SSI Suppplemental Security Income
SSDI Social security Disability Income
The majority of people getting SSI are people whom believe because they are diagnosed with a mental illness they can no longer work.
disability is granted for people whom have a physical medical issue that will endure for more than year or result in death. The problem with disability is that the lawyer is required by the Social security administration for the hearing process. generally in the hearing the attorney with the medical documentation and the rehabilitation specialists whom are present will make a determination at that time.
disability is different than supplemental security income. many whom get supplemental have never paid into the system at all.
in the county I reside in supplemental is generally granted to those whom have a mental illness and are awaiting a decision. the mental health service at the county level is the one that pushes for ssi. due to the nature that their agency is dependent upon the state mental health system to ensure payment. many of the mental health patients are pushed into supported employment and eventually are deemed ineligible because the mental illness is not severe enough. in turn the person is bumped out of the system, the person moves out of the county and goes to another county and strives to manipulate the system all over again. remember these type of people are lazy, malingerers and basically morons.
You really need to watch how you word and write your opinions. An otherwise fine opinion complete with empirical example and a believable behind the scenes description of what goes on is totally ruined by the casual use of "The Majority", when in fact you do not have total knowledge of that fact.
Many SSI recipients are people awaiting transplants for things like hearts, kidneys, liver et al, still others are people diagnosed with cancer or tumors and are on Chemotherapy.
Yes, there is abuse, fraud. More institutional than individual in Dollar terms, but there are a lot of untruths and overly speculative and dismissive statements being presented here in this thread.