Monday, February 20, 2012

Jobless Become Disabled

For some reason, if you're out of work long enough, the odds go up that you will apply for Social Security Disability Insurance.
“It could be because their health really is getting worse from the stress of being out of work,” says Matthew Rutledge, a research economist at Boston College. “Or it could just be desperation — people trying to make ends meet when other safety nets just aren’t there."
More than 5% of working age adults are now collecting disability income checks.

A fair chunk of people say they're disabled due to mental illness.

Once you're on the disabled rolls, besides getting income, you can apply for Medicaid. It's not great health insurance, but it's something.

Once you're on the disabled rolls, you tend to stay there. After all, you're not getting any younger!

Sometimes the safety net is a trap.
You burrow down through all the red tape,
Until you are warm in the government's lap,
And you never escape.

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