Comments on: "Failing The Disabled"

Investigation: Disability Benefits System Harbors Culture Of Denying Help To Even The Most Unfit To Work

[shaninsc]

I''ve got a few comments to make to prjwdc,I, too,am disabled w/ disbling pain disorder.I didnt ask to have this or any of the other disorders I have.Is it so wrong to apply for help when you''ve paid into something you think will be yours when you need it?NO, it isnt.For me to do ANYTHING Ive got to wear 3Lidoderm patches to be able to do hsewk,play w/my 11yr old son, to do everything a person does in a day.

[shaninsc]

I''ve got a few comments to make to prjwdc,I, too,am disabled w/ disbling pain disorder.I didnt ask to have this or any of the other disorders I have.Is it so wrong to apply for help when you''ve paid into something you think will be yours when you need it?NO, it isnt.For me to do ANYTHING Ive got to wear 3Lidoderm patches to be able to do hsewk,play w/my 11yr old son, to do everything a person does in a day.

[prjwdc]

Can we not consider the concept of disabled but working? Why should you draw a check from the government because you have chronic pain? I''m not discounting those who have cancer or are completely incapacitated by their diseases. However, I think this system is broke. Many of those who ARE approved for disability benefits end up in worse shape when they are reviewed after 3 to 7 years than when they were allowed. Why? Because of their inactivity and bad nutrition. Working is good for the mind and the body. Many employers make accomodations for those who have disabilities. It may not be your current employer, but there are other jobs out there! Wouldn''t you rather do that than live on 1000 dollars per month for your SSDI check for the rest of your life? And for those of you who paid in "all of your working life", do you realize that all of the money you paid in will be paid back to you within 2 to 4 years, and after that, it''s up to the rest of us to keep working for you to stay at home watching Oprah? The system needs revision. In the meantime, more people need to quit focusing on why they can''t work and try working despite their pain. I live with pain 24 hours a day and have a very bad back. Yet, I work, and will work hopefully until the day I die. Consider this as an option, get help with re-training or schooling if you have to, but don''t give up just because you are in pain!!!

[plumeria5]

sorry didn''t mean to post that 4 times, the "publish" button got stuck or something.

[plumeria5]

Maybe CBS should have talked with the people who do the actual work for Social Security Disability. It''s obvious by the report that they did not. The analysts have NEVER been told to keep allowances down, they are told the opposite "allow the allowable". If there is a way to allow, they work hard to do just that. If CBS had talked with the social security workers they may have found that these are intelligent, caring people who are here to try and "help" the citizens of this country. It is interesting, you hear all about those who were denied, but nothing from the ones that were allowed. CBS, why didn''t you show that side of the story? Social security disability gets an unfair bad rap. Did your report make any mention of the fact that the claimant doesn''t always give us the correct and full information? (it''s like they have to become investigators to get the whole story) How claimants move and do not let us know? How claimants do not respond to repeated phone messages, multiple due process letters? How sometimes claimants are rude and uncooperative. Did they mention that if a claimant can not fill out questionaires on their own, and they can''t find a friend/relative to help them, the Social security workers will spend time going over them on the phone with the claimant? Did they mention the numerous fraud cases? Shame on CBS for not interviewing all of the parties involved in a Social Security Disability claim.

[plumeria5]

Maybe CBS should have talked with the people who do the actual work for Social Security Disability. It''s obvious by the report that they did not. The analysts have NEVER been told to keep allowances down, they are told the opposite "allow the allowable". If there is a way to allow, they work hard to do just that. If CBS had talked with the social security workers they may have found that these are intelligent, caring people who are here to try and "help" the citizens of this country. It is interesting, you hear all about those who were denied, but nothing from the ones that were allowed. CBS, why didn''t you show that side of the story? Social security disability gets an unfair bad rap. Did your report make any mention of the fact that the claimant doesn''t always give us the correct and full information? (it''s like they have to become investigators to get the whole story) How claimants move and do not let us know? How claimants do not respond to repeated phone messages, multiple due process letters? How sometimes claimants are rude and uncooperative. Did they mention that if a claimant can not fill out questionaires on their own, and they can''t find a friend/relative to help them, the Social security workers will spend time going over them on the phone with the claimant? Did they mention the numerous fraud cases? Shame on CBS for not interviewing all of the parties involved in a Social Security Disability claim.

[plumeria5]

Maybe CBS should have talked with the people who do the actual work for Social Security Disability. It''s obvious by the report that they did not. The analysts have NEVER been told to keep allowances down, they are told the opposite "allow the allowable". If there is a way to allow, they work hard to do just that. If CBS had talked with the social security workers they may have found that these are intelligent, caring people who are here to try and "help" the citizens of this country. It is interesting, you hear all about those who were denied, but nothing from the ones that were allowed. CBS, why didn''t you show that side of the story? Social security disability gets an unfair bad rap. Did your report make any mention of the fact that the claimant doesn''t always give us the correct and full information? (it''s like they have to become investigators to get the whole story) How claimants move and do not let us know? How claimants do not respond to repeated phone messages, multiple due process letters? How sometimes claimants are rude and uncooperative. Did they mention that if a claimant can not fill out questionaires on their own, and they can''t find a friend/relative to help them, the Social security workers will spend time going over them on the phone with the claimant? Did they mention the numerous fraud cases? Shame on CBS for not interviewing all of the parties involved in a Social Security Disability claim.

[plumeria5]

Maybe CBS should have talked with the people who do the actual work for Social Security Disability. It''s obvious by the report that they did not. The analysts have NEVER been told to keep allowances down, they are told the opposite "allow the allowable". If there is a way to allow, they work hard to do just that. If CBS had talked with the social security workers they may have found that these are intelligent, caring people who are here to try and "help" the citizens of this country. It is interesting, you hear all about those who were denied, but nothing from the ones that were allowed. CBS, why didn''t you show that side of the story? Social security disability gets an unfair bad rap. Did your report make any mention of the fact that the claimant doesn''t always give us the correct and full information? (it''s like they have to become investigators to get the whole story) How claimants move and do not let us know? How claimants do not respond to repeated phone messages, multiple due process letters? How sometimes claimants are rude and uncooperative. Did they mention that if a claimant can not fill out questionaires on their own, and they can''t find a friend/relative to help them, the Social security workers will spend time going over them on the phone with the claimant? Did they mention the numerous fraud cases? Shame on CBS for not interviewing all of the parties involved in a Social Security Disability claim.

[snardoz]

There is no way so many hard working people can be wrong about their experience with SSD. Why in the world would someone go to doctors for years, pay co-pays and continue complaining about the same problems for many years with medical proof if they werent sure that they cannot work. I do not buy it. Yes there are scammers, I have met many of them throughout my career, but I also made decisions based on common sense and my experience in the system to identify who might not be truthful. This seems to be a paper pushing agency that looks at things "on paper" ie. age, education etc. to determine their current state of health and disability....the more educated you are the more likely you are to be denied. You are punished for your previous hard work and dedication to working. It is simply not right.

[perm3800]

educated2 is either NOT an adjustor with SSA or works in a very small office. Why,she approved ''several'' claims just this week! WoW! And s/he notes that persons under 49 must be unable to work. Ummm...not true. Persons must be unable to sit for one hour, stand for fifteen minutes, lift more than ten pounds and be unable to take care of their own basic needs. This means that if you can stand for fifteen minutes without passing out or falling down, you are disqualified. If you can sit in a chair for an hour, you should be working for that hour. If you can''t sit for an hour or stand for fifteen minutes but don''t require help going to the bathroom, getting dressed or feeding yourself, you don''t qualify.