
27. Montana
> Residents collecting disability benefits: 4.7%
> Total beneficiaries: 29,673 (8th lowest)
> Total monthly benefits received: $33.5 million (tied--23rd lowest)
> Labor force participation rate: 63.1% (21st lowest)
> June unemployment rate: 3.9% (tied--22nd lowest)
26. Idaho
> Residents collecting disability benefits: 4.8%
> Total beneficiaries: 47,323 (11th lowest)
> Total monthly benefits received: $54.6 million (tied--25th highest)
> Labor force participation rate: 63.2% (23rd lowest)
> June unemployment rate: 3.1% (tied--8th lowest)
25. Georgia
> Residents collecting disability benefits: 4.8%
> Total beneficiaries: 306,680 (10th highest)
> Total monthly benefits received: $362.1 million (tied--25th highest)
> Labor force participation rate: 63.1% (21st lowest)
> June unemployment rate: 4.8% (10th highest)
24. Florida
> Residents collecting disability benefits: 4.9%
> Total beneficiaries: 597,108 (3rd highest)
> Total monthly benefits received: $716.7 million (24th highest)
> Labor force participation rate: 60.0% (10th lowest)
> June unemployment rate: 4.1% (tied--24th highest)
23. Wisconsin
> Residents collecting disability benefits: 5.0%
> Total beneficiaries: 178,501 (21st highest)
> Total monthly benefits received: $207.7 million (tied--22nd highest)
> Labor force participation rate: 68.9% (5th highest)
> June unemployment rate: 3.1% (tied--8th lowest)
22. Delaware
> Residents collecting disability benefits: 5.0%
> Total beneficiaries: 29,280 (7th lowest)
> Total monthly benefits received: $36.8 million (tied--22nd highest)
> Labor force participation rate: 62.6% (18th lowest)
> June unemployment rate: 4.7% (tied--11th highest)
21. Massachusetts
> Residents collecting disability benefits: 5.1%
> Total beneficiaries: 223,776 (16th highest)
> Total monthly benefits received: $261.8 million (21st highest)
> Labor force participation rate: 66.7% (15th highest)
> June unemployment rate: 4.3% (tied--20th highest)
20. Ohio
> Residents collecting disability benefits: 5.5%
> Total beneficiaries: 392,355 (6th highest)
> Total monthly benefits received: $446.0 million (tied--19th highest)
> Labor force participation rate: 63.0% (19th lowest)
> June unemployment rate: 5.0% (tied--6th highest)
19. New Mexico
> Residents collecting disability benefits: 5.5%
> Total beneficiaries: 68,833 (16th lowest)
> Total monthly benefits received: $77.5 million (tied--19th highest)
> Labor force participation rate: 57.9% (4th lowest)
> June unemployment rate: 6.4% (2nd highest)
18. Pennsylvania
> Residents collecting disability benefits: 5.6%
> Total beneficiaries: 443,786 (5th highest)
> Total monthly benefits received: $524.9 million (tied--17th highest)
> Labor force participation rate: 63.2% (23rd lowest)
> June unemployment rate: 5.0% (tied--6th highest)
17. Indiana
> Residents collecting disability benefits: 5.6%
> Total beneficiaries: 227,656 (15th highest)
> Total monthly benefits received: $269.5 million (tied--17th highest)
> Labor force participation rate: 64.4% (19th highest)
> June unemployment rate: 3.0% (tied--6th lowest)
16. North Carolina
> Residents collecting disability benefits: 5.7%
> Total beneficiaries: 352,761 (8th highest)
> Total monthly benefits received: $416.4 million (16th highest)
> Labor force participation rate: 61.4% (15th lowest)
> June unemployment rate: 4.2% (tied--22nd highest)
15. Oklahoma
> Residents collecting disability benefits: 5.8%
> Total beneficiaries: 137,261 (23rd lowest)
> Total monthly benefits received: $155.9 million (15th highest)
> Labor force participation rate: 60.6% (11th lowest)
> June unemployment rate: 4.3% (tied--20th highest)
14. Rhode Island
> Residents collecting disability benefits: 6.0%
> Total beneficiaries: 40,500 (9th lowest)
> Total monthly benefits received: $46.5 million (14th highest)
> Labor force participation rate: 64.7% (18th highest)
> June unemployment rate: 4.2% (tied--22nd highest)
13. New Hampshire
> Residents collecting disability benefits: 6.1%
> Total beneficiaries: 51,706 (12th lowest)
> Total monthly benefits received: $62.0 million (tied--12th highest)
> Labor force participation rate: 68.8% (6th highest)
> June unemployment rate: 2.9% (tied--4th lowest)
12. Louisiana
> Residents collecting disability benefits: 6.1%
> Total beneficiaries: 176,179 (22nd highest)
> Total monthly benefits received: $198.0 million (tied--12th highest)
> Labor force participation rate: 58.6% (5th lowest)
> June unemployment rate: 5.5% (3rd highest)
11. Vermont
> Residents collecting disability benefits: 6.2%
> Total beneficiaries: 24,559 (5th lowest)
> Total monthly benefits received: $27.1 million (11th highest)
> Labor force participation rate: 66.9% (13th highest)
> June unemployment rate: 3.2% (tied--10th lowest)
10. Michigan
> Residents collecting disability benefits: 6.3%
> Total beneficiaries: 385,356 (7th highest)
> Total monthly benefits received: $471.7 million (10th highest)
> Labor force participation rate: 61.4% (15th lowest)
> June unemployment rate: 3.8% (tied--20th lowest)
9. South Carolina
> Residents collecting disability benefits: 6.4%
> Total beneficiaries: 191,193 (20th highest)
> Total monthly benefits received: $229.2 million (tied--8th highest)
> Labor force participation rate: 58.9% (7th lowest)
> June unemployment rate: 4.0% (24th lowest)
8. Missouri
> Residents collecting disability benefits: 6.4%
> Total beneficiaries: 238,733 (13th highest)
> Total monthly benefits received: $273.2 million (tied--8th highest)
> Labor force participation rate: 63.9% (22nd highest)
> June unemployment rate: 3.8% (tied--20th lowest)
7. Tennessee
> Residents collecting disability benefits: 6.6%
> Total beneficiaries: 270,085 (11th highest)
> Total monthly benefits received: $310.0 million (7th highest)
> Labor force participation rate: 59.9% (9th lowest)
> June unemployment rate: 3.6% (15th lowest)
6. Maine
> Residents collecting disability benefits: 7.7%
> Total beneficiaries: 63,441 (14th lowest)
> Total monthly benefits received: $69.4 million (6th highest)
> Labor force participation rate: 64.1% (21st highest)
> June unemployment rate: 3.5% (14th lowest)
5. Mississippi
> Residents collecting disability benefits: 7.9%
> Total beneficiaries: 143,668 (25th highest)
> Total monthly benefits received: $159.9 million (5th highest)
> Labor force participation rate: 56.5% (2nd lowest)
> June unemployment rate: 5.0% (tied--6th highest)
4. Kentucky
> Residents collecting disability benefits: 8.1%
> Total beneficiaries: 223,240 (17th highest)
> Total monthly benefits received: $256.1 million (4th highest)
> Labor force participation rate: 59.8% (8th lowest)
> June unemployment rate: 5.1% (tied--4th highest)
3. Arkansas
> Residents collecting disability benefits: 8.4%
> Total beneficiaries: 149,976 (24th highest)
> Total monthly benefits received: $168.0 million (tied--2nd highest)
> Labor force participation rate: 58.7% (6th lowest)
> June unemployment rate: 3.4% (tied--12th lowest)
2. Alabama
> Residents collecting disability benefits: 8.4%
> Total beneficiaries: 251,532 (12th highest)
> Total monthly benefits received: $291.0 million (tied--2nd highest)
> Labor force participation rate: 56.8% (3rd lowest)
> June unemployment rate: 4.6% (tied--15th highest)
1. West Virginia
> Residents collecting disability benefits: 8.9%
> Total beneficiaries: 100,254 (20th lowest)
> Total monthly benefits received: $120.0 million (the highest)
> Labor force participation rate: 53.1% (the lowest)
> June unemployment rate: 4.6% (tied--15th highest)
Detailed Findings and Methodology
Disability beneficiary rates vary considerably between regions of the country. Southern states, for example, tend to have higher portions of residents collecting disability benefits. There are only four states in the country where 8% or more of 18 to 64 year olds are receiving disability benefits — and all of them are located in the South. Conversely, Western states tend to have fewer residents on disability. Seven of the 10 states with the lowest shares of working-age residents collecting disability insurance are located in the western part of the country.
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Because the vast majority of disability beneficiaries do not work they are not counted as part of the labor force, which is defined as all residents 16 and older who are employed or actively seeking work. In 8 of the 10 states with the highest percentages of residents collecting disability the labor force participation rates are less than the national rate.
In West Virginia, the state with the highest share of residents collecting disability, only 53.1% of residents 16 and older are part of the labor force, the lowest rate in the country and roughly 10 percentage points below the national rate.
A high disability recipiency rate and the resulting low labor force participation rate can skew a state’s unemployment rate. Arkansas, for example, has the third highest share of residents collecting disability in the nation, which partially contributes to one of the lowest participation rates. As a result, the number of those 18 to 64-year olds receiving disability benefits was nearly 150,000, well more than the approximately 58,000 unemployed residents. So does the state's unemployment rate of 3.4% in June -- tied for 13th lowest of all states and well below the national rate -- really reflect the conditions of the labor market in the state?
To identify the states with the highest portion of residents age 18-64 receiving Social Security Disability Insurance benefits, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed figures published in the Social Security Administration’s “Annual Statistical Report on the Social Security Disability Insurance Program”. Published in October 2016, the report contains the most recent data available. Data on total beneficiaries age 18-64 and statewide monthly benefits also came from this report. Seasonally adjusted unemployment rates and labor force participation rates for June 2017 are from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
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