Disability..out of hand?

fergus51 · Apr 27, 2002

In my experience the lazy ones have no trouble getting disability, while those who genuinely need it and hate to use it are jerked around like there's no tomorrow. It's sad.

mattsmom81 · Apr 27, 2002

I have noticed the lowest paid, unskilled workers tell me they have qualified for disability fairly easily...have had many patients I was surprised to find on SSD as I was familiar with their health problems. I know chronic pain presents differently so I try not to judge. (I know it's hard sometimes)

It is harder for an educated person to get SSD, even if they have chronic pain and disabling conditions, and can't get or keep a job as a result.

I have been researching SSDI as I may need to consider it sometime in the future. Personally, I will have no qualms accepting it (if I qualify) because I have paid a big chunk out of my paychecks for 30 years and this is what it's for....people who have worked hard all their life but can't anymore due to disability. JMHO of course. :)

NurseDennie, BSN, RN · Apr 27, 2002

My hubby said that the government singles out nurses to screw in the whole disability thing. The government considers nursing (get this!!!) to be one with moderate activity, involving lifting not more than 50# sporadically!!!!!!!! Yeah, right!!!

I guess their rationale is that if you are a nurse and you hurt your back and can't work with adult patients any more, then you should move on to peds. If that's still too much, then try NICU.

Our government dollars at work!!

Mattsmom - you're right. It *is* easier for lower-paid, less-educated people to get on disability. There are a lot of things that work into this, and age and education are two of them. There's such a thing as "voc/rehab" which is used when somebody is disabled and is so young that it will cost big bucks to support them until they reach retirement age. I've heard of them training warehouse clerks to become bookeepers, stuff like that.

The rest of that story is that people who have more education supposedly have more options. If you have a college or uni degree, the supposition is that you can use that degree in a variety of ways that would allow you to work around your disabilities.

My next-door neighbor (whom I love) has been a warehouse clerk all her life (she's stacked boxes full of books for a living). She has LE pain and has been trying to get on SS disability for about a year now. She has a lot of things going for her in her claim - she's a couple of years older than I am - not that long until retirement age, when disability can drop her, and she's too old to have the government invest in voc/rehab for her. The problem is, there's no reason for her pain.

I remember her telling me "Thank God, I've finally got a diagnosis: Spinal cord disease." I just cringed. I knew THAT wasn't going to work. I think she kind of expects my husband to pick up her case and carry it through outside the system and just allow it, despite the fact that it doesn't meet the requirements. *sigh*

Not only that, but she has a computer, so she already knows how to type, and she volunteers two full days a week in the office of her church. So there's a possible job as a part-time receptionist or office clerk. She said she tried to get a job like that and wasn't able to. The thing is, she will eventually get allowed.

Parenthetically, it's virtually impossible for a SS disability examiner to get on disability. My hubby works with multiple amputees (multiple amputations on one person, not multiple people with an amputation each), people with cerebral palsy, people with horrible physical and emotional problems. There's one guy in his office that I can't believe is still ALIVE, much less working! He's in a wheelchair and can no longer make transfers - so he has to have a helper in the bathroom, etc.

Love

Dennie

P_RN, ADN, RN · Apr 27, 2002

No comment

LasVegasRN · Apr 27, 2002

I think it's several things..

#1 - the public is more educated about disability.

#2 - attorneys are advertising on every channel in every language possible ("Hurt? Injured? CALL ME FOR BIG BUCKS!!")

#3 - being disabled is no longer viewed as stigma. No shame now being disabled, no matter what the situation (it would appear).

#4 - some do not have a problem with living on 66 2/3 of their salary (depending on the state and your income). Now, you can buy insurance to supplement your disability.

#5 - Convoluted system. Say you decide you can't work a full 8 or 12 hour day and your employer agrees to have you come back 4 hours a day. Sounds good right? Ease you back in until you feel able to to work a full shift. The employer pays you your 4 hours. Disability pays you the difference WITHOUT TAXES OR ANY OTHER WITHOLDINGS. So, you get paid MORE working LESS. Duh.

#6 - People who need disability are starting to get it. It's only recently Vietnam Vets could get disability for PTSD. Thank God.

Lots of bad things. Lots of good things. But, in all I think it's best not to judge others 'lest you are walking in their shoes.

NurseDennie, BSN, RN · Apr 28, 2002

No Comment???

Love

Dennie

P_RN, ADN, RN · Apr 28, 2002

You too

**SKM-NURSIEPOOH, BSN, RN** · Apr 29, 2002

... just as long as the individual is truly disabled & is certified by a physician whose willing to put their license on the line for their patient(s).

however, those who really aren't :nono: in any pain or have temporary or permanent handicap(s) should be subject to fines & or imprisonment for fraud by filing false claims in order to receive funds for free & their physicians should be fined or imprisoned as well...jmho :coollook:

Cubby · Apr 30, 2002

I agree with Nurse Dennie and P_RN. No comment!!

**SKM-NURSIEPOOH, BSN, RN** · Apr 30, 2002

hi folks, it was brought to my attention that some posters here are legitimately disabled & have gone through hell getting the necessary medical treatment. some were also written-off & treated like hand-out scum :angryfire...how horrible & sad!!! :sniff:

i'm terribly sorry if my post offended those individuals...as that certainly wasn't my intent!!! so i say...i apologize to those folks :blushkiss that may have been offended!!!

originally posted by skm-nursiepooh
... just as long as the individual is truly disabled & is certified by a physician whose willing to put their license on the line for their patient(s).

however, those who really aren't in any pain or have temporary or permanent handicap(s) should be subject to fines & or imprisonment for fraud by filing false claims in order to receive funds for free & their physicians should be fined or imprisoned as well...jmho

Q. · Apr 30, 2002

Moe I don't see anything wrong with your post. You simply thought that people who are shirking the system and who are illegitimately on disability should be subject to fines. Your post obviously wasn't directed at anyone HERE. If they are on disability for a legitimate claim or injury, I don't see how your post applies to them. :confused:

This reminds me of a comment one of my professors made. She's in a Director position within one of our hospital systems. In referring to individuals injured on workman's comp; say, an injured leg or knee, and can't perform their primary job as a result (say the person is a nurse in an ortho floor) she will put that person to work in HER office, filing papers, answering phones, taking messages, stuffing envelopes...to keep that person WORKING rather than at home. She states that her reasoning behind that is because in a hospital/clinic, there is ALWAYS work to be done (light duty) that these individuals can do. Like Medical Records Dept; they are ALWAYS behind. She will put these people down there to work with them. It keeps costs down as well. :)

She actually got this idea from the military and VA systems. They ALWAYS find work for someone during an injury.

Of course, this scenario doesn't apply to SSI, but it made me think of that.