The explosive growth of disability insurance
But there is another federal program for people with disabilities that has had an unhappier effect. This is the disability-insurance (DI) program, which is part of Social Security.
The idea is to provide income for those whose health makes them unable to work. For many years, it was a small and inexpensive program that few people or politicians paid much attention to. …
Things have changed. Americans have grown healthier, and significantly lower numbers die before 65 than was the case a half-century ago. Nevertheless, the disability rolls have ballooned. …
In other words, many people are gaming or defrauding the system. This includes not only disability recipients but health-care professionals, lawyers, and others who run ads promising to get you disability benefits.
Between 1996 and 2011, the private sector generated 8.8 million new jobs, and 4.1 million people entered the disability rolls.
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A government check in the mail. It’s free. What’s the problem?
/money grows on trees
Paul-Cincy on December 2, 2012 at 10:09 AM
My secretary’s husband gets disability. His parents get disability too. He fixes cars on the weekends.
Ted Torgerson on December 2, 2012 at 10:11 AM
I’ve seen people game this.
It is relatively difficult and does require the collusion of several doctors and lawyers and a raft of documentation but it is done all the time. And in younger people it is absolutely seen as an alternative to work when work is as scarce as it has been in the Oconomy.
It’s highly likely that the areas with high unemployment also enjoy a high number of ‘disabled’ folks.
CorporatePiggy on December 2, 2012 at 10:12 AM
It’s actually quite easy. That’s how 4 million people who have no real disability are getting it. After you’ve been rejected twice you get a lawyer and the right hearing officer and you are approved.
It varies by state. San Juan, Puerto Rico is essentially the capital of free loaders. Nine of the top ten zip codes of disability claimants are in San Juan.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704517404576222701926111240.html
Ted Torgerson on December 2, 2012 at 10:16 AM
Interesting.
No wonder they are lobbying to become the 51st state. Just imagine the amazing contribution Puerto Rico would make to the union.
CorporatePiggy on December 2, 2012 at 10:24 AM
Most certainly to those voting for the Santa Claus Party.
Drained Brain on December 2, 2012 at 10:29 AM
It takes one semi-dishonest doctor, and a lawyer. My co-workers girlfriend is on ssdi for being “bi-polar” which is the newspeak for lazy. She also has an ObamaPhone, lives in section 8 housing, her and all of her kids (4 kids by 3 different guys) are on medicaid, foodstamps, WIC, etc., as well. She sells weed on the side to make extra money.
Timin203 on December 2, 2012 at 10:36 AM
Frequently and it is pretty much impossible to prove or disprove.
The cocktail of drugs typically used to treat it probably will make you genuinely nuts if you were not already.
Anti-psychotics, anti-anxiety drugs, mood elevators, sleeping pills…
CorporatePiggy on December 2, 2012 at 10:46 AM
semi dishonest doctor? who are you…obama?
renalin on December 2, 2012 at 10:54 AM
Once again, a program ment to help those that really need it, example, the wifes aunt who pretty much has her whole back fused, keeps getting turned down because the doctor said she can not sit for more than a hour at a time or walk for more than a hour at a time. This is from multiple doctors, and multiple surgeries should be enough to prove that she is disabled. Yet, been fighting for a few years now for disability because what job can follow that criteria?
Yet, you can get disability for migrains? I can see the FMLA, but then you have a job. This would protect you from getting fired. But NOOO, lets go on disability.
This again, is a program that we all should be able to stomach. Yet, because of the abuse, like all the other social programs, the bad apples once again ruin the system and turn people sour to it.
watertown on December 2, 2012 at 11:05 AM
Before I get slamed for it, I want to point out that any one of us at any time can have something horrible happen to us that would make us unable to work. It could be as simple as going to your car tonight to run and get a gallon of milk, only for some driver to hit you as you enter your car, messing you up pretty good. Sure you can sue the driver, but what good is it when they aint got nothing, let alone auto insurance?
watertown on December 2, 2012 at 11:08 AM
It is difficult to continue to find the motivation to go to work every day. I’ll tell you that.
besser tot als rot on December 2, 2012 at 11:24 AM
I would never follow through with this, but my impulse after this election is to take whatever I can from the government. After all, that’s what the nation voted for. I’m tempted to tell my son not to apply for work when he gets out of school, and instead apply for disability based on ADD or anxiety or something. If I had a daughter, I’d be tempted to tell her that getting pregnant out of wedlock pays better than a middle class job. Again, I wouldn’t actually do that, but as besser tot said, the motivation to go to work is diminishing.
juliesa on December 2, 2012 at 11:43 AM
Couple that lived next door to me up in Utah had disabled stickers on both of their vehicles. I am sure they were not getting disability checks, but they got the placards. They were at the ski slopes down hill skiing quite often.
astonerii on December 2, 2012 at 11:58 AM
I would not either, but it sure as hell is diminishing.
astonerii on December 2, 2012 at 11:59 AM
Everyone is employable.
Mormontheman on December 2, 2012 at 12:10 PM
There’s this poignancy seeing volunteers lending a hand to help the poor and sick and unfortunate, like victims of disasters. Everyone gets that. I get that. It’s touching. But why not the same poignancy for doing ANY work? Rather than sitting around accomplishing nothing, do SOMETHING, be an addition to society, even if it’s a crap job. The understanding of that value seems to be on the wane. If there’s no stigma anymore with taking and doing nothing, then, why not.
Paul-Cincy on December 2, 2012 at 12:29 PM
Assumes that is an important character trait. This culture has been rejecting the Judeo-Christian work ethic for a couple of generations
chemman on December 2, 2012 at 12:31 PM
Hey. I said that.
Paul-Cincy on December 2, 2012 at 12:33 PM
I’ve lost my ability to type. How much do I get?
Shy Guy on December 2, 2012 at 1:22 PM
I’ve got a friend recently diagnosed with MS. She’s having an attack now and may sleep 20 hours a day. She got canned from her last job because of this attack. And she tells me that it’ll take at least 2 years for her to get on disability — despite MS being an example in the law for getting help.
While some “repetitive stress injury” wrist-brace-wearer is already collecting benefits to support his Playstation-on-the-couch lifestyle.
cthulhu on December 3, 2012 at 12:18 AM