Student reacts to decline in unemployment among persons with disabilities

Recently, I listened to “Disability in Decline” by NPR’s The Indicator. This podcast talked about how there a rise in the number of people who have left the work force because of a disability. In 1994, the number of 25-54 year olds unemployed because of disability was less than 5 million. In 2014, that number was 7.3 million. Since then, that number went down by 600,000 people. That is nearly a 7 percent decline in those unemployed because of disability. Economists are saying half of that 7 percent is due to people changing the reason they are unemployed, now saying they are home taking care of their families. The other half is due to job finding.

This has led to questions because the number of unemployed has normally grown, not only during recessions, but also in times of recovery. We are in recovery now, so why are there so many less disabled people unemployed? One of the reasons may be our stronger labor market, and employers are more willing to hire disabled workers. Businesses may likely be more comfortable hiring disabled workers because they do not have to raise wages. This is both good and bad. It’s good because people who are disabled or formerly disabled can get jobs more easily than they used to. It’s bad because they are likely not being payed as much as other employees. In the end, it is always good seeing the number of unemployed go down. It means there are more opportunities in our economy, which is how we grow and prosper.

On a side note, my cousin who is highly disabled—she is 25 and acts like a 7-year-old—has two jobs. She bags at a local grocery store, and she works at this new bakery called “No Label at the Table”. The owner created it with her autistic son in mind, and only hires young adults with disabilities to help bake and run her bakery. Isn’t it great that we are becoming a place where people like my cousin are more accepted and given opportunities that they never had in the past? 

That is great news.  A gain of 300,000 positions (or opportunities to fill existing positions) for persons who were at least to some degree disabled shows that the economy is performing reasonably well. Everyone really does want to see the unemployment numbers go down, and the current 4.1% official rate (in the spring of 2018) is a reasonable level, although 3% would be better.  As social workers we are especially interested in rising wages for low-income workers and opportunities for meaningful employment roles that persons with disabilities can enter. In times of low unemployment it is usual to see declines in poverty and increases in wages, along with gains made by persons against whom many employers are more likely to discriminate in times of high unemployment.  The employment indicator is one of the most important indicators we can examine, and I am glad you found this good podcast episode to bring our attention to this good news.

Student wants Social Security to refer denied disability applicants to job services

The Honorable U.S. Representative Rodney Davis

Springfield District Office

2833 S Grand Ave. East 

Springfield, IL 62703

Dear Mr. Davis, 

I am writing to you to advocate for the bill Promoting Opportunity for Disability Benefit Applicants Act (H.R. 3310).  It amends titles II of OASDI and XVI of SSI of the Social Security Act to allow the Social Security Administration to provide information on appropriate public or private places that provide employment services, vocational rehabilitation services, or other support services to individuals who are denied OASDI or SSI benefits based on an adverse determination of disability. 

This bill needs to be passed to help those who are living in (or at risk of falling into) poverty after they suffer an injury or illness that causes disability. Perhaps their disability is not so severe that they qualify for disability benefits, or perhaps there are technical reasons why they do not qualify for SSI or Disability Insurance (perhaps they have too many assets to qualify for SSI).  If people who are denied disability benefits can find a job suitable for their abilities, they will be able to support themselves. But, if they are denied Disability Insurance or SSI and they cannot find a job that will match their abilities, what can they do? 

Those who are denied Disability Insurance benefits or SSI will either need help finding a job or else they will need other forms of benefits to prevent their becoming homeless or malnourished. Surely it will be better to help such persons find work, if work can be found. If the Promoting Opportunity for Disability Benefit Applicants Act is passed, the Social Security Administration would direct the many (over 60% of persons who apply for disability benefits) who are are denied  the benefits they seek to services that could help them find appropriate jobs matching their situations. These referrals should lead to many persons finding appropriate employment. For these successful job seekers, they will not need to utilize the as many welfare programs because they will have full time work. They will be able to get insurance through their work instead of being on Medicaid. They will be able to have an income, so they will not need to rely on SNAP for all of their food. By passing this bill, the country will be saving money on welfare programs. There will not be as many homeless people on the streets or in shelters. People will be able to take care of themselves by having resources gained through jobs that they are able to do. They will be able to become more self-sufficient and independent. 

This bill will help people pay taxes because more people will get jobs and that happening will increase the taxes that come out of their checks, which makes the United States have more money. Our country needs money and this will lead to more people in the workforce.  Certainly, most people prefer to be self-reliant and employed if they can be. I hope you agree, and will support bills like H.R. 3310, and generally advocate for more services that help persons with disabilities find employment or opportunities, especially when they have sought services through Disability Insurance or Supplemental Security Income and had their claims denied. 

Between 2001 through 2010 the Americans seeking disability benefits and actually getting them from Social Security were only about 45 percent of people who applied. People that were denied disability benefits were 53 percent.  But, since that time, the rate of denials has increased, and fewer people who apply for benefits because of disabilities are getting anything.

If you look at this chart from the Annual Statistical Report on the Social Security Disability Insurance Program, 2016, you will see that more and more applications for Social Security Disability Insurance are being denied.

Let me quote from page 149 of the 2016 report on Disability Insurance:

Final outcome of disabled-worker applications, 2006–2015The final award rate for disabled-worker applicants has varied over time, averaging 34 percent for claims filed from 2006 through 2015. The percentage of applicants awarded benefits at the initial claims level averaged 23 percent over the same period and ranged from a high of 25 percent to a low of 20 percent. The percentage of applicants awarded at the reconsideration and hearing levels are averaging 2 percent and 9 percent, respectively. Denied disability claims have averaged 62 percent.

Please note that.  The Social Security Administration is denying 62 percent of claims for Disability Insurance. Does it seem to you plausible that 62% of those who apply for DI are actually not worthy of such benefits?  Surely Americans tend to be a hard-working and industrious people, and we have good work ethics, and I cannot believe that 62% of those who reach the desperation of applying for Disability Insurance do not deserve such benefits. Nevertheless, whether they deserve or do not deserve disability benefits, they clearly need help finding work, and H.R. 3310 would do just that.

According to the National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty, people that are denied disability are likely to become homeless. This is because after denial, they cannot find work, and if the Social Security Administration would help these people find work, vocational rehabilitation services, and support services, many people would not be homeless. Social Security denies so many people for disability because they think there are certain jobs that they can still do, but the person whose application has been denied may think there are no jobs they are capable of doing. Therefore, it is very helpful to give them resources to help them find those jobs that they will be able to do. For example, a person that got denied may be able to do a job that is not as high functioning as what they have tried in the past, and they can get help with this from the Social Security Administration. If you will support H.R. 3310 and help it get a hearing in committee and then eventually get to the House floor, I hope I can proudly tell my friends and neighbors about your support of this excellent legislation and your demonstrated commitment to helping people become self-sufficient.

  Your Obedient Servant and Constituent,

     [ Student in SWK-355 Policy and Services course ]

Adults with Developmental Disabilities

Reflection Paper

In class we talk about many different populations of people, but I think that one that gets overlooked is adults with developmental disabilities. I worked in a sheltered workshop for a little over 7 years and have seen first hand the kinds of financial difficulties they have. Just like children, these adults, don’t have much of a voice when it come to their own personal finances. Most of them do not understand the concept of money.

A lot of adults with developmental disabilities live in group homes. Much of their financial income is determined by the state. They are covered by Medicaid, SSI, SSDI and some receive SNAP. According to the Social Security Website most are covered by SSDI (87%), if their parents had a work history and the person was diagnosed before the age of 18.  I knew a few others that qualified for Black Lung Survivors Benefits.

Case workers scrambled to make sure that no one clients savings got over $2,000 for fear of them losing benefits. A couple years ago there was a panic when they reduced the amount of cash that was disbursed every month to clients in ICF group homes. For most it went from $60 to $50 or $40. Ten or twenty dollars does not seem like much to most, but they use that for things most people take for granted. Haircuts, a coffee, new shoes, clothes, or entertainment. Often clients that went to the workshop could not go on any outings that month because they lacked the funds. These were not extravagant outings. They were things like going to get a coffee, ice cream, or go to the zoo. 

A good thing was the clients never had to worry about healthcare, housing, or food. That was covered. When they got $60 a month that put them at $2 a day for cash. They were better off than pretty much everyone in the book $2 a Day since they don’t have to worry about food or shelter. These people can not advocate for themselves, although some try their best. One client from an ICF home knew that he would only get a certain amount of cash each month no matter how much he worked. It was sad to see some of the clients that had no concept of money working every day, sometimes making upwards of $200 a paycheck. They never get to see that paycheck. They get the allotted $40-$50 and the rest goes towards their room and board. 

Like anyone else, disabled or not, we want independence. Many of these clients could make a wage enough to pay for outings, clothing, haircuts, entertainment, or anything else that they need without going without new shoes for several months due to lack of cash funds. A higher functioning client wanted so badly to get out of the workshop and into the community working. She walked everywhere, went to interviews, and eventually landed herself 2-part time jobs while working at the workshop. She wanted to better herself and make enough money to do the things she loved. Since she was bringing in “too much” income she had to start paying into Medicaid.

I know there must be limits to what people can get because I can see it getting out of hand. Where is the line drawn though? If you increase their benefits so they have more cash, then that money is probably coming out of some other program. If you let them make as much as they want without losing benefits the state will be losing money. I believe that every adult with a developmental disability should be able to keep what they earn. Obviously if they make an obscene amount of money then yes, they should pay for some of their benefits. I don’t see the harm in them keeping what they earn.

Student reacts to a blog post about living as a Deaf Asian Hindu in the United Kingdom

A social justice issue that I am interested in is the disadvantages of the disabled in everyday endeavors, specifically the workforce. Last weekend, I found a blog titled The Limping Chicken, a news site in the UK that shares news of interest to the deaf community. An article by Reema Patel named Growing up Deaf in a Hearing World was posted on March 28, 2012. Patel discusses her struggles as someone with minor hearing loss but also reflects on some solutions for such behaviors.  

Patel’s parents were really conscious of people judging her because she was deaf, so they did not really tell anyone she was deaf unless they it was absolutely necessary. Patel shares with us the three key reasons that she believes deafness is stigmatized in her culture. Born in a British Asian Hindu family, she explains that it is an environment that stigmatizes disability, deafness included. Here is a list of the three reasons and my reaction to her given statement:

1. The cultural bonds that tie people together in her culture are mostly visual and aural. Many rituals and practices consolidate around music, dance, recitation, and other arts.

She shares a story about a blind girl that picked up a minuscule sculpture of a Hindu God and felt around it so she could recognize what she’s touching. Someone immediately snatched it away from her, informing her that it’s a sin to touch a statue in such a way. The young girl only wanted to know what she was touching, she did not mean to offend anyone. The blind and the deaf share these instances of miscommunication across language barriers every day, making them feel excommunicated from the hearing world at times. 

2.  Generally, progressive attitudes towards disability come with greater awareness, education, and more time to reflect/think – the sort of education that many migrant communities don’t often have access to. 

I believe that what she is talking about here is that when someone is disabled in your community or home, it takes awareness, education, and time for reflecting to truly understand and help encourage and lift them to their greatest potential. It seems that people in her community don’t have access to time for this. I’m thinking that maybe in a British Asian Hindu family/community, things can be pretty hectic and some important topics and people can get put on the back burner. 

3. In Patel’s personal opinion, Hinduism has in practice rarely concerned itself with isonomy, social change, and liberalism. The teachings about the caste-system bolster attitudes of ‘knowing one’s place’ in society. They accept the hand life has dealt one as punishment for sins in your previous life.

Not only does her family/community’s culture not support Patel’s disability economically but religiously as well. In /Hinduism, what goes around comes around so if someone was rotten in a previous life, they could be disabled in another. That could make people think that being disabled is just this unbelievably horrible thing that no one can survive because it is marked as punishment for the rotten-spirited. People are surviving and thriving through their disabilities every day and being fabulous while doing so. 

Patel’s perspective on the stigmatization of disabilities in her community reminds me a lot of how the world does the same. One topic she did not cover that I thought would be an amazing addition to her article is assimilation. Social norms and institutions try to create things to help the disabled become “more like us” instead of creating things to help them be a better THEM. Patel offers three solutions for obliterating the perception that disabled persons, especially the deaf, are less likely to be successful. One, to provide the support to children that lets them challenge the perception themselves. Two, to provide a supportive environment that encourages self-worth and confidence. And three, to provide the right funding to open doors and opportunities. She believes that if these things are given, as they deserve to be, then they will be able to show and prove that they can be just as successful as anyone else, even more so. 

Works Cited

Patel, R. (2012, March 28). Reema Patel: Growing up deaf in a hearing world [Web log post]. Retrieved February 15, 2017, from http://limpingchicken.com/2012/03/28/reema-patel-growing-up-deaf-in-a-hearing-world/

A letter about SSI and work incentives

Dear Senator Durbin:

I am writing as a constituent of Illinois. My name is ______ ________ and I am 22-years old. Growing up in New Lenox, IL I have been the fortunate recipient of luxuries such as an outstanding school district, well maintained roads, and a remarkable park district. Never, would I have thought to criticize the government, locally or federally. Yet, as circumstances would have it, my world was turned upside down in the summer of 2003. Having suffered a spinal cord injury after a diving accident, I was rendered a quadriplegic. The newfound limitations of paralysis and incurred medical expenses eventually put me in contact with the U.S. government’s Social Security department. After years of interacting with this agency I have come to conclude that the disabled population continues to be provided little incentive to integrate into the employment sector.

As I am sure you know, the Supplemental Security Income Program (SSI) makes cash assistance payments to the aged, blind and disabled people who have limited income and resources. Tax revenues generate the funds, for which this program operates. The current maximum asset level, to continue eligibility for SSI, is set at the sum of $2,000. Given that I was a young, permanently disabled student attending high school, I quickly qualified to begin receiving benefits. Despite having an active case with the Department of Human Services (DHS), sub agency Department of Rehabilitation Services (DRS), and now Social Security, I was never given an overview of the program’s specifications.

For one to fully encompass the expenses of a disabled individual one must consider medical expenses (including specialized equipment, medication, and services), cost of accessible transportation, the money necessary to employ a personal assistant, and costs associated with accessible housing. With the male medium income around mid-40k and the female medium income estimated to be around mid- 30k in this country, the incentive to work begins to diminish when considering the monetary gains versus loses.

Hidden amongst the regulations of SSI are work incentive programs and individual exceptions. In particular, the Student Earned Income Exclusion allows recipients under age 22, who regularly attend school, to earn up to $1,640 in additional income per month. Yearly maximum exclusion is restricted on amounts exceeding $6,600. Some additional qualifications do apply. Another exception includes having a documented Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS). The PASS allows recipients to set aside other incomes besides SSI for a specified period of time so that the individual may pursue a work goal. Under the PASS program, money that has been set aside does not qualify towards the determining of SSI payment amount.

At first glance it appears that the 2009 Federal Benefit Rate set at $674 should be more than adequate for individuals working towards employment, especially, given that the may supplement this income by applying for previously mentioned exclusions. However, these exclusions do little to assist individuals if their existence goes unbeknown to SSI recipients.

This is where the opportunity for change exists. Every recipient of SSI is assigned a caseworker. Often, these same recipients have additional client-agency relationships established at other government run locations (such as my example with DHS and DRS). It would be pertinent if these networks collaborated on client casework. At minimum, there should be regulations within the Social Security Administration that mandate employees fully brief SSI recipients on all the options available to them. I will go so far as to suggest specific emphasis on programs such as the Student Earned Income Exclusion and PASS. In promoting and fostering employment pursuit and training to disabled individuals, the US government demonstrates its support of individuals with disabilities as valuable citizens. Furthermore, it disrupts the cycle of dependence and spiraling US debt.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.