8,733,461: Workers on Federal 'Disability' Exceed Population of New York City

A record of 8,733,461 workers took federal disability insurance payments in June 2012, according to the Social Security Administration. That was up from 8,707,185 in May.

There has been a dramatic shrinkage in the United States over the past 20 years in the number of workers actually employed and earning paychecks per worker who is not employed and is taking federal disability insurance payments.

n June 1992, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 118,419,000 people employed in the United States, and, according to the Social Security Administration, there were 3,334,333 workers taking federal disability payments. That equaled about 1 person taking disability payments for each 35.5 people actually working.

When President Barack Obama was inaugurated in January 2009, there were 142,187,000 people employed and 7,442,377 workers taking federal disability payments. That equaled about 1 person taking disability payments for each 19.1 people actually working.

n May of this year, there were 142,287,000 people employed, and 8,707,185 workers taking federal disability payments. That equaled 1 worker taking disability payments for each 16.3 people working.

The federal disability payments made to the record 8,733,461 workers in June averaged $1,111.42.

To be eligible for federal disability insurance payments, a person must have worked long enough to have qualified for the benefits and must also meet the Social Security Administration’s definition of “disabled.”

I think the most fraud are the families with dependent children. I can understand it in a way as we want to make sure children are taken care of.

The problem is the vast amount of those drawing it have a “boyfriend” who is the child’s father but they claim they cannot find. In fact they often live together. That is pretty much the standard situation for them.

On the other hand I have a relative who qualified for disability for mental problems. He had just about hit bottom and was literally living in a tent in the woods. He was ashamed to file for disability as he had worked for most of his life and at good jobs. Finally a cousin simply told him he would have to file.

Social security sent him to a half quack psychologist who spent little time with him and reported some minor problems. When he was turned down he went through all the loops and then went before an administrative law judge. Before the judge ruled the guy asked if he could see a real psychiatrist. The judge agreed to do so and this time the psychiatrist state that among other things he was suffering from “major depression” and listed the severity in several areas which were above what it took to. and he got the disability.

I personally know what this guy has gone through and can see why he is suffering from major depression. Now a person driving by might see him doing light work such as mowing his yard or picking up trash in the yard and think he looks fine. However if one put him into a regular job with regular hours he would never be able to do it. So you can’t always tell just by looking.

IIRC you can work a limited number of hours per week and still retain disability. The reasoning behind that is most a jobs like the door greeter at Wally World and jobs like that or telemarketing, phone banks etc.

It allows them to also keep their Medicare coverage which for many disabled due to chronic health issues is a must. The worker may work once a week and develop a pressure sore and be out three months but they would be considered employed right?

My wife is disabled and has been for 27 years this Labor Day. Her disability is highly obvious as she is quad. I have been on disability 18 years and no it was not easy to get my claim approved even with two of their examiners saying I could never hold a job again. If my neighbor saw me and didn't know me yea they might say I was able to hold a job. That is the key here being able to medically or mentally hold employment. Mentally I can't but I do not have a mental illness. I have severe Vestibular {Inner Ear} and sensory processing issues. I can function within my home and tolerate some shopping etc. I am also my wife's sole caregiver. If certain sensory stresses are around me I can go into what I call a brain fog. I also will seizure in my upper torso. But I look as healthy as can be.

Another person may be disabled and even have license plates for handicapped parking. That person might walk out of the vehicle and look OK. They may also have serious heart related issues like my cousin does.

Most persons are not on SSDI or Social Security Disability Insurance but rather SSI which the qualifications are much lower and some who applied for SSDI will draw it till disability is determined or even afterward if they have minor kids. As for me? I drew SSI at first. When my disability was approved {second try no lawyer} I had to pay back all previous SSI payments before I saw my SSDI check. I draw a little over $800 a month. My wife a little over $600 a month.

Would I go back to work again if I could? Yea I like money LOL. But what I have though not life threatening is also not curable and somewhat limited in treatment effectiveness. It's a condition I was born with and lived with. I even passed my Navy and Army physicals and did a 4yr active Navy and a year Army NG stint.. But at age 37 the condition became disabling in a matter of a few short months. There is a lot more to what qualifies as a disability than a person simply being able to get up and move around.

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