Ned Pepper's Outrages

Monday, November 15, 2010

Disability redux

On June 20 Ned posted on the scandal imminent in the country's lax "disability" rules for Social Security at the national level. He pointed out that more than 18 million people "qualify" for monthly disability payments from the Social Security Trust Fund, and he learns that includes Medicare as well.
Now (Monday) comes a report published in today's NYT from Andrew Biggs, former principal deputy commissioner of the Social Security Administration.

"The fastest rising cost for Social Security isn’t retiring baby boomers, but skyrocketing Disability Insurance benefits. Disability benefits now make up 18 percent of all Social Security costs, up from only 10 percent in 1990. This year, the federal government will spend $125 billion for disability benefits. Including the Medicare benefits that are paid to D.I. recipients, total expenditures approach $200 billion."

Biggs goes on to describe how the system is rigged in favor of disability claimants, and would benefit by allowing SS to challenge disability claims in court. Ned finds it ironic that claimants, often painted as destitute and having no where else to turn than disability, are commonly represented by lawyers aggressively stating their case after having been denied by the SS Administration.
$200 billion a year sucking at the public teat. And Medicare for life. Can anyone wonder why the masses are so incensed?

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