It is possible that beneficiaries receiving disability benefits under the Social Security Disability Insurance program (SSDI), will see their checks reduced possibly — by 21 percent within four years — because of burgeoning disability claims.
The National Center for Policy Analysis, noted that nearly 1 million additional claimants were added in the last three years. Since the mid-1950s, the program has expanded and now covers workers under the age of 50, disabled spouses of deceased workers and disabled children who were never able to work.
The program is funded federally and administered by the states.
Claims for mental disorders have more than tripled from 10 percent of cases in 1982 to 32.8 percent in 2012, with half of those based on “mood disorders” such as depression or anxiety.
Back or neck “problems” have increased by 31 percent and were the top cause of disability for 50- to 64-year olds. Depression and anxiety and other emotional problems increased by 20 percent, and now constitute one-third of all disability claims.
A study by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) that covered 22 years showed that when the unemployment rate increased by one percent, disability claims applications jumped by 10 percent.