some beneficiaries are termally ill.bout 1 in 5 male and 1 in 7 female beneficiaries die within seven years to get benefits. they tend to be oeltder. in 2010 the average age was 53. 7 in 10 beneficiaries are over the age of 50 and nearly 3 in 10 are over the age of 60. many have low educational attainment. two-thirds have a high school diploma and although a third did not complete high school. when we think about trying to find work for folks in this changing technology-based, skill-based economy we have to keep in mind what the characteristics of people receiving benefits of. can they work and become self-supporting? ssdi beneficiaries should be given every service support and encouragement to go to work. as i've got through the reasons why it's unlikely that a large percentage have the capacity for ongoing work at a significant level. ssdi does not present a disincentive to work. the benefits are modest. it's $1,100 per month. in february of 2012, and that is more than 10% less than a person working full time at a low