From The Relationship Between Occupational Requirements and SSDI Activity by Matthew S. Rutledge, Alice Zulkarnain, and Sara Ellen King:
Evaluations of Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) applications are based not just on poor health, but in most cases consider the vocational factors of age, education and work experience to determine whether individuals can work. These criteria indicate that SSDI applicants must not only be in poor health, but in poor health that actually conflicts with the requirements of their occupation (and other occupations). Yet little is known about the relationship between SSDI activity and the ability to meet occupational requirements. This study devises a Health Mismatch Index, which is the share of workers in an occupation citing health-related difficulties in the Survey of Income and Program Participation that would prevent them from performing at least one requirement marked as essential for their occupation in the Occupational Requirement Survey.
The results show that the most common difficulties in required abilities that result in health mismatch are lifting 25 lbs., standing for one hour, or hearing well in a conversational setting. Furthermore, occupations with a high Index have lower earnings, are more exposed to hazardous environments, and place less emphasis on high performance and problem-solving. Jobs with higher rates of workers who experience at least one difficulty with a job requirement have a higher share of workers receiving SSDI benefits within a 16-month period. Although the share of the population receiving SSDI increased from 1997 to 2010, the Index fell from 7.4 to 6.1 percent, suggesting that the increase could have been higher if not for the decline in health mismatch.Note that it says the jobs with higher disability rates "place less emphasis on high performance and problem-solving." Another way of putting that would be "low skill" jobs. Why do people take low paying, low skill jobs? Because that's all they're suited to do. To give a dated reference, we don't live in Lake Woebegone. Not all the children are above average. Some are below average. Those are the ones who take the low paying, low skill jobs because that's all they're cut out to do. These jobs usually have higher physical demands that are more difficult for these workers to meet as they get older.
I'd again point out anecdotally that I see very few RNs but quite a few LPNs, CNAs, or home health aides. I see very few plumbers, cabinet makers, or electricians, but I see quite a few stock clerks, bakery workers, and truckers.
ReplyDeleteMy guess is that one is more inclined to believe they can perform the job tasks and try to do them when $50k to $100k is on the table versus $15k-$25k for the lower skilled jobs. But it's just a guess based on anecdotal evidence.
I believe the vast majority of applicants have unskilled, semiskilled, or no work histories regardless of the physical demand levels, too. I almost certainly have more call center employees than highly skilled, physically demanding employees.
I don't disagree with the premise that physically demanding work becomes more difficult as one gets older, but I do find it odd that skilled occupations with high physicality don't come up as often.
8:51 AM. Maybe, the reason you don't see plumbers, etc. is because they have Helpers. The Helpers do most of the grunt work, freeing up the plumbers to do the work that fits their expertise. In addition to that, many employers have discriminated against people with disabilities, thus keeping those who would probably need SSDI from ever becoming Journeymen. The Helper positions weed out those who aren't capable of doing the heavier work, ensuring that their most experienced workers will be mostly capable of handling the less physical demands as they age. I am sure many tradesmen positions are similar. So, if someone tries the Helper role and struggles with it, they probably will have to take a less physically demanding job. This might happen several times before their ability to work has eroded. The more skill a worker has and the job calls for, the more likely a company will accommodate them. Few to no skills means they are more likely to be replaced/forced out.
ReplyDeleteI see quire a few RNs and unfortunately they are one group SSA discriminates against vocationally because they somehow imagine they have transferable skills when in fact jobs they site are either those that any lit ate person could do or those that might require more adjustment or acceptance from employers than SS
ReplyDeleteA imagines
It'd be nice if everyone had the same opportunities in education, as well. One doesn't always know their skill level until they try something. Sadly, a good education seems to be only for the wealthy...whether they earn it or not. Some of our smartest citizens are stuck in desperate situations that prevent school, or otherwise finding a skill that will pay decent money. With a disability, it makes this, and lots of other things, even more difficult. Imagine a world where everyone could excel at what they're good at, disabled or not. Not many employers are looking for disable employees. Not once have I seen a job posting that said "Disabled person wanted...". They may say equal opportunity, but there's always someone "more qualified" than the one that might get sick.
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