Pfft! Trump's budget director takes aim at SSDI & therefore DISABLED Americans

[WePurrsevere]

“Let me ask you a question, do you really think that Social Security disability insurance is part of what people think of when they think of Social Security? I don’t think so,” he said, with a slight grin on his face. “It’s the fastest growing program. It was — it grew tremendously under President Obama. It’s a very wasteful program and we want to try and fix that.”
[God/dess but I want to wipe that smirk off this pond scums face. YouTube clip at article's link below]
-snip-

In 2015, the federal government spent $143 billion on SSDI, which is primarily financed by the Social Security payroll tax. This totals around 4 percent of the federal budget. The average monthly benefit for disabled workers in January 2017 was $1,171.25.

SSDI has its own trust fund that is separate from the Social Security program’s funds reserved for retirees and survivors. The National Academy of Social Insurance illustrates how disability insurance and funds for old age and survivors are financed the same way but administered by two different funds, both run by the Social Security Administration:


The program largely benefits older Americans who have worked decades and are near retirement age. The “I” in SSDI stands for insurance because workers pay into this program so it is there for them when they need it. The average SSDI recipient has worked 22 years, and 75 percent of those who benefit are 50 years old or older. Recall that 53 percent of voters ages 50 and over supported President Trump during the election in November.

It is hardly an easy program to enroll in — the Social Security Administration rejects a majority of those who apply for disability payments. The Center for Budget and Policy Priorities notes that fewer than 400 of 1,000 initial applications for approval are accepted.

https://theintercept.com/2017/03/20/trump-budget-director-takes-aim-at-wasteful-social-security-program-that-helps-disabled-americans/

Taking aim at any benefits people who are disabled enough to get approved for, no less stay on, SSDI is just friggin SADISTIC and may karma bite anyone who does so in the ass HARD.

Is there "waste"? Quite possibly at least a bit since most government programs tend to be a bit bloated but those on SSDI *NEED* the little bit of $$ they get to SURVIVE. Working, even part-time, isn't an option for most and the vast majority that I've known over the years would highly prefer to be healthy and able to work for the satisfaction and, in many cases, higher incomes instead of struggling to get by, often needing to use some or all of the safety net that the GOP are working on tearing apart.

(I'm unfamiliar with this as a source but the YouTube video at the link agrees with what Mulvaney said AND the info about SSDI is very close if not 100% accurate according to my research and personal experience.)

[Siwsan]

1. They are quite shamelessly trying to initiate a cull

I have no doubt that their goal is to "rid" the country of the "useless eaters".

[atreides1]

2. Trump is a businessman...

Granted, he sucks at it, as can be seen from his many bankruptcies! But, the main point of any business is to make a profit, you can't make a profit from giving money to the disabled!

Besides, Mulvaney is just following the Nazi standard of killing off the disabled, he just wants to watch them suffer as they die!!

[Cha]

3. KR this crap!

Shine the Light

[tanyev]

4. They seem determined to alienate everyone who voted for Donald in 2016.

I wonder who is voting for Donald in his glorious 2020 election fantasy?

[WePurrsevere]

5. It definitely seems to be that way...

Sadly I think there are a small percent of very die-hard greedy, hateful, ignorant and unintelligent supporters who will still vote for him but I suspect the majority of those who did so this time won't a second time (if he even makes it to '20 as president).

With luck his and the Republicans negative BS actions against the majority of Americans, etc will help flip the Houses in 2018 but we need to keep pushing the media and our fellow (Left & moderate) Democrats to call them on their BS every.single.time.

[procon]

6. What's next, do we abandon disabled folk out on ice floes?

Republicans never see that real people are going to suffer when they gleefully implement their latest dystopian fantasy to cull the weak and vulnerable from the herd, they only see dollar signs. He doesn't care (or know?) that many vets are on Social Security disability insurance, and lots of children, as well as people with physical and mental disabilities.

Remember how Trump mocked that disabled reporter? That should have been a prescient warning sign about how he was going to treat them as the president.

[Historic NY]

7. Don't expect to sell pencils out in front of his hotels...

http://www.politico.com/magazine/gallery/2016/05/trumps-war-on-disabled-veteran-vendors-000637?slide=0

[mopinko]

8. if they want to cut waste, they should stop nearly automatically rejecting claims

on the first go round. people get lawyers, and appeal again and again until they get it.
waging a war of attrition against the sick and disabled.

just cut that shit out right there, and they will save a huge chuck.

and if they think raising the retirement age is gonna save them money, they will be flooded w disability claims instead.

[WePurrsevere]

9. I've known of cases where SS rejected someone who should

easily gotten it the first time. I've pushed an obviously disabled friend to keep filing appeals when she was so depressed at being rejected that she was seriously considering suicide.

I don't think getting it should be 'super' easy but if there are a bunch of reputable doctors all saying that someone is disabled enough that they can no longer work it also shouldn't be that hard.

I totally agree about the increase in retirement age increasing disability claims. If they do this it's also going to end up costing the government more.