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Tuesday, June 25, 2013

House Investigators: Disability Judges Are Too Lax

Social Security is approving disability benefits at strikingly high rates for people whose claims were rejected by field offices or state agencies, according to House investigators. Compounding the situation, the agency often fails to do required follow-up reviews months or years later to make sure people are still disabled.

Claims for benefits have increased by 25 percent since 2007, pushing the fund that supports the disability program to the brink of insolvency, which could mean reduced benefits. Social Security officials say the primary driver of the increase is demographic, mainly a surge in baby boomers who are more prone to disability as they age but are not quite old enough to qualify for retirement benefits.

The disability program has been swamped by benefit claims since the recession hit a few years ago. Last year, 3.2 million people applied for Social Security Disability or Supplemental Security Income.

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8 comments:

Anonymous said...

I keep reading things like these, but still have yet to get mine.

Anonymous said...

I know people that have been approved in a couple of weeks, and those that have been waiting for over a year, close to 2.
the only thing different about their situation is their race

Anonymous said...

The best solution to social programs is a job!

Anonymous said...

12:24 PM

Sad to say, but I tend to agree with you.

Anonymous said...

Ad they all applied for Handcapped parking permits....I'm 66 and couldn't get near the stores...and I watched these "Disabled" 20 year olds....

Anonymous said...

you can't always see a disability.

Anonymous said...

ok, but what is the solution for no jobs?

Anonymous said...

minimum wage jobs will not get you out of poverty.