From an op ed piece in the New York Times by Peter Orszag, former director of the Office of Management and Budget in the Obama Administration:
Orzag takes a job with Citibank next month.
One of the gravest dangers posed by the weak economy is that the unemployed will become discouraged and give up looking for work, perhaps permanently as their skills atrophy. ...Orzag's solution for this problem: pass the President's "economic stimulus" package of tax cuts and extend unemployment insurance.
Unfortunately, at this point more than six million people have been unemployed for six months or longer. More than one million have already given up looking for work because they believe no job is available. And a drastic rise in applications for disability insurance suggests we may be headed for more long-lasting trouble. ...
The spike in disability insurance applications (and awards) does not reflect a less healthy population. ... [T]he weak labor market has driven more people to apply for disability benefits that they qualify for but wouldn’t need if they could find work....
Today, however, many people with disabilities are able to engage in some form of work — even if they can’t admit that and still keep their insurance benefits.
Orzag takes a job with Citibank next month.
5 comments:
Is mr orzag a vocational expert?
I think there is some truth to this. People with disabilities often have trouble finding jobs in a good economy. In the current economy, they could very well give up. And that is a shame became there are a number of people (not all or even a majority)who want to work and can work if they have assistance; i.e., employment supports and services that they need to find work and continue to work. Social Security has the Ticket to Work Program that does assist Social Security beneficiaries with disabilities in this way. Check out www.socialsecurity.gov/work. This program is working for a lot of people.
Mr. Orzag's opinion is unfounded. He clearly knows nothing about the SS disability program and doesn't care to inform himself before expressing his view. This is offensive. Nancy Ortiz
The federal government should sponsor certain employers so people who are impaired for regular employment maybe employed, and yet still be legally disabled.
I've stated this before.
To say that Orszag's solution to this problem is to pass the president's stimulus deal doesn't do justice to the article. He also discusses the need for disability reform and raises some interesting ideas about private disability insurance requirements.
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