Posted on 01/10/2020 1:16:23 PM PST by karpov
WASHINGTON—The Trump administration is working on a plan to tighten eligibility requirements for disability benefits, especially for older Americans, the latest step in a broader White House effort to shrink federal safety-net programs.
The proposal being prepared by the Social Security Administration would revise eligibility for disability benefits based on age, education and work experience, according to a draft viewed by The Wall Street Journal. Those factors determined the eligibility of about 500,000 people in 2017, according to the latest available data. More than eight million people currently receive disability payments.
The proposal aims to address major economic and demographic shifts over the past four decades, according to the text of the draft rule. Americans are living longer and are better educated. Fewer people are engaged in physically demanding jobs in mines and factories, and more are working in offices, hospitals, schools and retail outlets.
“Evidence shows that in the modern economy the vocational impacts of age, education and work experience are markedly different from what they were when we published the current vocational regulations,” according to the text dated Oct. 18.
If approved, the plan would mark the first significant overhaul of the way age, education and experience are considered in evaluating disability since the criteria were established in 1978. The program has provided benefits to disabled American workers since 1956.
Separately, the administration is considering a proposal to no longer consider a worker’s inability to speak English when determining whether they can adapt to other work, as well as a rule to require more frequent reviews to determine whether a recipient still qualifies for benefits.
The administration has also endorsed stricter rules for nutrition assistance and Medicaid, arguing they would draw more Americans into the labor force.
(Excerpt) Read more at wsj.com ...
I am all for this.
I spent two years as a claims rep for Social Security before transferring to the Treasury.
Social Security is already one of the most difficult to be approved. Very few are approved on application, other than those who are just beyond question.
No one in my experience was then approved on reconsideration. Most of those who finally get it do so at the Administrative Judge level.
Gotta love the fear stoking headline
Do you know what the difference ($ wise) is between Social Security and disability? I already know I”m a shoe-in for disability (stage 4 cancer...finally, a bonus!LOL) and I assume you can’t collect both, so which one pays better?
Almost impossible to get. SSI on the other hand is virtually guaranteed as long as you meet eligibility requirements.
While working as a hospice nurse in her 50s, my sister in law had been diagnosed with stage 4 terminal breast cancer that had metastasized to her brain. She was given months to live. She want on chemo, radiation, lost her hair, nauseous, delerious, couldn’t walk much less work.
She applied for SSA disability. It was denied. She died without bothering to apply again.
It has been over 40 years but I think disability benefits are the same as retirement at 65 but don’t quote me.
It requires at least 40 quarters of coverage and 20/40 or 20 of the last 40 quarters too.
“Social Security is already one of the most difficult to be approved. “
There are a lot of well paid lawyers making a living because of this.
Good. Disability should not be a way to take early retirement if you can otherwise work.
And welfare remains not even mentioned.
Which one do folks think involves more money?
How about making it “especially for morbidly obese people in their thirties with a dozen kids by a dozen other partners”
I agree, it probably pays to use a lawyer tho they get 25% of benefits due at the time of approval. I am sure there are limits but I don’t remember them.
Also don’t give up. Like I said most of those approved are done so by an Administrative Law Judge.
Is there a freeper her that can help me with another unrealted ss ?
The wife and I are 64 and 63. Neither of us have started to collect.
I have met my 30 years of non-zero contributions, she has like only 24 years. In the few years left of self employement should we put any ss contributions on her ssn and not mine. Should I consider going back and filing tax amendments back the last few to change it from mine to hers?
You should apply the earnings as they were earned.
The IRS would not appreciate your gaming the system.
Thinking back to the 80’s when our church had several members living in subsidized senior citizen apartments which then became available to those on disability compensation. Soc. Security suddenly deemed alcoholics eligible for disability and some moved into the apartments. The old folks lived if fear thereafter. Before they wandered around visiting, played cards in the rec room and were a happy group. When the drunks were brought in they had to lock their doors and could no longer walk around the building. Sad.
My sister was also denied. She had stage 4 Inflammatory Breast Cancer. She also had 3 children she was working to support up until she could no longer work. She did fight the denial and finally got approved about two weeks before she died. It was retroactive and she got a lump sum, but the lawyer was paid out of that lump sum. I’m not begrudging her lawyer, but she shouldn’t have needed a lawyer. It was when the cancer spread to both her lungs and her brain that she was approved. I just don’t understand why it’s so easy for some people to get approved and others to have to fight for it, especially when they’re so weak from being sick.
Is there a freeper her that can help me with another unrealted ss ?
The wife and I are 64 and 63. Neither of us have started to collect.
I have met my 30 years of non-zero contributions, she has like only 24 years. In the few years left of self employement should we put any ss contributions on her ssn and not mine. Should I consider going back and filing tax amendments back the last few to change it from mine to hers?
The use of lawyers is so entrenched that SS has a way to deduct their part of the your back payment before you get it. It is like SS is using the lawyers to do part of SS’s job and getting you to pay for it.
What was the time frame that you were there?
I work (peripherally) with disability income insurance, and IIRC, the disability claims during the 0bama years, were approved at much higher rates than prior to ZERO.
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