* Originally By: Bob Lantrip
 * Originally To: All
 * Originally Re: SSDI...
 * Original Area: ABLENEWS
 * Forwarded by : Blue Wave v2.12
REPRINT: Disability Concerns Information Network - Published by: Oklahoma 
Office of Handicapped Concerns.  Reprinted with permission.
Social Security Disability and SSI
Congress has taken a keen interest in "reforming" the Social Security 
Disability (SSDI) and SSI disability programs, with the ultimate goal of
reducing costs by shortening the disability rolls.  Various ideas are 
circulating.  Among them, Washington sources tell us, is a possible proposal
from Rep. Jim Bunning's office to limit the amount of time a person with a
disability could draw Social Security Disability or SSI benefits.
Reportedly the idea being discussed contemplates mandatory referral of SSDI
and SSI recipients to vocational rehabilitation and benefit cut-offs if 
employment is not obtained within a certain amount of time.
Rep. Bunning chairs the Social Security Subcommittee of the House Ways and
Means Committee.  On August 3, the Subcommittee held a hearing to examine
the role of Vocational Rehabilitation in the SSDI program.  It was one of
several hearings being conducted by the Subcommittee in an effort to reform
the current SSDI process and program.
In opening the hearing Bunning described the SSDI program as being in "real
trouble."  He indicated the Social Security Administration (SSA) is doing a
poor job of getting people with disabilities back to work and off the SSDI
rolls and laid blame on "the fact that state VR agencies currently have a
monopoly on providing Rehab services to Social Security beneficiaries."
The Congressman stated his understanding that of over 9 million people on
SSDI and SSI last year, SSA rehabilitated fewer than 6,000, amounting to a
success rate of one-half of one percent.  Bunning said this poor showing is
in part due to "the fact that recipients have little incentive to participate
in rehab, because SSA rarely takes anyone off the rolls."  According to
Bunning, "That has to change."
The Subcommittee heard from Jane Ross, a U.S. General Accounting Office (GAO)
representative, regarding ongoing GAO research on the SSDI program.  Ross
said that SSA spent $64 million last year on rehabilitation, with less than
a 1% rate of successful rehab outcomes.  She posed these possible solutions:
"encouraging DI as a temporary solution,"
"increasing the use of private vocational rehabilitation providers,"
"increasing faster access to rehabilitation services" closer to the time of
entry into the DI program, "when it is more effective," and
"looking at the capacity of the individual to work rather than on the 
disability."
Witnesses representing private rehabilitation called for more opportunity for 
private rehab entities to provide rehabilitation services for SSDI
beneficiaries.  Tony Young of the American Rehabilitation Association (ARA)
said this would add a needed element of competition, give consumers more 
choice and "treat the beneficiary as an adult, capable of making significant 
life choices."  George Watters, of the Board of Occupational Management 
Systems, Inc. (Spokane, WA) recommended a whole new "client choice" system
in which advocacy organizations are used to provide clients with performance
statistics and serve as counselors in advising clients "as to the nature and
extent of service need."
The Social Security Subcommittee has not scheduled future hearings on this
subject, and none are presently contemplated.
Beyond the hearings, we understand discussions within the Social Security
Administration and among private rehab agencies are focusing on ways to move
rehabilitation cases out of the public rehabilitation system and into private
agencies when state VR agencies do not produce employment outcomes within a
short span of time.  Social Security reimbursement for successful 
rehabilitation closures would then be available to private rehabilitation 
providers.
... Sex! Lies! Drugs! Money! Power! Corruption! Man, I love Congress!
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