Originally Posted by
John Addis
I believe that this article is soul-searching and the information found therein should be heeded by the powers to be. The UK is now requiring “routine re-evaluations of people with disabilities,” which is definitely a start and is a path that the US should also consider.
As a past examiner and fee basis provider for the federal government (Social Security Disability or SSD), I believe that as President Obama has taken a strong position in regards to the private sector’s mismanagement of business matters, it is now time to bring the federal government’s “continuity house” in order.
The SSD Program has been unable to fix its deeply flawed appeal and inspection process. As it has for decades, the program has no set type of forensic review strategy and efficacy in the reconsideration segment is non-existent. The SSD often have (administrative/secretarial) investigators armed with little more than checklists to ensure Social Security Disability Insurance Program compliance and it is my opinion that case review of disability appropriateness has been undermined by Social Security Disability Insurance managers.
Do I offer any backing? Yes, I have been a psychological examiner for 33 years. I have found that about 20% of those who get Social Security Disability are put on it by error, 40% are not proper recipients after one to two years, and 60% are unequivocally ineligible after two to five years. Of course, I am excluding those with moderate intellectual endowments (mental retardation status at or below 70).
I have reported situations to SSD authorities whereby –
Scenario Disposition
Recipient is working 50+ hours a week Nothing
Recipient has an operational business Nothing
Recipient makes $500 to 600/week and
in one three day period made $3400 Nothing
Recipient tries to bribe me with $500
to get SSD Nothing
Recipient has a referral diagnosis of
bipolar but my view is clear
cultural, i.e. non-clinical
depression (love spat) Nothing
Recipient’s lawyer gives him past reports
of mine to peruse prior to the session
and is told to act “dumb” Nothing
Recipient’s lawyer puts him through a
mock exam and class to prepare him
for the interview Nothing
Recipient is on SSD for vertigo but rides
his Harley Davison motorcycle to my
office for a re-evaluation Nothing
In one case, a man did work on various properties and was paid well for his services (in one case earning $5,000 to 6,000 in one month). When I learned that he was on Social Security Disability, I contacted our local Social Security Office and advised them of the same. I was told that the recipient did not report this income to them and actually had a private business on the side. Copies of all affidavits were sent to the SS Office, and the results over the last eight months have been null except that the SSD Office of General Counsel in Manhattan warned me of pursuing the matter further due to privacy laws! Yes, privacy laws take precedence over criminal behavior! How many thousands of dollars did our government waste? How are we going to get that money back? The rule that people can break federal laws and not be arrested by local and state personnel who have evidence in support of the same is insane. It must be realized that in WC situations, if a claimant is found working and earning monies outside his leave from work status, he goes right to jail?
The illicit drug and alcohol user trying to get Social Security Disability is a problem in and of itself. This might represent 40 to 50% of all adult applicants that came before me. The disallowance of drug testing on these people and those receiving benefits is senseless.
I am not recommending that we stabilize our economy on the backs of the helpless, but I am suggesting that ...
US Social Security Disability -- should it be reformed?
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