There is no doubt that the past few years have been a struggle for citizens in Massachusetts and across the entire United States. Unemployment is at an all-time high and many employers are asking more from their workers while offering fewer hours and eliminating many part-time positions. People with limiting illnesses or injuries are unable to find jobs that fit their limitations and must turn to assistance like unemployment and Social Security Disability benefits.

A recent study has found a link between the expiration of unemployment benefits and the applications for Social Security Disability benefits. Researchers study data compiled by the government programs and noticed a trend.

During the final stretch before unemployment benefits became exhausted, 10 percent of Americans between the ages of 50 and 65 were applying for Social Security Disability benefits when they had access to less than $5,000. It appears that those who applied had first attempted to make ends meet with only one type of assistance as less than 1 percent of people from the same age grouping applied for SSD when they had 50 weeks before their unemployment benefits would expire.

The study was conducted by two economists - Alan Krueger, the Director of the White House Council of Economic Advisers and Andreas Mueller with Columbia Business School. The initial report was released on Thursday, Dec. 15 by the Obama administration.

While the economy was rapidly deteriorating in the past few years, the application pool for Social Security Benefits was growing an exponential rate. Born in the 1950s, the Social Security Disability Insurance program grew to 10.6 million workers in 2011 relying on the vital benefits.

Source: The Wall Street Journal, "Study Links Expiring Unemployment Benefits to Disability Applications," Damian Paletta, Dec. 16, 2011