Posted on 09/14/2010 1:55:38 PM PDT by goldendays
Disability numbers on the rise by Jared Hunt Daily Mail Capitol Reporter Advertiser
CHARLESTON, W.Va.--The percentage of West Virginians receiving Social Security Disability benefits ranks highest in the nation, according to data from the Social Security Administration.
In an August report, the agency said 91,273 people - 5.02 percent of the state's population - are considered disabled workers.
Following West Virginia in the rankings were Arkansas, at 4.44 percent; Kentucky, 4.41 percent; Alabama, 4.34 percent; and Mississippi, 4.11 percent.
Another 14,835 West Virginians were listed as dependent spouses or children of those on disability, bringing total beneficiaries to 106,108.
The number of disabled workers in the state has increased sharply over the past few years, in keeping with a national trend.
The figure has risen by more than 34 percent since 2002, when it stood at 67,905.
More than $108.5 million in disability payments were made to state residents last year, with the average monthly amount $1,128.
State Sen. Dan Foster, D-Kanawha, who worked as a surgeon for 28 years, said the state's high ranking can be attributed to poor health habits.
"We have an unhealthy population," Foster said. "We have the highest percentage of people with chronic disabilities, whether that's disabilities that are incurred in the workplace or related to chronic diseases that have occurred because of unhealthy habits of one sort or another."
Foster said the state's high rates of obesity and smoking are key contributing factors to non-work-related disabilities.
"Those few things there add up to a lot of issues related to complications of diabetes, chronic lung disease, congestive heart failure and cancer, so it would be shocking if we weren't at the top of the list based on those other recognized problems."
While there are state-specific issues keeping disability claims high, West Virginia's rise in claims also is part of a much larger national trend.
Disability program expenditures increased seven-fold from an inflation-adjusted $18 billion to $124 billion between 1970 and 2009.
A July report by the Congressional Budget Office says the disability program is "not financially sustainable." Its study found that should current trends continue, the Disability Insurance Trust Fund, which is financed through a 1.8 percent payroll tax, will be exhausted by 2018.
The study found the lack of jobs is a key contributor to rising rates of disability applications.
"When opportunities for employment are plentiful, some people who could qualify for DI benefits find working more attractive," the report said. "Conversely, when employment opportunities are scarce, some of those people participate in the DI program instead."
Researchers found that applications increased immediately following the onset of the recessions of the early 1990s and 2001. It also found that beneficiaries remained on disability even after the economy improved.
"Many people who have been out of the labor force for extended periods find it difficult to return to work, and new beneficiaries rarely leave the DI program to return to work simply because the economy has improved," the budget office said.Tuesday September 7, 2010 Disability numbers on the rise by Jared Hunt Daily Mail Capitol Reporter Page 2 of 2 Advertiser
The trend is predicted to continue.
"CBO projects that as a result of the most recent recession, the number of DI beneficiaries will continue to rise over the next few years by more than otherwise would have occurred, contributing to the long-term trend of rising enrollment already underway."
The report also cited changes in federal policy, including a 1984 Disability Benefits Reform Act, which expanded ways individuals could qualify for the program, as well a reduction in funding for disability reviews, which determine if a person's medical state has changed to a point where they no longer qualify.
Decreased funding resulted in a 65 percent decline in disability reviews between 2003 and 2008. An estimated 1.5 million reviews are on backlog.
The Social Security Administration's Office of the Inspector General estimates disability outlays will be between $556 million and $1.1 billion higher nationwide as a result of the review backlog.
The budget office's study found that people's lack of private health insurance was a contributing factor toward their decision to apply for disability, since disabled dependents are covered by Medicare after a 24-month waiting period.
The report said it is unclear if recently enacted national heath care reform will result in a drop in beneficiaries. The changes are to make it easier for disability applicants to obtain subsidized, lower-cost insurance while they are in the 24-month waiting period for Medicare.
Regardless of the national issues, Foster said there are actions the state could take to reduce West Virginia's high number of disabled residents.
"The solution is, of course, to try to do what we can to make people healthier and to try to improve the economy so that there are more jobs," he said.
"If people had more opportunities for future employment, that would help, but getting a healthier population has so many benefits for the state.
"While people argue that it comes down to personal responsibility, there are things we can do to make it easier for someone to be personally responsible. It's a collaboration, in my view."
Foster said the state could provide better education about nutrition and exercise and more access to recreational activities. Improving the state's networks of trails and sidewalks could encourage better behaviors, he added.
He believes increasing the cigarette tax could be effective in limiting smoking-related chronic illness.
"Just increasing the cigarette tax a measurable amount, there'd be benefits you could account for," he said.
"And having an aggressive initiative to make people become more active and eat better - changing behaviors is not easy, but there are communities around the county that have done a better job than we have.
"We're paying the price."
They are completely insulated from the real world. What do they care if the economy crashes. In many ways they have the same security of the independently wealthy. Their lifestyles are not exposed to recession depression war or famine. Uncle Sam is their sugar daddy.
Let’s not forget. . .she’s a CHILD PROTECTIVE WORKER, did i mention she receives MASSIVE child support from hubby yet has alienated all three children against him (us) that are under 14 years old?
A (typically) non custodial father doesn’t have a CHANGE against one of these vindictive mothers who calls CPS b/c she wants to get back at her ex via the children!!! Not with “one of their own” working for CPS!
It is a shame; they wonder why guys don’t marry anymore after stories like that...
that’s why someone ought to give Michael Savage a heads up. He’s always saying that “white people just want to have fun and instead they should marry and have children.” The REASON why white western males are hesitant to marry and raise children (and are being outbred by Muslim families with their Sharia law) is b/c of western world family court, CPS, CSEU, etc.
that’s why someone ought to give Michael Savage a heads up. He’s always saying that “white people just want to have fun and instead they should marry and have children.” The REASON why white western males are hesitant to marry and raise children (and are being outbred by Muslim families with their Sharia law) is b/c of western world family court, CPS, CSEU, etc.
You’re absolutely right; I saw a great T-shirt: “Why get married? Just find a nasty lady and buy her a house”.
I thought that was hysterical (and I’ve been married 10+ years, not divorced, 3 kids).
It’s more than just a house. Hubby will have shelled out well over a quarter of a mill in “matriarchy support” over the next 21 years (yep it’s till 21 mandatory and probably older than that pretty soon in NYS) He earns between 30-35K a year.
Now white women in their 30s are admittedly just trying to get pregnant, and don’t even care for the relationship; they want a toy (because their friends’ have one) and can still get paid by the sucker, I mean, guy...I have a friend who had a vasectomy, and gets it checked every year (!)
Good for him. Now if we can get Mike Savage to use his pull to reform Family Court law instead of mock out white guys for “wanting their fun” and “not getting married.”
No matter who mocks them/shames them, they’re not listening (nor should they). Who are they going to believe, the media or their lying eyes? In this economy, I’m quite envious of my single friends who can either 1) lose a job, and “wait out” the recession, or 2) voluntarily leave a job because they hate it. In this economy, nobody should expect a guy to 1) get married, or 2) have children. As a result, we’ll be “North Mexico” by 2020...
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