This just in from AP:
WHAT'S POSSIBLE: Social Security disability benefits may not be safe from the across-the-board cuts that are likely in President Bush's proposal to allow personal investment accounts.
THE MATH: Retirement and disability benefits are calculated using the same formula, so if future promised retirement benefits are cut, then disability benefits also would be reduced -- unless the program is somehow separated.
UNANSWERED: That raises big questions about how investment accounts would be structured for disabled people, especially if they get injured at a young age or are dependent on a parent.
Here are the numbers from another
AP story:
Key Social Security Disability Numbers
Mon Jan 17, 1:16 PM ET White House - AP
By The Associated Press
Some facts about Social Security (news - web sites)'s disability program:
Disabled beneficiaries: 6.2 million.
_Average monthly benefit: $866.
_Dependents of disabled beneficiaries: 1.7 million.
_Almost three in 10 of today's 20-year-olds will become disabled before age 67.
_About 72 percent of the private sector work force has no long-term disability insurance.
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Source: Social Security Administration