Social Security Disability Insurance not sustainable

I did pace myself. So did the other three co-workers in a shop of 5 who died over a five year period. If you ever worked as a maintenance mechanic in a medical facility you'd know it's work. Sometimes there were breathers other times like storms you ran your tail off literally. Day shift had two men, evenings and nights had one. Evenings and nights didn't just have the 200 bed medical facility they also had a 200 unit retirement complex {apartments} a 50 unit assisted living complex, and a retirement subdivision of about 30 homes to handle. I worked evenings most of my time there.

The one thing the overtime I worked my last few months managed to do was increase how much I would draw on SSDI.

As for my wife? 26 years ago she was a CNA in a nursing home. A whopping 4'10" 90 pounder lifting patients. She went quad while we were on a date. Two years later they determined it was Transverse Myelitis and likely Polio Relapse Syndrome. She never new she had contacted Polio. Her pay? Just over minimum wage. She was wanting to be a nurse but was raising two kids alone at that time only on her income and could not afford it. Her insurance lapsed 30 days after all her sick days were up. When she transferred to another facility the insurer who was still under contract supposed to cover her expenses till medical release considered that transfer as being such a release.

Anyone who believes private insurers are going to cover their catastrophic illness the same as SSDI are fools. Such insurance would be out of the range of most all working persons below six figure a year incomes. Any such polices would have benefit caps as well. You'll be fighting their corporate on retention or on payroll lawyers till hell freezes over getting your rightful benefits you paid them for and qualify for.

SSDI can work and the private sector insurers can not or rather will not give that same coverage. There are many, many, programs of waste in government as another poster pointed out. SSDI helps workers who paid in and became disabled. SSDI is likely the least abused due to the strict guidelines and policies to qualify for it. Yes some drug addicts can get on it. What the author of this article fails to mention is this. They do have a lifetime cap placed on them and a time limit then out they go. It's either 2 or 5 years I can't remember but I know they are in fact limited by law.

Reality? For many disabled to work means a second person must be hired to assist them in a lot of cases. I have a cousin with a college degree. The cousin can't lift a finger. What few jobs that cousin had another person had to be hired to assist. My wife tried a go back to work program. Her medical issues prevented it and even had she been able to do so it would be a job like telemarketing but I would have had to went to work with her to assist and at the time I was working. Most of the return to work programs for the disabled are merely contractors drawing a government check for training but very few of their clients can actually get or hold down gainful employment.

I see a fundamental problem in your argument - that “SSDI can work”. There is a reason that private insurance with similar “benefits” would be so expensive - because such coverage IS expensive. The government “can” because they tax everyone to death. SSDI is just like the rest of the SS program - broke. Why? Because the outflow is much greater than the inflow (that and congress doesn’t actually set aside the SS-related forced taxes to actually fund the programs, but puts it all in a general fund).

SSDI is unsustainable. At some point, taxpayers have no more to take, yet the costs of all such government programs will continue to increase, both due to actual costs, and to artificially inflated costs from increased recipient rolls and compliance/distribution costs.

Even if all fraud and wasted could, in some magical way, be cut from SS and SSDI, it would still be unsustainable.

I also do not agree with your blanket statement regarding private insurers. I have been a first-hand witness to some really great help from some companies. Not all fall under the “evil insurance company” label. That being said - insurance companies, in nearly all cases, are in business to make money. They do not stay in business long if they pay out more than they take in (shouldn’t the same business law apply to the government...???).

Far more of the “disabled” I know who are on SSDI could work without supplemental help - they choose not to (why work when they can just draw a check?). Some could do small jobs or work part-time.

I even know a couple of people who claim to be total disabled, yet sit in front of a computer at home for 16-20 hours per day playing games and surfing the ‘net. Gee...

I know someone else (an aunt of a good friend of mine) who could out eat anyone I know. She was nearly 400 lbs when I met her several years ago. She was on SSDI then for her weight. But did she make ANY efforts to control her eating? No. SSDI finally paid for bariatric surgery. She lost a significant amount of weight (was at close to 500 lbs at the time of surgery). Still - no effort to work, and I think she has about pulled/stretched her stomach back...

And one great big point to the whole argument - the actual cost of the medical side of SDDI - is directly related to medical costs as a whole which again are heavily influenced by government programs and regulations, not to mention still out-of-control courts.

And I still submit that these programs are NOT the government’s responsibility. This board is about conservative/constitutional values. While I can understand that some have a very positive view of this government program or that one...that does not take away the constitutional validity (or lack thereof).

SSDI is unsustainable. At some point, taxpayers have no more to take, yet the costs of all such government programs will continue to increase, both due to actual costs, and to artificially inflated costs from increased recipient rolls and compliance/distribution costs.

You're doing like the writer. You are confusing or combining SSDI with SSI and they are NOT the same thing. SSDI numbers are much lower. SSI numbers are much higher because the qualifications are vastly different. It is NOT a pay in coverage. SSDI is in fact the most limited and the most strict to obtain SS benefit.

Far more of the “disabled” I know who are on SSDI could work without supplemental help - they choose not to (why work when they can just draw a check?). Some could do small jobs or work part-time.

OK I'll play your game now you can play mine for an eye opener for you. Take approximately $100 per day over 25 years and what do you get? Over $900K if I did the math right. The total sum combined both myself and my wife have drawn lifetime is maybe a fourth of that. Which is cheaper do you think? One of the two would have to be paid. Which do you prefer? My wife can not work period and I posted explaining what many of these programs are. I know that system you don't. There is a huge and great difference between being able to function in your home environment and being able to work and hold down a job. Some days I have but 15 minutes mental concentration. Some days and I can by no means control or predict which ones I have severe seizures similar to what you would see in a person with Parkinson's or Tourettes. What can trigger it? Many things like phones. Driving to the store or for that matter even being in a store at all sometimes, or watching TV which except mostly for black and white shows I can'nt, Someone whistling around me. Being told to do one thing while I'm in the process of doing another. I can not multi-task well at all. It's not getting better it's getting worse. Yet I can walk so by your standards I'm not disabled? I had the good sense to retire because I knew I could kill innocents or myself in my liner of work if I screwed up during a brain fog.

Now as for work I do have one full time job which many persons refuse to do. I am a full time caregiver. I have the medical skills almost that of a Registered Nurse I had to learn OJT. I did that and also held down a full time job BTW. Go ahead strut around and gripe about SSDI just because disability has not hit you or yours yet.

I stay on a computer a lot myself. I can't do too much else and it keeps the mind working. My time on the computer even saved my wifes very life because of knowledge I was able to quickly obtain that even six doctors were not catching.

As for what I think about insurance companies I think about as highly of them as I do lawyers with I have no use for either based on personal experiences with same.

I know someone else (an aunt of a good friend of mine) who could out eat anyone I know. She was nearly 400 lbs when I met her several years ago. She was on SSDI then for her weight. But did she make ANY efforts to control her eating? No. SSDI finally paid for bariatric surgery. She lost a significant amount of weight (was at close to 500 lbs at the time of surgery). Still - no effort to work, and I think she has about pulled/stretched her stomach back...

I know many persons it has worked for. Many things determine ones weight and weight loss abilities but like everything else you just lump it all together. I know some who eat like a mouse and can not loose. I know other persons skinny as Olive Oyle and can eat all they wish and never gain a pound despite years of trying too. I also know what too skinny can do to a person. I am one who believe being up to 20% overweight can actually be healthy.

And one great big point to the whole argument - the actual cost of the medical side of SDDI - is directly related to medical costs as a whole which again are heavily influenced by government programs and regulations, not to mention still out-of-control courts.

My medical cost are minimal well not now but V.A. is picking up a chunk of what I was paying out of pocket. You see most of the medical cost of my disability is not covered. $50 a month medication, $400 custom made shoe insoles, $200 special order shoes needed for them, hearing aids {$5000}, glasses, etc. None of the above are covered by Medicare or Medicaid. All but the shoes V.A. will now be picking up for me. BTW SSDI is the only check we draw. My wife has much higher non covered needs like a wheelchair lift and special nutritional requirements. She also must have skilled care which we do not get. I do it. In 25 years I can count on both hands the number of home health visits. Do the math and stop griping about the disabled spending money. If I wasn't doing it a nursing home would but I don't have a strong like for them either. My family including my parents will not be placed in one. That will save you more dollars you happy now?

And I still submit that these programs are NOT the government’s responsibility. This board is about conservative/constitutional values. While I can understand that some have a very positive view of this government program or that one...that does not take away the constitutional validity (or lack thereof).

Well I can agree that the programs likely should have never started. But I also believe in the Conservative value of Contracted Obligations being honored. What contract you'll likely ask? The one Uncle forced me into via wage deductions {involuntary conscription} starting 35 years ago to pay for a service I may or may not have ever needed. Yes I believe to those whom Uncle has taken from their wages for these services the obligation should be met. Now if you want to talk about ones currently working and all future workers being able to opt out to another form of coverage {private} as long as such coverage is actually proven. But you won't like that part either I bet. The reason I say mandatory is like SSDI which is to protect the innocents of those dependent on the wage earner. If not you ain't seen the problems that would result otherwise meaning things common in third world nations like street orphans and kid beggars on the street. I'm for allowing it go private coverage though.

Unless you are a millionaire or worked with an income which allowed you to be insured to the hilt I would give you a few months in dealing with catastrophic illness involving you or a loved one and you too would be seeking help. It can happen to you this very day. A quick trip to the store and a MVA leaving you with ahead injury and spouse to deal with things including caring for you. Most of the ones I hear griping about all this have in fact lived very blessed lives of not having it hit them or their immediate family personally or their family where they directly have to deal with it. When they do Boy is it all an eye opener for them. Then I've seen far too many times the others as well. This type meaning I'm not going to be responsible for mom, dad, spouse, I have a life and they're going to a nursing home. Someone is paying. Usually Uncle is the one. Very, very, few nursing home patients are private pay. I know that for a fact because I used to work in them. 90% of the patients were Medicare/Medicaid patients and many of them had fairly wealthy family. Wealthier than me anyway.

Of all the government abuses and waste going on far greater and worse than SSDI it's amazing how many come unglued over one government program which actually functions reasonably well. Our foreign aid to Mexico would likely offset much of the SSDI cost. So would likely our We Love China programs and the corporate welfare involved. Now you want to talk about monetary abuses corporate welfare is the biggest. Look at GMC and Chrysler. Strain at a gnat swallow a Camel.

Ya know thinking about it maybe I should have stayed in the Navy. At my 17 year mark likely before that I would have been medically retired drawing a heck of a lot more for it as a likely E7 or above than I am now. I could honestly have drawn from V.A. or SSDI. There was enough evidence in my service record to have linked my condition being worsened by my service.

You're doing like the writer. You are confusing or combining SSDI with SSI and they are NOT the same thing. SSDI numbers are much lower. SSI numbers are much higher because the qualifications are vastly different. It is NOT a pay in coverage. SSDI is in fact the most limited and the most strict to obtain SS benefit.

It all comes out of the same program/pot... period. And as part of the whole, is again - unsustainable. And no - I am not confusing one program for another. I know many people who are in the SSDI program, and know many who have been denied SSDI. Yes, it is restrictive - the first go-round. In fact, the general consensus is that close to 100% of claims are denied the first time around. The system uses the courts to do the weeding out, instead of just doing the job they are hired to do. Blanket denial, go hire a lawyer, and fight it out. In fact, the vast majority of those I know who receive SSDI were denied and had to appeal, most with the help of an attorney (who then gets a check...). That is how the system is put together - and part of the inefficiency that IS the Federal Government.

I was paying bills for a client the other day and one of their employees needed a loan to buy his daughter new wheels. He told me the wheels cost more than he paid for the car. He paid $900 for the car, she paid $1,200 for the wheels that were stolen while she was out at a cheap hotel (I didn't ask what she was doing at the cheap hotel) or why he was paying for another set.

I won on first appeal. Had the check within 9 months plus back pay of which I got what portion I had not taken in SSI. One thing really helps and I was told this by a doctor who does the exams. Keep a daily journal {basic account} of how your disability affects you and limits you in what you are trying to do. It has to be taken into evidence and it can be a audio journal which is what I did. Also I would highly recommend having face to face meetings with the SSDI office to have them fill out the paper work for you. That too helps. The ride to the office had me into seizure activity when I got there and the case worker saw it as did the supervisor. I also took another route many people simply overlook. I contacted my congressctitters office and asked them for help on my behalf.

The thing of it is no one really has a workable replacement for SSDI. Private coverage has lifetime caps usually 5 years income or less. Private charity would not work although it carries a significant portion of the load even today. Look around you there are many agencies lending helping hands. Charity hasn't died.

Look I can tell you practical common sense ways to cut the SSDI, Medicare, Medicaid, cost by more than half almost immediately and none would do without.

Many if not most patients in nursing homes actually do not belong there. They could in fact receive the same if not better and environmentally healthier at home. Many are placed there because no family member is available due to both spouses working to care for them. My guesstimate is nursing homes take in an average of over $100 a day now just for room and board. The actual cost to Medicare/Medicaid likely much more.

At $7.25 {minimum wage} coming up to $58 a day which would be cheaper? Paying a nursing home or paying a family member 8 hours minimum wage pay salary as a live in to care for the person? When you stop and consider a persons cost to work including daycare for kids etc many would be able to do it due to those expenses. It's not so far fetched an idea. Ronald Reagan proposed paying mothers to stay home.

My wife worked in a facility her grandmother was a patient in. My wife at that time several years before we met had two kids and was a single mom by abandonment. She made just above minimum ages caring for patients. The nursing home drew a sizable sum from Medicare/Medicaid for her grandmothers care. If there had been a workable way my wife would have taken her in. One third of the amount that nursing home got for her grandmothers care per day would have been more than livable wages for her as the caregiver.

You'll never hear this brought up by politicians though. Guess why? The nursing home industry has a very powerful lobbying influence. That is what is mainly driving up cost. When you take into consideration the cost of also treating facility issues like Staph infections etc which are not common to a home environment the cost increases. As for the training needed? LOL if I can learn it anyone can. In 25 years we have received but a dozen home health visits. Total cost saved? I would put well above $500K to Medicare/Medicaid by not going the nursing home route that is even with our combined SSDI income.

There are ways to cut the cost and make it workable and highly sustainable. The problem is those of us who know the pitfalls and needs will never be heard. That was but one idea and a workable common sense one which would make the greatest impact on containing cost and no harm done as an extra needed and added bonus.