Posted on 12/03/2012 2:54:35 PM PST by drewh
"It is exceptionally difficult — for all practical purposes, impossible," writes Eberstadt, "for a medical professional to disprove a patient's claim that he or she is suffering from sad feelings or back pain."
In other words, many people are gaming or defrauding the system. This includes not only disability recipients but health care professionals, lawyers and others who run ads promising to get you disability benefits.
Between 1996 and 2011, the private sector generated 8.8 million new jobs, and 4.1 million people entered the disability rolls.
In 1960, some 455,000 workers were receiving disability payments. In 2011, the number was 8,600,000. In 1960, the percentage of the economically active 18-to-64 population receiving disability benefits was 0.65%. In 2010, it was 5.6%.
Some four decades ago, when I was a law clerk to a federal judge, I had occasion to read briefs in cases appealing denial of disability benefits. The Social Security Administration then seemed pretty strict in denying benefits in dubious cases. The courts were not much more openhanded.
Things have changed. Americans have grown healthier, and significantly lower numbers die before 65 than was the case a half-century ago. Nevertheless, the disability rolls have ballooned.
One reason is that the government seems to have gotten more openhanded with those claiming vague ailments. Eberstadt points out that in 1960, only one-fifth of disability benefits went to those with "mood disorders" and "musculoskeletal" problems. In 2011, nearly half of those on disability voiced such complaints.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.investors.com ...
Can you live on 20% or less of your current income?
Can it put kids through college?
Probably not. If your disability causes a financial hardship, they might qualify for grants or some scholarships. Count on taking out thousands of $ in student loans.
My knee hurts all the time, do I qualify?
I can guarantee you will be denied the first and probably second time. You will probably be denied altogether unless there are secondary symptoms and you have an aggressive lawer.
I'm currently taking Elevil (sp?) in the evenings along with two Melatonin to help me get to sleep, problem is I wake up after 3-4 hours from the burning/tingling in my feet. Very difficult to get a good nights rest with this. I've been battling the onset of neuropathy since about 32'ish .....
“The way I see it, it’s time to get back at least some of the tax dollars I flushed down the government toilet my whole working life.”
Wait until you’re 63 and work and pay until then and shut up!
I haven't filed, I assume I won't get it because I'm (gasp!) a White Urban Male and as such the Obama Government is hell bent on denying me ANYTHING.
The reality is, I wouldn't be able to survive on the paltry Disability payments I'd receive. While my house is paid for, I live in a high property tax state and still have two sons to put through college. I recently turned 50 and I plan on working and making as much money as I possibly can, for as long as I can.
When the day comes that I can't keep my balance without assistance, I'll get a walker.
When a walker no longer suffices, I'll get a wheelchair.
After that, who knows ... hopefully I'll be dead.
LOL, I am not far from 63, not far at all.
If they are white, yes. Something about making up for the legacy of past discrimination.
“What do people expect these guys to do??? Just lay down and die???”
Make your own way in this world or do just that, quit taking up space on this planet!!!!
You are eligible for Medicare coverage two years from your SSDI Application Date.
It isn’t just a monthly check, it’s a lifestyle.
Add in an EBT Card, Section 8 Housing and a free Obamaphone and you are set. Heck, some Cities give the “disabled” discounted or free Rapid Transit Passes.
Not a care in the world...
bump
When I blew out my back the workers comp people told me that only 10% of people with my injury return to work. I couldn’t get off the floor for a month and the pain was worse than kidney stones by far. I was back at work in 10 months and would have been back sooner if they would have approved surgery right away rather than torturing me with assinine things like pain management and chiropractors.
The problem is simply the abuse of the system. In fact, it happens in every aspect of Government largess.
My Mother always said, “you help people that can’t help themselves, not people who won’t help themselves”.
That bit of wisdom doesn’t fly today.
The ones who take the easy way out hurt the truly needy. When the bill exceeds the Budget, they blame the people that are already paying most of the freight for not paying more. Damned of you do, damned if you do.
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I’d go for it but I’m single and to date woman on the higher end of the hotness scale..... Disability is non starter.
I didnt have the option to work. Went from easy living with a combined salary of just over 100K. Overnight we plunged to 30K and seldom break even. We’ve purged everything we can. We don’t eat out. My neighbors game me these computers to fix and allow me to use their internet connections. We don’t go on vacations anymore,(gosh do I miss the Caribbean) My car is a 1998 explorer with near 200K miles on it and a broken air conditioner. 98K left on mortgage. Learned last week that we qualify for food stamps. I did not file for it. My social security was not an entitlement. I paid for that disability protection. And the bastards denied me. Hence my recommendation to file again. Best of luck. Merry Christmas!
I know two people in one home living off disability. One is undeterminable and the other has sensitive hearing. Both liberals. I don’t think the woman has ever worked a real job but she lives at the local pool and pays for it by.....wait for it....working there.
My heart goes out to you, I know my situation can change very quickly and I’d be in much the same boat.
God bless and keep you.
Yep, bad planning on my part does not constitute an automatic emergency on anyone else’s part :) I was a few years short in my planning ( who plans to be disabled at 45) but never was much good in math. FReepers allow me to maintain a positive attitude. Folks b*tching and moaning about the same things that bother me. As long as I wake up in a warm place I am well blessed. Hope all works out for you!! Always available to lend an ear...
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