As discussed in the previous post, the rates of disability across the country vary widely as to the kinds of disability, how many people receive disability benefits and what kinds of disabilities people suffer from so much so that they cannot work. As reported in the previous post, New York is ranked 27 in the country for how many people receive disability benefits.

Rural Americans have higher rates of disability than urban Americans. While the overall rate of working-age Americans receiving disability benefits is 4.6 percent, in rural counties it grows to 7.6 percent. In contrast, 4.2 percent of people in urban areas receive Social Security disability.

In many of these counties the primary occupation is coal mining. In northern counties with higher disability rates, the timber industry accounts for many jobs. Both occupations require demanding, physical labor and can lead to injuries and illnesses that limit or end the ability to work.

For people to claim disability benefits, they must show that they cannot work due to a disability and that the disability is expected to last for at least a year. The average monthly benefit in 2009 was $1,067 a month. Spouses of disabled workers received, on average, $287 a month, while children of disabled workers received an average of $318 a month.

Source: Daily Yonder, "The Geography of Disability," Bill Bishop and Roberto Gallardo, Nov. 30, 2011