After many reports have been issued that are critical of the Social Security Disability programs, a paper strongly defending the programs has just been published by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP). Social Security Disability Insurance Is Vital to Workers With Severe Impairments (Aug. 9, 2012)(“CBPP SSDI Paper”), available at http://www.cbpp.org/files/8-9-12ss.pdf.
The paper was written by Kathy Ruffing, a Senior Fellow at the Center who has written previous CBPP issue briefs on Social Security issues. Ms. Ruffing has provided a robust defense of the disability programs, addressing and countering most of the points that critics have raised. The opening paragraph of the report states:
The Social Security Disability Insurance (DI) program provides modest but vital benefits to workers who become unable to perform substantial work on account of a serious medical impairment. Although some critics charge that spending for the program is “out of control,” the bulk of the rise in federal disability rolls stems from demographic factors: the aging of the U.S. population, the growth in women’s employment, and Social Security’s rising retirement age. Other factors — including the economic downturn — also have contributed to the program’s growth, but its costs and caseloads are generally in step with past projections.
This information is courtesy of the National Organization of Social Security Claimants Representatives.
