Hellobee Boards

Ugh don't even get me started. I see it everyday and it makes me feel ill, knowing how hard I work and people who live the same way I do without working at all. It also makes me sad because there are people who really need assistance.

@josina: Not sure, but maybe it does!

http://apps.npr.org/unfit-for-work/

@josina: Ugh. Yes! Luckily I don't *think* it's as easy to get on disability as she appears to think it is (feel free to correct me if I'm wrong). It's so disheartening because I really do believe in social welfare programs for people who really need them, and I really don't think taking them away is the answer. Unfortunately as a productive citizens of this country we're going to pay for these people one way or another, so what is the answer? I just don't know...

@mrbee: very interesting article. If this stat is true, it is terribly depressing: "Once people go onto disability, they almost never go back to work. Fewer than 1 percent of those who were on the federal program for disabled workers at the beginning of 2011 have returned to the workforce since then, one economist told me."

@josina: I know people who abuse the system in other ways and it does frustrate me to no end.

It is REALLY hard to get approved for SSDI (Social Security Disability Income). The national approval rating for initial application is 32%. Once they get denied, people usually have to hire a disability lawyer and appear at a hearing to appeal the decision. It takes an average of 1.5-2 years to get approval. And you can't apply until you've stopped working.

A friend of mine has MS. She continued to work up until she absolutely couldn't do it anymore - it was no longer safe for her to be working. She tried to apply before she quit her job, with a specific end date in mind. They would not allow her and made her wait until she actually left her job. So now she has no income, and astronomical medical bills with expensive insurance because her husband is self-employed.

I think the screening process to approve disability is SO intense, that the system figures once they approve it, that person will be disabled for the rest of the life and will not ever be able to return to work.

I worked with mentally ill clients, many of whom were receiving disability. A lot of them were probably capable of going back to work in some capacity, but were terrified of losing all their benefits (the amount you get goes down depending on how much you work), or being fired/losing their job and then not being able to get back on disability either. It was a very difficult situation, and really did discourage working.

@BadgerMom: The government defines it as being unable to work for a year, at minimum. So if your physician certifies that you can return to work after a year, it's moot because it'll have taken you longer than that just to get approved for the benefit!

I work for an apt complex and see it all the time with residents that qualify for our low income housing program. One woman drives a brand new Lexus and her bf drives a Maserati. Like seriously?!!

My MIL claims to have PTSD and is on long term disability from it. This PTSD happened to come the exact same time as my SFIL retired from work and they decided to spend half the year every day in another country. She doesn't have PTSD, she just doesn't want to work while her husband is retired. She tried to say she could babysit my 2 kids full time while I'm back at work. I said if she can't work a regular job because of her PTSD, then she's not fit to watch my two under two while I work. Thanks but no thanks. You're going to play the system, you're not going to be a large influence on my children while I work. Absolutely makes my blood boil that she does this.

I had a high school friend whose parents got legally divorced so her Mom could collect whatever benefits were available to a single mom. This same friend is regularly applying for unemployment.. I don't know all the details but it sounds like gaming the system.

@MrsB2012: good for you for standing up!

I agree, do what you want to do but don't try to play it both ways. Either you have PTSD or you don't.