It's easy for those in the know to make the system work.
If they're not accepted, lawyers will happily take the case for a cut of the winnings. This is big business.
I knew someone who was collecting - along with the other eleven siblings in the family. All of them were 50 and younger. Social Security would be supporting some of them for 30, 40, 50years.
The problem is Social Security was never set up to support all the people who wanted to live on welfare forever without having to have children. Dems don't care about the elderly - or those paying into the current system who will get screwed. They care about the former welfare types who now are 'disabled'...
People who really are disabled and need the money - might have to do without when the eternally dependent bankrupt it. If that happens, the disabled without family - and the elderly without family to take them in - will die.
The only people who will be fine are those milking one more welfare program...
The next few years are likely our last chance to meaningfully reform entitlements. If we don't then whole system collapses -- assuming it is not too late already.
When I first bought my house, I bought a 3 br house even though I didn't need 3, because I figured I would have to take in my paranoid schizophrenic cousin some day. When I had to sell my house due to my own physical problems, I now rent a 2 br apartment, currently using the second br as an office, but knowing that someday my cousin will need to move in with me.
I hope it doesn't happen, but I realize that if he loses his disability, I will need to support him.
Mark