Social Security Disability a New Target for Congress

While Social Security retirement has been a target of the Congress for quite some time, more recently a legislature bent on cutting so called Federal entitlement programs is now looking at the Social Security Disability program (SSDI). Some legislators view SSDI as a form of “unemployment” benefit, failing to realize that the Title II\SSDI disability program is funded by the same Social Security taxes that a worker has deducted from his pay checks while working. In effect, SSDI is a form of early disability retirement which allows a person who can no longer work to draw his retirement early. They further fail to recognize that just because a person can no longer do his\her past work doesn’t mean that they get SSDI disability benefits.

A claim for Social Security Disability requires significant objective medical evidence of a person’s impairments and credible evidence that the claimant’s stated limitations, symptoms, and complaints are consistent with her\his underlying medical condition. Far from being easy, SSDI eligibility has never been more difficult. SSA standards have become tougher and more and more doctors just don’t want to take the time to help their patients with their Social Security Disability claim.

A fully funded SSDI program is more than just about assisting Americans with disabilities. It is often the thing that prevents homelessness, keeps families together, provides medical care and promotes our growth by putting dollars into the economy.