I worked as an SSI claims rep. right out of college for a year. Absolutely disgusted me to the point I quite and went back to grad school rather than promote that evil program.
Most of the applicants had “bad nerves” or a “bad back”. Nothing wrong other than a streak of lazy in 90% of the cases. If I could disqualify them on financial grounds I would, but once it went to the dept. of determinations it was all on the medicos then.
One thing you could count on, if a man or woman got it, within 6 months you could bet the house payment their significant other would be in there filing with the same ailment.
This was 20 yrs. ago and the full check was around $700 or $800 then, and they always wanted that “good medical card, cause it pays for everything!” that came along with SSI.
The tipping point for me was when the office manager came into the weekly staff meeting and informed us they were beginning an advertising campaign because we were not getting enough applicants for SSI.
To top it all off. Here in NYS, I’m sure its in all other states now but these parasites are given so called ‘benefit’ cards to spare them embarrassment. The card is used just like an ATM card at a banks atm.