Some Social Security benefits go to surviving spouses and children, but most go to older adults. The bulk of Social Security disability claimants are 50 years old and over.
Those under 50 can still apply and could receive Social Security disability, but getting benefit approval is more difficult since age is a factor in disability evaluation. The educational experience of a worker with a disability claim is considered in relationship to the worker’s age. Social Security rates an older, less-educated worker as less able to move to a different job after a disability than if he or she were younger.
Arkansas has a higher percentage than the national average. Almost 200,000 claimants in Arkansas are currently awarded Social Security disability benefits.
Social Security disability benefits will be converted into Social Security retirement benefits when the recipient becomes eligible for retirement.
References:
Disability Determination for Social Security Administration (DDSSA—Arkansas), www.arkansas.gov/ddssa/faq.html
Shane Henry & Associates, Attorney at Law, Little Rock, AR http://www.littlerockdisability.com/does-my-age-matter/
U.S. Census, 2010. Arkansas http://www.census.gov/2010census/popmap/ipmtext.php?fl=05
Wacher, R.R. & Roberto, K.A. (2008). Community resources for older adults: Programs and Services in an era of change. Thousand Oaks, Calif.: Sage Publications.