|
Social Security Column
Get to Know the Faces and Facts of Disability
By Phil Walton, Social Security Manager in Toledo, OH
Guest Column
Perhaps the most misunderstood Social Security program is
disability insurance, often referred to as SSDI. Some people
mistakenly think that beneficiaries are “on the dole” and
getting easy money for minor impairments. That’s not the
case. There are two ways to understand the truth about
disability. One is by looking at the facts. The other is by
getting to know some of the people who make up the many
faces of disability.
We have some of the strictest requirements in the world for
disability benefits. The Social Security Act sets out a very
strict definition of disability. To receive a disability
benefit, a person must have an impairment expected to last
at least one year or result in death. The impairment must be
so severe that it renders the person unable to perform any
substantial work in the national job market, not just their
previous work. SSDI does not include temporary or partial
disability benefits. Because the eligibility requirements
are so strict, Social Security disability beneficiaries are
among the most severely impaired people in the country and
tend to have high death rates.
In addition, Social Security conducts
a periodic review of people who
receive disability benefits to ensure they remain eligible
for disability. Social Security also aggressively
works to prevent, detect, and prosecute fraud.
Social Security often investigates
suspicious disability claims before making a decision to
award benefits—proactively stopping fraud before it happens.
These steps help to ensure that only those eligible have
access to disability benefits. Americans place a high
premium on self-sufficiency, but it is reassuring to know
that Social Security disability insurance is there for those
who need it the most.
As for the faces . . . there are so many people who benefit
from our disability program. But for now, allow us to
introduce you to a few of them. Meet some of the faces of
disability—people who have benefited from Social Security
when they were most in need—at the new Faces and Facts of
Disability website,
www.socialsecurity.gov/disabilityfacts . They’re
happy to share their personal stories with you. |
