What would your family do if you suffered a disability and couldn’t work? Could they maintain their standard of living, or would they struggle to cover daily expenses?
Unfortunately, common misconceptions about disabilities can be costly. Evaluate seven facts about disabilities to understand the need for disability coverage.
The facts: Qualifying for benefits can be difficult and time-consuming. SSDI is reserved for people who are severely disabled by a condition that significantly limits their “ability to do basic work-related activities, such as lifting, standing, walking, sitting, or remembering — for at least 12 months.”1 Approval is typically a slow process — often taking over seven months for Social Security disability approvals.2
Also, keep in mind that if the applicant cannot do the work they did previously, the Social Security Administration will evaluate if they can do another type of work. The claim will be denied if it’s decided they can perform other work.1
The average monthly benefit amount awarded from SSDI was approximately $1,700 in 2025.3 Could your family survive financially on this income?
The facts: While injuries can cause disability, they only represent less than 10% of long-term disability claims. Instead, illnesses and chronic health conditions cause the most common disabilities, including:4
The facts: More than 78% of Americans say it would be difficult to meet current financial obligations if their next paycheck was delayed for a week, and more than 70% of Americans living paycheck to paycheck have $2,000 or less in savings.6 Consider the following statistics:
The facts: An accident or illness keeps one in four workers out of work for at least one year.9 Some disabilities, such as those caused by a chronic health condition, can last a lifetime.
The facts: Workers’ compensation only applies to work-related injuries.
It would not cover cases such as:
The facts: One of the biggest blessings in church life is your church family. In the event of a disability, those around you — your ministry colleagues, congregation and loved ones — will likely offer support early on. They may bring meals, do yard work or provide rides to health appointments. However, disabilities can be lengthy, and resources may be stretched too thin to sustain the level of support you’ll need.
The facts: Disability statistics show otherwise, based on the number of people with disabilities in the U.S. More than one in four adults in the U.S. have some type of disability10, and approximately 11 million people with disabilities under age 65 are receiving Social Security income.11
If you become disabled and need to spend time away from work, disability coverage (short- or long-term) replaces some of your income. It can help protect your paycheck, your active role in ministry and your family’s financial future.
At GuideStone®, we help you find ways to strengthen your finances, whether you need to protect your income with disability coverage, save money on prescriptions, eat healthy on a budget or protect your family with life coverage. For more information, contact us at Insurance@GuideStone.org or 1-844-INS-GUIDE (1-844-467-4843), Monday through Friday, from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. CT.
GuideStone welcomes the opportunity to share this general information. However, this article is not intended to be relied upon as legal advice or medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
1SSA.gov/benefits/disability/qualify.html
2USAFacts.org/data-projects/disability-benefit-wait-time
3SSA.gov/oact/STATS/dib-g3.html
4TheCDIA.org/common-causes-of-disability
5CDC.gov/disability-and-health/conditions
6Forbes.com/advisor/banking/living-paycheck-to-paycheck-statistics-2024
7HealthSystemTracker.org/brief/the-burden-of-medical-debt-in-the-united-states
8ABI.org/feed-item/the-3-most-common-reasons-why-people-file-bankruptcy
9TheCDIA.org/the-risk-is-very-real
10CDC.gov/disability-and-health/articles-documents/disability-impacts-all-of-us-infographic.html
11SSA.gov/policy/docs/quickfacts/stat_snapshot
Article
• Oct 9, 2025 