Social Security Disability Newsmax article
Newsmax, the email based headline and news service, just published an article on Social Security Disability entitled “Surge in Disability Claims called a ‘Policy Driven Epidemic’” on Sunday August 18, 2013. The report notes that the Trust fund will be depleted in 3 years, and at $132 billion in expenditures in 2012, it spends more than the Department of Agriculture, Homeland Security, Commerce, Labor, Justice, and the Interior combined, The article also noted the tripling of expenditures since 2000 and the more than doubling of disabled recipients to US workers since 1970 (from 30 disability recipients per 1000 workers to nearly 75). It further highlighted the increase in Medicare expenditures from this program as disability recipients are eligible for Medicare after 2 years. The cost to Medicare was 80% of the disability expenditures.
Newsmax noted that a Cato report blames the Congress for this run away program as it expanded benefit levels over the decades and liberalized the eligibility standards. Originally the program covered strokes and cancer and other extremely disabling conditions but Congress in its wisdom or lack thereof legislated coverage for many more conditions including depression, back pain and chronic fatigue syndrome. Finally, Newsmax noted that few people return to the work force once on the disability program.
There is a critical need for Congress to take action to cut this program substantially and return many former workers to the workforce. We hope Congress will take action soon.
