Myth and Manipulation

Over a year ago Senator Tom Coburn stated during a general speech period that Social Security Disability Insurance would be bankrupt in 2015, he then went on to other things. During another general speech period Senator Diane Feinstein said it would go bankrupt in 2016, she then moved on to other things. They are from opposite sides of the aisle, presumably with access to the same facts and figures, so which year is it and why is nothing being done about it and why is it virtually ignored by the media?

Social Security Disability Insurance (S.S.D.I.) is a complicated program which is demonized by it's opponents through gross misrepresentation of alleged large numbers of recipients who don't really need it and have in some way orchestrated a scam to receive benefits.

This is a Federal program that is administered and reviewed by agencies within your own State. In virtually every case the first application will be denied. Depending on where you live this will take up to five months. The filer can then appeal the denial which can take up to another five months and again most are denied. Then comes the part which is a cottage industry for attorneys. You have a third bite at the Apple by asking for a final review by an Administrative Judge where you appear in person. This can take up to eighteen months to schedule. You can appear on your own but it is unwise because by the time you reach this point you will have been worn down and you will also have discovered at this point that what you thought was the English language was in fact bureaucratic ease which is deliberately confusing. An attorney will be needed to interpret what could have been said plainly to begin with. This final hearing is in no way a slam dunk for the filer, nor should it be.

S.S.D.I. is an insurance program  that comes from payroll taxes and each year an individual is assigned points  earned toward the program, with specific minimum points accrued to qualify and those numbers combined with income earnings determine how much you would receive if you become disabled. What Social Security doesn't tell you is that you have five years from the date your disability first occurred to qualify for benefits. After that every point you earned is zeroed out and you have no recourse. If you have become disabled but feel you don't want to apply because  you don't want to claim your rights, for whatever reason, do not wait.

S.S.D.I. is often confused with S.S.I. (Social Security Supplemental Income) they are completely different programs. S.S.I. is for people who have never worked and earned disability credits. This often includes profoundly disabled children and adults, as well as some other special circumstances. The most money any individual can be paid on that program is approximately $736.00 per month.

The idea that there is widespread abuse of S.S.D.I. simply doesn't add up. The multiple levels required to qualify would take large numbers of people, including physicians and government employees to be coconspirators in this alleged plot.

There is no doubt that any program can be improved and that we should not overlook abuse where it truly exists. But we cannot allow mythology and political ideology to supplant the true need of our citizens. What does it say about us as a society if we allow needed programs to simply fold because we personally have no experience with the issues involved or are so well off we don't have to worry about it?