Disability Insurance

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The Social Security Disability Insurance (DI) program pays cash benefits to nonelderly adults who are judged to be unable to perform “substantial” work because of a disability but who have worked in the past; the program also pays benefits to some of those adults’ dependents. CBO produces projections of the DI program’s finances under current law and analyzes options for changing the program.

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Testimony on Comparing CBO’s Long-Term Projections With Those of the Social Security Trustees
September 21, 2016
Both CBO and the Social Security Trustees project a shortfall in Social Security finances but they differ in their assessment of its magnitude. This testimony describes that difference and the major factors that contribute to it.
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Social Security Disability Insurance: Participation and Spending
June 15, 2016
In 2015, Social Security Disability Insurance (DI) benefit payments totaled $143 billion. CBO examines approaches that could improve the financial sustainability of the DI program and delay exhaustion of the DI trust fund past 2022.
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Social Security Policy Options, 2015
December 15, 2015
CBO analyzes 36 policy options commonly proposed by policymakers and analysts. Most of them would improve Social Security’s long-term finances, but only a few would significantly postpone the combined trust funds’ exhaustion date.
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The Social Security Disability Insurance Program - Infographic
July 16, 2012
CBO projects that in 2022, the Social Security Disability Insurance program will provide benefits totaling $204 billion to over 12.3 million disabled workers and their dependents.
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Policy Options for the Social Security Disability Insurance Program
July 16, 2012
The Disability Insurance program provided benefits to 8.3 million disabled workers in 2011. By 2022, CBO projects, the program will provide benefits to over 10 million disabled workers and spending on benefits will exceed $190 billion.