Social Security Claims Jump 21 Percent In 2009

The number of applications received by the Social Security Administration for disability benefits has skyrocketed 21 percent in the last year, according to the Washington Post.

Experts agree that two different forces are affecting the jump in Social Security disability applications. First, the baby boomer generation is aging – and a large percentage of the workforce is becoming older and sicker. As they age, these workers are suffering from chronic conditions, diseases, and chronic injuries that make them unable to continue at their jobs. Second, officials believe that the recent recession and the poor job market has resulted in a number of out-of-work Americans to seek disability benefits when they would prefer to continue to earn their own living. These workers are not necessarily taking advantage of the Social Security system – they may have valid health issues that make it difficult for them to work, but they may also have been trying to continue on until they were laid off in recent months or years.