From a television station in New York:
A researcher estimates that over 1 million Americans with disabilities aren't getting the benefits they may need.
Zachary Morris, an assistant professor at the Stony Brook University School of Social Welfare, wanted to look at how well a couple of big Social Security programs are working for people.
Morris analyzed data on people between 50 and 64, shy of retirement age, who have work-limiting disabilities.
He found just 47% of these folks, Americans who are theoretically eligible for benefits, get Social Security Disability Insurance, Supplemental Security Income or both. ...
How did the study's author determine what qualifies as a work-limiting disability?
ReplyDeleteWe just call it going to work.
ReplyDeleteThe data source is the University of Michigan Health and Retirement Study - the data itself comes from self-reporting, so it is arguable that the study is “garbage in, garbage out.” Even taking the study at face value, the author does not address solutions. Changes in the Social Security Act to apply a different standard of Disability? Better outreach by the SSA? Higher SSA staffing levels? More extensive networks of Social Workers? Allowance of higher attorney fees? Absent that analysis, the study merely allows anyone to ride their favored hobby horse. For the nerds like me among us, the underlying study is “A framework for evaluating the adequacy of disability benefit programs and its application to U.S. Social Security Disability”, published January 11 2023 in the Journal of Social Policy.
ReplyDeleteAn interesting idea for a study would be take a cross-section of people with severe mental illness, and track them through a pro se disability application and appeal process. The study would track the extent to which the claimants were (or were not) able to properly navigate critical elements of the claims process. Possible categories: Proper form completion, reporting and gathering of medical documentation, ability to tolerate phone wait times, ability to deal with other contact issues, and ability to understand and respond to program rules and notices. That would serve as a good report card for accessibility of the disability claims process and could reveal the most important areas for improvement.
ReplyDelete@1:57 Agreed! Have a disability claims manager go step by step and evaluate how well they can navigate the system. I am surprised at how many people do not know the difference between SSI and SSDI. I've heard "I don't want to be on welfare!" Only to explain that SSDI is not welfare, it's disability insurance that you paid into, and the what SSI stands for and what SSDI stands for. I've heard "It's too complicated to bother", "The forms are long and confusing", "The wait is too long, I'll be dead by then!". I've heard it all, and have explained it to no avail sometimes. A lot of mentally ill people, don't understand what's wrong with their lives until a doctor tells them they shouldn't be working, especially if they're shuffling through jobs because of their behavior. STILL, they don't want to be on "welfare". It's so frustrating we're not taught this stuff. I have a feeling some of the countries with guaranteed income and other programs, the citizens know, and were taught how to apply, and I highly believe it's much easier to apply for, and get pretty quickly.
ReplyDeleteYou can definitely argue with the "data"... but, what happens to those that are denied by DDS (twice) and by ALJ? Then, the AC and Federal Courts? Amazingly, they are able to go back to work, right? Not really. In my case, the ONLY option was to reapply. Calling my rejection "devastating" would have been a huge understatement. Any "jobs" that they claimed I could do was fantasyland. Am I saying the premise of this report is accurate. No. But, neither are the VE hypotheticals or the ALJ decisions.
ReplyDeleteThe good news here is more than half of people with a disability are continuing to work and earn. Thats awesome! Normalize disability in the workplace!!!!
ReplyDeleteMorris analyzed data on people between 50 and 64, shy of retirement age, who have work-limiting disabilities.
ReplyDelete"work-limiting"...meaningless in SS evaluation. Under our system, only work-PREVENTING issues are considered disability.
ReplyDeleteI tried to talk a woman I know into filing for Title 2 dib, but she refused. Even though her illness made her leave her job, and prevents her from working. She's too young to qualify for retirement benefits, and is now slowly depleting her savings.
I think it's a matter of pride. Also not wanting to go through the complex process of filing for SSA DIB, and her fear that she would be denied if she filed.
Good thing there is one definition of disability applied equally across the board as 7:26 noted.
ReplyDeleteI’d bet disabled veterans of all ages have a similar rate of employment, which would be unsurprising given the number of disabled veterans who have successful careers following military service and who SSA employs on a FT basis.
Not exactly a fair comparison. Government Agencies give Veterans preferred treatment for hiring. Especially with disabilities. Not so for other disabled people... Here's a quote from a website...
Delete"Businesses that hire eligible unemployed veterans can take advantage of a Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC). (This credit is also available to certain tax-exempt organizations.) After recent changes, The Returning Heroes Tax Credit now provides incentives of up to $5,600 for hiring unemployed veterans, and the Wounded Warriors Tax Credit doubles the existing Work Opportunity Tax Credit for long-term unemployed veterans with service-connected disabilities, to up to $9,600."
The WOTC applied to several “regular disabled” people as well, including those going through voc rehab or on SSI. It wasn’t just for veterans.
DeleteIf you think that companies are hiring unproductive or less capable employees for a four-figure tax credit, then I’m not sure you understand how business works. Certainly it incentivizes giving those individuals an opportunity, but it’s not going to help an individual sustain that employment, and there are plenty of disabled veterans who have found post-military success in both the public and private sector. There are also a number of successful disabled veteran entrepreneurs as well.
The general point is that one program’s definition of disability isn’t the same as SSA’s, and this article and underlying paper don’t address any possible distinction.
Tim
ReplyDeleteYou had the same opportunity as a vet to sign the dotted line and put your life on the line. You didnt. Those that did get some breaks.
BTW I am a working disabled vet.
Sorry... was never an option. I had one "disqualifying" condition by age 12 and another by age 17. I literally was last on the draft... even after old men and boys (hypothetically). I am NOT against giving preferential treatment to Vets... just say it's not a far comparison.
DeleteDont worry Tim, I will keep working so you get a check every month. Thats a fair comparision.
ReplyDelete