Social Security has released numbers on its Continuing Disability Reviews (CDRs) which determine whether those receiving disability benefits remain disabled and eligible for benefits. In 2015 Social Security did 1,971,812 CDRs. That's a big number. However, 59%, of those reviews were just "mailers." They just mail the claimant a form to complete. Unless the claimant reports that that he or she has gotten better or that they've gone back to work, that's pretty much it. Of the 767,797 who got a full medical review, 201,317 were actually cut off. That's 26% of those who got a full medical review but only 10% of those who were subjected to any sort of review, including the "mailers." As low as that number is, it's misleading. A full 65% of those cut off benefits are children. The agency is really targeting them. If you're an adult drawing Social Security disability benefits, your chance of being cut off due to a CDR is only 5%.
The bottom line is that few Social Security disability recipients get better. You could review more people more intensively but you'd be wasting money. Many who are unfamiliar with the program think that most Social Security disability recipients have had a heart attack or have been in an automobile accident but that they'll get better. Wrong. Your disability has to be expected to last at least a year to get on benefits. The people who were going to get better never got on disability benefits in the first place. I wish it were otherwise but if you're been disabled for at least a year, it's unlikely that you're going to get better. You can talk all you want about medical advances but if they're going to help you get better, that's probably going to happen within a few months after you get sick or injured.
Aren't these statistics from 2013?
ReplyDeletetypo in headline
ReplyDeletePeople look at this process over and over and yet there are still folks, like say the Republicans in Congress, who think everyone is faking it. The truth is that people who get on the rolls are very sick people. There is a tiny percentage who through extraordinary supports and effort (and costs) might be able make a few bucks, but by and large, even this group will never be self supporting. There will always be someone who overcomes great adversity, but they are the exception. SSA return to work efforts are noble but pretty much a wasted effort. The money spent on them could be better used elsewhere.
ReplyDeleteDon't think the mailer is just taking the claimant's word that they are still disabled. A sophisticated selection process identifies likely candidates for the mailer process, and rigorous validation reviews confirm its accuracy. It would cost billions more a year to do full medical reviews on all of these cases and the results would still be what you see right now. There is no there there.
ReplyDeleteMaybe because children are still growing and developing. Some really do improve. Especially the preemie babies whose only "disability" is being low birth weight. Many turn out completely fine. Yes, I know not all, but some do. I've had parents filing claims tell me their preemie has no complications but is just small. Still, they get the free money, at least for a year.
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