Report: High Rates of Ala. Residents on Disability

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Alabama has the second-highest rate of residents receiving disability payments from the government.

A local newspaper reports that only West Virginia has a higher percentage of its residents getting similar assistance.

In Alabama, more than 237,000 people receive the payments, or more than 6 percent of the population.

Social Security disability enrollment is higher in Southeastern states than the rest of the country. Alabama, West Virginia, Arkansas, Kentucky, and Mississippi are all in the top five for rates of enrollment.

Auburn University economist Keivan Deravi said high-growth businesses avoid markets with large numbers of disabled workers, potentially driving down growth.

Categories: Local News, State News

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