Study: Lawyers Rake In Billions From Federal Disability Program

Investor's Business Daily ^ | 11/21/2014 | John Merline

[IBD editorial writer]

Lawyers have raked in more than $7.5 billion in fees from the federal Disability Insurance program since 2009, according to a Manhattan Institute report issued Friday. And that money has come directly out of the pockets of workers through the Social Security payroll tax.

[Graybeard58]

That’s about what it is here in Illinois too.

[1010RD]

In an 18-month investigation, the 136-page Senate report concluded that the Social Security Disability Insurance and Supplemental Security income programs are are not only riddled with cheats but that the programs are “teetering on financial bankruptcy.”

[1010RD]

Recipients of federal disability checks often admit that they are capable of working but cannot or will not find a job, that those closest to them tell them they should be working, and that working to get off the disability rolls is not among their goals. More baffling, most have never received significant medical treatment and not seen a doctor about their condition in the last year, even though medical problems are the official reason they don't work. Those who acknowledge they're on disability because they can't find a job say they make little effort to find one, according to a Washington Examiner analysis of federal survey results.