June unemployment numbers deceptive! SSDI numbers jumping!

[sharder8]

While it is reported that unemployment numbers improved in June 2012 supposedly improved and were headed in the right direction, according to President Obama, the Social Security Department reported a much higher increase in numbers filing for SSDI.

It appears that while 80,000 jobs were created, 85,000 left the job market to apply for SSDI. Worse yet, is the total number that applied for SSDI in June, was 265,000.

The disability ranks have outpaced job growth throughout President Obama's recovery. While the economy has created 2.6 million jobs since June 2009, fully 3.1 million workers signed up for disability benefits.

In other words, the number of new disability enrollees has climbed 19% faster than the number of jobs created during the sluggish recovery. (Even after accounting for people who left the disability program because they died or aged into retirement, disability ranks have climbed more than 1.1 million in the past three years.)

I think we're finding some of those that are no longer on the unemployment rolls . . .

SOURCE


Harder

[Chuckiechan]

What's happening, is people are going from unemployment when it runs out to disability. California seems to be looking the other way. I have an acquaintance who just got his disability and is a skier. Go figure.

Being "on the dole" is becoming a way of life in America. Hell, half of California is getting taxpayer money in one form or another.

[tony_j15]

There's a guy who I work with regularly who is finally on SSDI. He had work-based unemployment, but he will be off for an extended period now due to an arm injury (deep muscle issue that wasn't treated properly and then developed an abscess. He may have to get muscle tissue surgically removed). All he talks about is wanting to be done with the pain and to be back at work.

I get that some people cheat they system and use SSDI the way it shouldn't be. To be honest, it's hard to blame some of them who have been out of work for years and who we have told "no more unemployment for you!" yet they still have no chance of finding work.

The better question to ask here, is how should we wisely spend our resources? We could go down the "NO!" route, and shut down the aid programs. That would handle the cheaters effectively and make the grumbling conservatives happy. But then we'd have that little problem of the economy tanking further and people dieing in the streets.
The better alternative is to effectively put the money into job creation programs. Given that we will be spending these funds one way or another, isn't it better to give people an opportunity to earn their bread?

[sharder8]

I didn't see a choice . . .

I was permanently laid off due to lack of work and my medical issues. I filed for unemployment, but because I noted I have physical limitations and wasn't 100% physically capable to taking any job offered, I'm not drawing unemployment currently. According to the unemployment department, they have to look over my file and decide if I can draw unemployment or not, in accordance with the 100% physically able requirement. (I still have to seek work and fill out applications, which I'm doing.)

Unemployment is still way above the national average here and then the Labor Dept. stated that if you are 55 and older, unemployed, your chances of finding work was slim to non-existent. They aren't kidding either . . . especially when you add in disability requirements. Employers don't want to spend additional funds to meet your disability needs.

That left only one choice, filing for SSDI. I'm already rated 70% disabled by the VA, but try living on the small amount I get from the VA every month. With 7 in the house, you can't make it on peanuts. I was barely making it when I was working and bringing in 3 X's what my VA is.


Harder

[Whir]

And then there are people like my mom who should be on disability for her fibromyalgia, but still work because it's how you are supposed to do things. Broken system is broken, but not everyone that could be in it is in it.

In fact, it's so difficult to get in Michigan that you usually have to hire a lawyer to help with your case. A guy I know went through four times before being approved and he had letters from multiple doctors saying that he would never be able to work due to a degenerative muscular disease and they still turned him down until the fourth time.

It may seem too easy to get on disability, but every story I've ever heard around here has been the complete opposite.

[sharder8]

There's a guy who I work with regularly who is finally on SSDI. He had work-based unemployment, but he will be off for an extended period now due to an arm injury (deep muscle issue that wasn't treated properly and then developed an abscess. He may have to get muscle tissue surgically removed). All he talks about is wanting to be done with the pain and to be back at work.

I get that some people cheat they system and use SSDI the way it shouldn't be. To be honest, it's hard to blame some of them who have been out of work for years and who we have told "no more unemployment for you!" yet they still have no chance of finding work.

The better question to ask here, is how should we wisely spend our resources? We could go down the "NO!" route, and shut down the aid programs. That would handle the cheaters effectively and make the grumbling conservatives happy. But then we'd have that little problem of the economy tanking further and people dieing in the streets.
The better alternative is to effectively put the money into job creation programs. Given that we will be spending these funds one way or another, isn't it better to give people an opportunity to earn their bread?

Actually tony, the individuals have been paying into their unemployment and SS accounts over the years, for these circumstances. You can not draw both unemployment and SSDI at the same time. I can draw VA and SSDI at the same time, but will still be making only about 2/3's of what I was making while working.

The pisser is, the hoops you have to jump through in order to collect either unemployment or SSDI. For unemployment, I had to go through testing, classes, and weekly job searches, yet it's being withheld because of physical disabilities. SSDI requires hiring a lawyer, collecting medical findings, collecting collaborating documentation, and going to a hearing. The unemployment process should take 2-3 weeks before getting a check and the SSDI process, once all paperwork is in, should take 2-6 months.

We'll see what happens . . .

The deception is, unemployment is down . . . but not because of hiring, it's because people are moving from the unemployed rolls to the SSDI rolls.


Harder

[sharder8]

And then there are people like my mom who should be on disability for her fibromyalgia, but still work because it's how you are supposed to do things. Broken system is broken, but not everyone that could be in it is in it.

In fact, it's so difficult to get in Michigan that you usually have to hire a lawyer to help with your case. A guy I know went through four times before being approved and he had letters from multiple doctors saying that he would never be able to work due to a degenerative muscular disease and they still turned him down until the fourth time.

It may seem too easy to get on disability, but every story I've ever heard around here has been the complete opposite.

The SSA says you can do the process yourself for SSDI . . . but every site I saw, recommended you get a lawyer to go through the process.

I have a friend, who is a Vet. He is 100% disabled and has the TDIU rating, he applied for SSDI by himself and after 4 attempts being turned down, hired a lawyer. He didn't win SSDI until the second time through with the lawyer.

FYI, SSDI doesn't give much weight to VA ratings or medical records and vice versa. you can be already on SSDI and 40% VA service connected and still not get the TDIU rating. I also know Vet's that are 10% VA SC and on SSDI, that can't get TDIU . . . go figure.


Harder

[CERuppel]

Just my thoughts...

Those who are (like myself) unable to work regularly (I cannot promise to be able to work one day to the next), or who (like my wife) who require aid on the job/limited physical abilities, are virtually un-employable in the current work force.

(my apologies for that being chopped up like sushi)

But the truth is that most people with even minor handicaps are going to find a job rarer than hen's teeth. Even with a family member in management I was let go in my last job due to having to take time out for either my own medical problems or my wife's. Yes, they tried to be understanding, but after years of the constant shift juggling it just got to be to much. I do not blame them, but am using this as an example of the situation facing anyone with a handicap in today's economy.

The hardest part facing most of those with real handicaps is PROVING the handicap to the SSI. It was one of the largest hurdles to face me this past couple of years. The cost of medical testing, and records from multiple doctors, was equal to at least a years income (from when I was employed full time). Try doing this on part time income with no insurance... And the fact that SSI was not going to accept the records and tests from more than a year ago as proof, but requires that you document the condition for at least ten years (in my case) drove me batty! And then they postponed the hearing, making me have to get some of the tests done again... The system just seems rigged against an honest person.

Thanks for letting me ramble.

[Chuckiechan]

DI is for people with actual work inhibiting injuries, not for someone who has run out of unemployment, yet can't qualify for welfare.

There are lots of legitimate claims, but now the trend is getting seen as "One more government check"... I just don't read anymore about a lot of people being busted for fraud.

Geeze Harder, you should start a "medical" marijuana farm!