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The Illusions of Supplemental Security Income, from Someone Who Knows
American Thinker ^ | 02/16/2013 | Deborah C. Tyler

Posted on 02/16/2013 12:53:15 PM PST by SeekAndFind

I've looked at SSI Disability from both sides now, from in and out, and still somehow it's the scammers, the duped, and the resentful I recall.

I have been involved in hundreds of SSI Disability cases. I have worked in the system providing mental status exams, called consultative examinations, in two states. I have done dozens of private psychological evaluations for people trying to get on Disability rolls. I have sent reams of case notes and reports to the Disability bureaucracy on behalf of therapy clients.

There have been memorable examinations. One was of a sassy prostitute. She said she worked for an "escort service," but it seemed important to her that I know the full range of her proficiencies. Her claim for SSI was based on major depression, but she seemed in high spirits to me -- or, as we say, "affect contraindicated mood disorder at this time." I think she was just getting a little long in the tooth for "claimant's customary employment."

I have interviewed foul-mouthed teenagers whose mommas thought they could shake a few dollars out of the system on the basis of "oppositional-defiant disorder." One 17-year-old was memorable because she came with a baby on her hip. Without the sophistication or coaching to understand what kind of money she was trying to get, she told me with more than a hint of hostility how smart, empowered, and free she was to do "whatever the f-" she wanted. I asked her, "Do you know what the word 'disability' means?"

(Excerpt) Read more at americanthinker.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: disability; socialsecurity; ssi
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To: hosepipe

Dubious and full of generalities — typical of somebody that is talking about something they have no knowledge of.

Just like your lumping of SSI and SSDI together and not even knowing there was a difference, and then speaking up in this thread was a mistake.

You have nothing, you have no facts on just how many SSDI claims or SSI claims are individuals engaged in fraud for themselves.

Give me the breakdown in %% of fraudulent claims that are from individuals vs. fraudulent claims from Medical practitioners. Site your source while you’re at it cause we’re not going to believe your generalities and platitudes.


21 posted on 02/16/2013 2:36:57 PM PST by Usagi_yo
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To: hondact200
"The majority of people getting SSI are people whom believe because they are diagnosed with a mental illness they can no longer work."

You really need to watch how you word and write your opinions. An otherwise fine opinion complete with empirical example and a believable behind the scenes description of what goes on is totally ruined by the casual use of "The Majority", when in fact you do not have total knowledge of that fact.

Many SSI recipients are people awaiting transplants for things like hearts, kidneys, liver et al, still others are people diagnosed with cancer or tumors and are on Chemotherapy.

Yes, there is abuse, fraud. More institutional than individual in Dollar terms, but there are a lot of untruths and overly speculative and dismissive statements being presented here in this thread.

22 posted on 02/16/2013 2:51:59 PM PST by Usagi_yo
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To: AlphaOneAlpha
Millions of middle-class people are forfeiting the moral code that honors work, and they are being deprived of the self-respect that comes from doing their best. They are succumbing to the "government handout" mentality.

The Democrats can only import so many third worlders to guarantee them automatic votes. The other half of the equation is to turn the once productive into non-productive.

23 posted on 02/16/2013 2:53:05 PM PST by Vigilanteman (Obama: Fake black man. Fake Messiah. Fake American. How many fakes can you fit in one Zer0?)
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To: Adventure gal
So, if someone alleges disabling pain and depression, they have a better chance, even if all of the objective documentation isn’t there.

A sister-in-law's husband is on SSI disability, barely 50. Claimed his back is messed up and he can't work. My mother-in-law needed a broken TV console taken out. I told her I would need help, because it was 150 to 250 pounds and bulky. Next time I came it was gone. Mom says he carried it out and down a couple flights of stairs himself. So much for a bad back. He's constantly carrying stuff to flea markets for sale. Hate the lazy jerk.

24 posted on 02/16/2013 2:55:56 PM PST by roadcat
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To: hosepipe

SSI or SSDI are not entitlements they are welfare programs:

Many people believe that Social Security is an “earned right.” That is, they think that because they have paid Social Security taxes, they are entitled to receive Social Security benefits. The government encourages that belief by referring to Social Security taxes as “contributions,” as in the Federal Insurance Contribution Act. However, in the 1960 case of Fleming v. Nestor, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that workers have no legally binding contractual rights to their Social Security benefits, and that those benefits can be cut or even eliminated at any time.

Nestor sued, claiming that because he had paid Social Security taxes, he had a right to Social Security benefits.

The Supreme Court disagreed, saying “To engraft upon the Social Security system a concept of ‘accrued property rights’ would deprive it of the flexibility and boldness in adjustment to ever changing conditions which it demands.” The Court went on to say, “It is apparent that the non-contractual interest of an employee covered by the [Social Security] Act cannot be soundly analogized to that of the holder of an annuity, whose right to benefits is bottomed on his contractual premium payments.”

In an earlier case, Helvering v. Davis (1937), the Court had ruled that Social Security was not a contributory insurance program, saying, “The proceeds of both the employee and employer taxes are to be paid into the Treasury like any other internal revenue generally, and are not earmarked in any way.”

In other words, Social Security is not an insurance program nor entitlement program or whatever magic words policians want to use to bamboozle the voters. It is simply a payroll tax on one side and a welfare program on the other. Your Social Security “benefits” are always subject to the whim of 535 politicians in Washington.


25 posted on 02/16/2013 4:10:29 PM PST by CharlesMartelsGhost
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To: SeekAndFind

Applying when not TOTALLY disabled should be a fellony!!

If they can work at any kind of a job they shouldn’t qualify.


26 posted on 02/16/2013 4:22:14 PM PST by dalereed
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To: GeronL

Bipolar is a disability when the disease is so out of control, that psychosis is one of the major symptoms. There are bipolar patients whose constellation of symptoms cannot be easily differntiated from schitzophrenia.

Some mentally ill people cannot work. Most can.


27 posted on 02/16/2013 4:32:43 PM PST by Chickensoup (200 million unarmed people killed in the 20th century by Leftist Totalitarian Fascists)
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To: Chickensoup

It’s more like a mood swing for my brother


28 posted on 02/16/2013 4:35:51 PM PST by GeronL (http://asspos.blogspot.com)
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To: Adventure gal

do you know how many calls I get from people on SSI who tell me that their doctors wont recertify their back disability again and that they are now enormously depressed about it and need an evaluation for major depressive disorder and disability.

More than you can imagine.

And they think that working with them is doing me a favor.

I tell them I am the wrong person for that evaluation.

They usually hang up quietly.


29 posted on 02/16/2013 4:35:51 PM PST by Chickensoup (200 million unarmed people killed in the 20th century by Leftist Totalitarian Fascists)
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To: hosepipe; Jim Robinson

Hosepipe, pipe down. Stop calling people names because they disagree with you. Jim, where are we getting these people?

All the disability programs were put into place by that GREATEST GENERATION that didnt want to deal with disabilities and instead kicked the ball forward.


30 posted on 02/16/2013 4:41:05 PM PST by Chickensoup (200 million unarmed people killed in the 20th century by Leftist Totalitarian Fascists)
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To: Usagi_yo

Because of the high bar due to cheaters I have watched several people become sicker and die while waiting. Then the cases are mooted.


31 posted on 02/16/2013 4:43:57 PM PST by Chickensoup (200 million unarmed people killed in the 20th century by Leftist Totalitarian Fascists)
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To: GeronL

Mood swings can be dangerous but managed. Taking meds and taking care is the best course. Keeping busy is important too.

I have watched some of the bravest people in the world with mental illness work hard to make their lives work to the best of their abilities. Each time it shatters due to their illness, they get up and rebuild. they learn skills to catch themselves before the shatter.

Brave.


32 posted on 02/16/2013 4:50:42 PM PST by Chickensoup (200 million unarmed people killed in the 20th century by Leftist Totalitarian Fascists)
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To: Chickensoup

He is taking the test to get his CDL back on Monday, I hope he gets it because he said he already has a job lined up for it


33 posted on 02/16/2013 5:05:47 PM PST by GeronL (http://asspos.blogspot.com)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

My step Dad had heart disease, doctors said caused by 20 + years flying which included missions spanning Korea thru Cambodia. Great guy..sense of humor and Southern sarcasm. They gave him grief, denied his disability up until about 2 years before he passed away. The stress on him due to his inability to work and support himself definitely shortened his life. To add insult to injury they changed the terms of retirement AFTER he was already retired...which then excluded his spouse from receiving benefits. So my Mom lives on a very small social security allowance and I watch as freeloaders live large off of what should have compensated both of them for his service to this country.


34 posted on 02/16/2013 5:08:45 PM PST by antceecee (Bless us Father.. have mercy on us and protect us from evil.)
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To: Chickensoup

Hosepipe, pipe down. Stop calling people names because they disagree with you.


I called no one a name.. merely asked a question..
If the shoe “wore”.. then one could wear it..
Are you a RINO?..


35 posted on 02/16/2013 5:09:20 PM PST by hosepipe (This propaganda has been edited to include some fully orbed hyperbole..)
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To: GeronL

Me too.

Insurance companies have limited work for just about everyone to limit their risk and make profit.


36 posted on 02/16/2013 5:14:51 PM PST by Chickensoup (200 million unarmed people killed in the 20th century by Leftist Totalitarian Fascists)
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To: hosepipe

Asking me if I am a Rino is calling names. Damning it is.

Stuff it.


37 posted on 02/16/2013 5:16:15 PM PST by Chickensoup (200 million unarmed people killed in the 20th century by Leftist Totalitarian Fascists)
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To: SeekAndFind

btt


38 posted on 02/16/2013 5:19:12 PM PST by dennisw (too much of a good thing is a bad thing --- Joe Pine)
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To: Chickensoup

All the disability programs were put into place by that GREATEST GENERATION that didnt want to deal with disabilities and instead kicked the ball forward.


Federal programs to deal with almost anything cannot work well or at all..
Citizen Disability is NONE of the federal givernments business..

Citizen care is a States business.. for ALL citizens are citizens of States not the federal givernment..
The federal givernment has ZERO citizens.. except in territorys.. which are wards of the feds...

Whether you are a Ward of the federal givernment or a citizen of a State is exactly to conversation to have..
Democrats will fight to the death NOT TO HAVE THIS conversation.. and not a few RINOs..


39 posted on 02/16/2013 5:21:46 PM PST by hosepipe (This propaganda has been edited to include some fully orbed hyperbole..)
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To: Chickensoup

Asking me if I am a Rino is calling names. Damning it is.


Calm down.......... you’re projecting....


40 posted on 02/16/2013 5:23:42 PM PST by hosepipe (This propaganda has been edited to include some fully orbed hyperbole..)
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