Disability trends in the United States: a national and regional perspective

Between 1978 and 1993, the number of persons receiving disability benefits under either the Supplemental Security Income program or the Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance program increased more than 43 percent--from 4.7 million to 6.7 million. In 1993, 4.08 percent of the U.S. resident population aged 18-64 were receiving a disability benefit under one or both of the programs, compared with 3.37 percent in 1978. This ratio had declined to 2.93 percent in 1983. The article examines the change in growth since 1975 in each of the two disability programs and provides an overview of key legislative changes occurring during the period. The emphasis is on regional and State changes during the 1987-92 period, identifying those areas where growth has been the most dramatic.