More misinformation about social security disability

“Since June of 2009 or so, we have seen 2.4 million private sector jobs created, but we’ve had 3.1 million people going on Social Security disability and, as we said just this past month, the 85,000 went on Social Security disability as opposed to 80,000 jobs created,” the Florida Republican said Sunday on Fox News. “So once again we are creating the sense of economic dependence which, to me is a form of modern, 21st-century slavery.”

MYTH: The high unemployment rate is the primary reason that more Americans are seeking SSDI benefits.

FACT: Applications are higher than they were years ago because the population has increased, Baby-Boomers are getting older and having more disabilities, more women are working so they are more likely to be insured and to be injured, and medical advancements are saving the lives of people with serious medical conditions that used to be fatal.

• If you pay into the Social Security system, you earn the right to its benefits. The denial or extreme delay of benefits to those who qualify for SSDI is an injustice, which claimants’ representatives can help to address.
• Protecting Social Security Disability Insurance is about keeping a promise to help all Americans, regardless of their means, age or disability. Social Security Disability Insurance remains a vital lifeline for citizens who once held full-time jobs but have become too ill or injured to work. It is not a program being gamed by the lazy or unemployable.
• While everyone agrees that the federal government can improve all entitlement programs and make the best use of taxpayer dollars, turning our back on Americans with disabilities is not the place to start. Inadequate funding of Social Security Disability Insurance only pushes the problem to the states and local communities.