Collecting Disability Becomes A Career Choice For Men (welcome to the Obama economy!)

Investors Business Daily ^ | December 3 2012 | By Michael Barone

[drewh]

"It is exceptionally difficult — for all practical purposes, impossible," writes Eberstadt, "for a medical professional to disprove a patient's claim that he or she is suffering from sad feelings or back pain."

In other words, many people are gaming or defrauding the system. This includes not only disability recipients but health care professionals, lawyers and others who run ads promising to get you disability benefits.

Between 1996 and 2011, the private sector generated 8.8 million new jobs, and 4.1 million people entered the disability rolls.

In 1960, some 455,000 workers were receiving disability payments. In 2011, the number was 8,600,000. In 1960, the percentage of the economically active 18-to-64 population receiving disability benefits was 0.65%. In 2010, it was 5.6%.

Some four decades ago, when I was a law clerk to a federal judge, I had occasion to read briefs in cases appealing denial of disability benefits. The Social Security Administration then seemed pretty strict in denying benefits in dubious cases. The courts were not much more openhanded.

Things have changed. Americans have grown healthier, and significantly lower numbers die before 65 than was the case a half-century ago. Nevertheless, the disability rolls have ballooned.

One reason is that the government seems to have gotten more openhanded with those claiming vague ailments. Eberstadt points out that in 1960, only one-fifth of disability benefits went to those with "mood disorders" and "musculoskeletal" problems. In 2011, nearly half of those on disability voiced such complaints.

[Bubba_Leroy]

I have been feeling increasingly sad since Obama got re-elected. How much disability money can I get?

[Engedi]

would like to add that he can’t it or stand for longer then half hour due to severe back pain. Now he has another surg in Jan to take out rods as he has even more pain then before. The rods after a while pull on the spine. He has a 50/50 chance of it working.

[GeronL]

Sure looks like that happens a lot

[GeronL]

My rectum is bloody mess do i qualify

Dude, you were warned to stay away from Folsom Street, San Fran

[Venturer]

They can’t X-ray pain.

[Buddy Sorrell]

By 2016, 75% of the people will be parasites.

[depressed in 06]

In a way this is a modern version of going Galt with a touch of Clowerd and Pivin added in. Going Galt in that you are not contributing to the looters, by becoming a looter. And, Clowerd and Pivin by contributing to overwhelming the system. It is the best of both worlds looting the looters and destroying the system that allows them to loot.

[Flick Lives]

"It is exceptionally difficult — for all practical purposes, impossible," writes Eberstadt, "for a medical professional to disprove a patient's claim that he or she is suffering from sad feelings or back pain."

I've been feeling sad since November 6th.

[King Moonracer]

Infinite causal nexus BOHICA!!!!!!

[chrisser]

I’ve thought about it too.

I could probably get away with it, but I can’t bring myself to try. My little Jiminy Crickett always keeps me in line.

But, looking at the unfunded liabilities (about $100trillion, give or take, or the sum total of every asset of every American and corporation combined, or 5x the current total GDP of the entire economy - there are plenty of metrics and they’re all depressing), I’ve come to the conclusion that there’s no way we can ever meet those obligations. We are doomed. Inflating our way out will be an unmitigated disaster. We can’t possibly tax our way out. Short of perhaps replicating the expansion of the 1920s for the next century, which just isn’t going to happen, there’s just no way to avoid a collapse. Heck, we can’t even address the deficit, much less the debt, and the unfunded liabilities aren’t even a part of the conversation.

In light of all that, and the probability the crash will occur in my lifetime, and that, the more and harder I work, the more just gets taxed away, it’s pretty darned attractive to get paid to be a part of the problem - to help hasten the collapse so we can get on with the rebuilding. I could do a heckuva lot to prepare my family if I didn’t have to spend 40+ hours a week at a job.

It’s getting more and more difficult to convince myself that I’m not a sucker for playing by the rules, when I could be far better off exploiting the system, especially in the long run, and be in a better position to help restore our republic after it all goes to heck in a handbasket.

[Iscool]

The previous company I worked for shut the doors and moved to China...Of the employees, 4 were brothers...

These guys all have families...Unemployment runs out...3 of the 4 are now on disability...

A guy has to keep his family going regardless of the route he has to take...This is a problem of our own doing...What do people expect these guys to do??? Just lay down and die???

Every week over 400,000 people lose their jobs in the U.S...Their jobs are still leaving the country...And every year, how many young people join the job market???

You can’t even buy a can of mushrooms that doesn’t come from China...

If we are not willing to bring work back to the U.S., somebody will have to support these people and it will be us...So why the whining??? Look at all the cheap stuff we can get at the Chinese Dollar Stores...

[LostInBayport]

Very well said. I will probably be an easy “in” for disability within the next few years. I have always immediately dismissed the idea, instead planning how I will change my life to accommodate both my work and my illness. I don’t want to be “on the dole”.

But since America chose to embrace dependency and freebies and demonize success and hard work on November 6th, I have on occasion wondered about it. I will probably turn from wondering to serious consideration come next April when I get the call from the tax accountant telling me how much MORE I have to pay over what I’ve already paid in the last four quarters. To work hard and then fork over a big chunk of it to fund entitlement programs I’ll never benefit from and to support Obamaphones I’ll never use? Why bother anymore?

[pacpam]

I know lots of people who work through the pain of debilitation, but if the job is gone, disability is all that is left. What new employer would hire an accident waiting to happen employee.

[pacpam]

Why didn’t the company then put the employee on company disabiltiy retirement. Not being accepted by SS doesn’t equate to ability to work, it just means the employing company is responsible for all of the cost, not cost sharing with SS. But this is federal, not private so may be different.

[familyop]

"The previous company I worked for shut the doors and moved to China...A guy has to keep his family going regardless of the route he has to take...This is a problem of our own doing...What do people expect these guys to do??? Just lay down and die???"

Yep. That's what they want. But their debt regime problem won't go away. What they don't clearly realize, is that there's not enough real work (manufacturing) to support the bipartisan, socialist political/regulator class (them: nearly all dependent on government for incomes large and small). The various socialist groups and their vendors (service so-called industry)--failing to get revenues by flogging those who have nothing--are beginning to fight against each other over scraps of debt.

Before long, our cities might look more like those of Greece, with government-funded "professionals," pensioners and their student children yelling at, and fighting each other in the streets. Until then, they'll continue to blame all who once really produced (manufacturing), when they should repeal/abolish regulations against manufacturing, beginning with local levels of government (small shops, new competition--healthy for business and good for the economy).

[usconservative]

"It is exceptionally difficult — for all practical purposes, impossible," writes Eberstadt, "for a medical professional to disprove a patient's claim that he or she is suffering from sad feelings or back pain."

Where do I begin? I've had 5 major back surgeries: the first when I was 20 years old, the second when I was 30 years old, the third when I was 40 years old, the fourth when I was 43 years old, and the fifth when I was 46 years old. (I'm 50 now.)

My third back surgery was so major, I have complete neuropathy in both feet from all the nerve damage. (Neuropathy = no feeling "numb" in both feet.)

I walk with a slight limp from all the surgeries. I've blown out my right knee and had that surgically repaired - twice.

My left hip is wearing out (from the limping, and added pressure on my left side from all the back surgeries.)

Add to this, I have a slight double-vision and a mild dyxlexia.

And yet, I get my ass up out of bed EVERY DAY and go to work and take care of my own family without a single dime of help from anyone.

I don't get EITC (Earned Income Tax Credit) or any disability payments of any kind. No food stamps, or government assistance of any kind.

Last year I paid a total of $57,962 in taxes. That includes all State, Federal and local property taxes, but does not include sales taxes for goods or services I buy over the year. You'd think someone paying that amount of taxes surely makes over $250k a year. I don't. Not even close. I don't even make $200k or $150k.

Someone tell me WHY someone like me not only cannot get DISABILITY, my taxes are going UP to pay for some welfare king & queen to keep mooching off of me!!!!

Makes me want to puke.

[halfright]

as someone whom has been disabled for 12 years, i can advise that everyone gets turned down once. keep filing

[Iscool]

Someone tell me WHY someone like me not only cannot get DISABILITY, my taxes are going UP to pay for some welfare king & queen to keep mooching off of me!!!!

That's what it's all about...And it's only going to get worse...Far too many FReepers have said that American citizens don't have natural RIGHT to a job just because they're Americans...

Fine...Take their jobs away and then WE can support them...Simple as that...

[Typical_Whitey]

True, but I feel a Tsunami building against all this... I hope I am right...

[oprahstheantichrist]

Try Benfotiamine (lipid-based vitamin B1) for the neuropathy. It’s historically been used for diabetics, but they’ve recently discovered it to be also effective for Vietnam vets with Agent Orange nerve damage. Cheap and no side effects.

Google it.