Workers today are 3 times more likely to suffer a long-term disability than die during their working years (Source: The Council of Disability Insurers, The Long Term Disability Claims Review: 2005) 
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The likelihood of being disabled for more than 3 months is greater than dying in any given year (Source: Society of Actuaries) READ MORE
Disability Insurance News
Dec. 10, 2007: Disability Cases Last Longer as Backlog Rises
Some people are waiting as long as three years for their Social Security disability settlements and the delays are steadily growing larger, according to a Dec. 10, 2007, article in "The New York Times." [1]
Many of the cases are initially denied. Most people who are initially rejected for disability do not bother to appeal. However, two-thirds of those who do appeal a rejection eventually win their cases. But in the meantime, more and more people have lost their homes, declared bankruptcy or even died while awaiting an appeals hearing, states the article.
According to recent statistics, the wait for an appeals hearing averages more than 500 days, compared with 258 in 2000. The backlog of cases has soared to 755,000 from 311,000 in 2000.
The reason for all the denials and the backlog is the program's standards are stricter than those of most private plans. Recipients of Social Security disability must prove that because of physical or mental disabilities they are unable to do "any kind of substantial work" for at least a year or prove that an illness is expected "to result in death."
References
- Eckholm, Erik. "Disability Cases Last Longer as Backlog Rises," The New York Times, Dec. 10, 2007