Think Twice About Disability Fraud

Two years ago the United States Bureau of the Census reported that 11.8 million Americans ages 16 to 64 had a medical condition impeding their ability to find a job or remain employed. That accounts for approximately 6 percent of the total population in this age group.

Ten years ago, the Ohio census reported 20,258 Greene County residents over the age of 5 who were receiving disability benefits. In 2009 the U.S. Social Security Administration experienced a surge in applications for disability benefits, from 550,000 to 725,000.

Officials attribute this steady increase in part to the struggling economy. In my opinion, it is likely that some percentage of applicants may exaggerate the effects of minor ailments to legally escape the often overwhelming task of finding a job and contributing to society.

Commonly known as disability fraud, this immoral and illegal activity is abhorrent to those who suffer from severe disability and would gladly trade the government financial support for the monotony of getting up every morning and going to work. Disability fraud brings about enormous financial strain on insurance companies, the social security system, the federal or state health insurance system, as well as private individuals.

Disability fraud is a twisted orchestration between unscrupulous medical professionals, an overloaded social security system and dishonest recipients. Often difficult to identify and prove, disability fraud misdirects necessary money and manpower from those who are genuinely in need costing tax payers millions of dollars every year in bogus payouts.

In order to circumvent those who would misuse the system, a discussion about disability fraud must take place alongside those regarding government-sponsored health care. Any nationally-mandated health care system should encourage preventative medicine and reward those who avoid smoking, recreational drugs and other reckless behaviors that can lead to expensive health problems.

Many self-induced long term health issues are preventable and usually result in various types of permanent disability, costing the country money and lives. Someone who is a lifelong smoker, for example, can develop any manor of respiratory disease diminishing their ability to be productive on the job or even preventing them from working at all.

Should that person receive the same benefits as someone who was born with a congenital birth defect that limits their potential in a similar way? Are there really people out there who "fake" their disability so they can collect from the system? Yes, every system can be abused, and social security is no exception, but determining whether someone's disability is real or not is a task best left to the experts.

Since disabilities come in many flavors, determining what is a real problem and what is exaggerated or even completely bogus can be challenging, even to the experts. Apart from those things that are obvious, such as wheelchairs and prosthetics, there are also "invisible disabilities."

I refer to those types of disabilities that are not visually detectable. A mental illness, for example, cannot be seen but can certainly be debilitating. Just because you can't see the disability doesn't mean that it's not there. Still, as the economy remains down, social service systems will most likely continue to be defrauded, and the less obvious the health issue, the easier it is to pass off as "debilitating."

In short, people who play this game should really be ashamed of themselves. I grew up around kids and adults with various physical and mental disabilities. Every one of them was a hard-working person who did everything they could to surpass their limitations and the lowered expectations that society placed on them.

You never heard them whining over their health problems, telling everyone within earshot about their latest ailment. They didn't want pity; they wanted understanding and a chance to do what they could. Whenever I hear of someone fraudulently using any social welfare program, I am infuriated.

Things are hard right now, but those of us who are able to work and support our families owe it to those who cannot to help in whatever way we can. If you can work, go get a job - McDonald's is always hiring.
If you can't work, keep in mind that there are people in worse situations than yours. Request only what you need and do what you can to give back wherever possible. If we all do our parts and pull our own weight to the best of our ability everyone wins in the end.

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