Disability fraud is a major problem world wide. There are millions of people receiving disability assistance from social security, insurance companies, and other institutions all around the world. When the allure of easy money comes around, criminals are never too far behind. Disability fraud can be extremely difficult to detect. Just because someone is able to walk around, drive a car, and perform other daily tasks doesn’t necessarily mean that they aren’t disabled and legally entitled to disability benefits. One of the main reasons that disability can be so hard to detect is because of the wide variety of legitimate medical conditions that aren’t immediately recognizable to other people who aren’t aware of the specific medical condition that the disability beneficiary may have. These types of disabilities are known as “invisible disabilities”.
Some common forms of invisible disabilities are:
- Chronic Fatigue: This type of disability refers to an individual who constantly feels tired. This can be extremely debilitating and affect every aspect of a persons every day life.
- Chronic Dizziness: Often associated with problems of the inner ear, chronic dizziness can lead to impairment when walking, driving, working, sleeping, and other common tasks.
- Chronic Pain: A variety of conditions may cause chronic pain. A few of those reasons may be back problems, bone disease, physical injuries, and any number of other reasons. Chronic pain may not be noticeable to people who do not understand the victims specific medical condition.
- Mental Illness: There are many mental illnesses that do qualify for disability benefits. Some examples are depression, attention deficit disorder, schizophrenia, agoraphobia, and many others. These diseases can also be completely debilitating to the victim, and can make performing everyday tasks extremely difficult, if not impossible.
Many people believe that the term “disability” only applies to people who use a walker or a wheelchair. As I mentioned above, this is simply not the case. In fact, in a 1994-1995 survey, it was found that while roughly 26 million Americans qualified for severe disabilities, however only 1.8 million Americans needed to use a wheelchair or a walker. This means that the vast majority of disability cases are invisible disabilities. This is what makes tracking down and defending against fraud so difficult. Let’s take a look at some of the more common types of disability fraud:
- Faking An Injury Or An Illness: The most common type of disability fraud, but it’s extremely difficult to detect. Phantom pains and other disabilities can easily be faked, and there isn’t much a doctor can do to prove that the condition doesn’t actually exist.
- Working While On Disability: While many people who suffer from disabilities do hold legitimate jobs, there are many people who collect disability benefits, and still perform the exact same job that they’re receiving benefits for supposedly not being able to do.
- Continuing To Collect Disability Payments After The Condition Is Remedied: Another extremely common form of disability fraud, The patient heals, but continues to collect benefits illegally.
For the reasons stated above, disability fraud can be an extremely difficult crime to combat against. Advances in medical and computer technologies have made combating fraud more effective, but it’s still a very difficult form of fraud to enforce against. Disability fraud is damaging to taxpayers, people with legitimate disabilities, as well as the world economy.
One of the best weapons that Governments have in combating disability fraud are average citizens who file a report when they believe that fraud is occurring. This still isn’t a great system though, since most people aren’t going to know exactly what disability the accused offender has or how it affects them. In order to be vigilant, if you think someone who is receiving disability benefits may be collecting those benefits fraudulently, then you should carefully consider what condition they may be receiving benefits for before filing a report.
December 18th, 2008 at 11:36 am
I don’t know if I should applaude your artical, or burn it. I currently recieve SSD/SSI. I wish I did not have to. I used to work VERY HARD, and wish I still could.
None of my disabilites are appearent, nor are any of them ALONE, enough to have made me quit working. Even when I did qualify and was put on disability originally, I did not stay on it, but found a way to go back to work.
The end result of all my effort was this:
After going to school for retraing (at my OWN expense), completeing an UN-PAID 6 month OJT, finding a job, completeing the probationary term of my new job and qualifieing for my benifit package, I was refused payment for treatment by my “New” Medical Carrier, for my “pre-exsisting condition.”
So there I was, making $2500 a month, and needing almost $4000 a month to pay for Doctors and Pills!
But I had worked too hard to give in so easy. I kept working. I quit going to the doctor because I couldn’t afford to go.
That was 7 years ago.
Today I am back on disability, and on my way out, but do not feel sorry for me, as it was a good run. Maybe, had I kept going to the Doc, I may have had a few more years, I will never know.
Your artical fails to mention that it is possible to work and be on SSI, legally! There are programs,(Ticket to Work, for one) to help folks with gaining employment AND KEEPING their dis-ability status.
Your artical reads like everybody on SSD/SSI lives “high on the hog”. Let me explain the facts:
I used to make over $1000 a week as a mechanic.
I had cars, motorcycles, a sailboat,a house, pretty much the “American Dream”.
Then, DUE TO CHEMICALS USED IN MY INDUSTRY, I got sick.
Now I live/exsist on $637 a month. If it wasn’t for my sister, I would be homeless.
I went back on disability so I could see a Doctor. Period. Thats it. It wasn’t for the money, believe me. There ain’t no money to be made by going on disability!
I think you should concentrate on teaching people how to protect themselves from the “preditors” that are out to steal them blind, rather than picking on people, who, for some reason, that you can’t see, “seem” to have it easier than yourself!
The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence. Until someone opens the gate………..
January 3rd, 2009 at 3:22 pm
Keith I don’t think you understand that it is okay to collect social security welfare if you really need it.
I think this article is targeting the thousands if not millions of crooks who abuse the system.
I know of a gentleman who has been on social security welfare his whole life, initially qualifying due to alcholism. When the rules were changed he found a way to stay on by feigning mental illness.
The state of Caifornia sent him to school for 6 years to study law and he specialized in social security law.
He inherited 750,000 and legally deferred that money so that he continues to live off of social security welfare and his inheritance and its all legal.
These are the people who we need to take a good look at and believe me their are plenty. I am a social worker and see abuse that is unbelievable.
Lets help the people like you and take the blood suckers out of the system!
March 3rd, 2009 at 8:58 pm
I’am sick of people and their kids laying around on SSI while i’m out working to pay for it. I realize that some people truly need help out there ,but these people out there who are on SSI and have four to five kids that are on SSI is a joke. They are just using the system to get bigger checks. That’s why i now have to work until i’m 70 for retirement. Also, i have to pay school taxes for their kids, because i own and they don’t which means they don’t have to pay school taxes. I don’t even have kids so, why should i have to pay their tax .Our gov’t has some things backwards. They have the kids let them pay for them. I know a lot of people who are on SSI that are suppose to have bad backs,but yet they can climb roofs and carrying shingels up a ladder. I’ve even seen women with bad backs climbing ladders washing down walls and ceilings,and running around fair grounds like nothing is wrong at all. If they can do this at home they can get up off of their butts and get a real job and quit frauding our system. Those of us who do work, would like to have some money in social security when we get there. Quit using your kids like a big welfare check and get out there and have some pride and support them. Stop expecting those of us who work, to take care of your families. I really don’t know how you people can live with yourselves. Those of you who truly deserve SSI may GOD bless you,and nine times out of ten it’s because, you did work and paid into our system in your life time.
April 2nd, 2009 at 4:40 am
Kellie, I hear you. I have a bad back, I’ve had five spinal surgeries and they failed, I now have to use a wheelchair to get around, and I take opiates for the pain. I’m on SSDI, and I am grateful to the taxpayers for helping me. I’m in my late fifties as well, and only been on SSDI for five years. It kills me that people will see my handicapped placard and ask what’s wrong with me, and when I tell them, they say, oh, yeah, I have a bad back too, and I get SSDI… but they are walking around, picking up their kids, climbing the ladders, ect. You know “OctoMom” Nadia Sulyman? She gets SSDI for three of her first six kids, one is autistic, so I can see that, but the other two… one gets it for a SPEECH impediment! I haven’t found out why the other child gets it, but I’m sure it’s for something minor. And who knows what’s wrong with the eight kids she had premature… Cerebral Palsy is rampant in multiple births. Oh, and no matter how much she makes, she will still get SSDI for those kids… always. Your income doesn’t count against your minor children’s check.
For all of you taxpayers… thank you. Please know I spend my check on rent and food, not beer, drugs and cigarettes. Both of my children work for a living, and I only had the two… no way would I have child after child and suck off the welfare teet. Oh, and if I suspect someone is playing the system, I take names and report them. I hate being lumped in with the welfare/SSDI cheats.
Bless you all.
April 5th, 2009 at 5:38 am
I’m at a level of frustration that I don’t think I’ve ever experienced before! I know that the SSDI was meant to be a meritable program designed to help people that for sound reason could not work for a living. I would never want to deny anyone the benefit of a warm home or good food on their table if they are legitimately unable to provide for themselves either physically or mentally. Especially those that have been hard working, tax paying citizens in the past. BUT when I witness women with multiple children, all with different men, sit on their ass and collect a check monthly drawn from the taxes and SSI that I contribute to on a weekly basis,money that work hard to earn, it boils my blood.
THEN there are the others that draw the same kind of benefits, find work under the table and never pay a dime to the goverment on that extra income or contribute it to the SSI that they are robbing. How ironic!
From this day forward I am, one person at a time, using all my knowledge and resources to turn these people in. I shouldn’t have to use what little free time I have running these people down, the goverment should be doing this, but it has to start somewhere. Maybe if all hard working Americans turned in one theif at a time we could get this country free of all that burden our financial situation and get their asses back to work, contributing to the tax system and stop them from free loading.
April 24th, 2009 at 10:14 am
Some people are too lazy too work and as long as their is a free paycheck there is no incentive to. My brother lost his leg in a horrific accident and almost died and still works 45 hours per week. I see people in my neighborhood that don’t work because of a supposed injury and then i see them out drinking and going to movies. Soon the gravy train will be over as the depression accelerates. My prediction is 20 million will be out of work by the end of 2009. the government is a joke and is full of crooks as is the banking system. Unless major reform doesn’t occur society will be in for a new paradigm shift.
May 1st, 2009 at 10:44 am
I have a brother-in-law who collects SSDI for Fibromyalgia. I know for a fact that he works part time as a martial arts instructor and paints houses on the side. It angers me that he is able to get away with this. My wife knows about it told me that if I report him she will never forgive me for what if would do to her sister and her kids. It really sucks.
May 2nd, 2009 at 2:12 pm
I too am sick and tired at watching all the SSI fauds. I have been sick as a dog for six years yet never did I ever consider filing for a disabilty. As long as I could force myself up and get out to work, I considered myself blessed to have that inner tenacity. However when one of my friends has a gorgeous home she lives in alone and in her sisters name along with a second home in her boyfriends name, a brand new 2009 car that she purchased CASH and put in her sisters name and has stocks in her sisters name. Well I get a angry feeling inside. Fact it is hard for me to stomach her anymore. She works for CASH under the table as a beautican in her big beautiful paid for home, collects disability and God knows what else, probably food stamps cause she never wants to go grocery shopping together. Hum! As I was saying FULL time runs the beauty salon out of her home. Did I tell you that she just had brand new carpet and kitchen redone. A huge deck was put on a few years ago.She entertains many people during the month for get togethers and socializing, with lots of food and drinks. Nice. She has weekly manicures, and wears lots of diamonds on her hands. I have NEVER seen anyone shop and buy so much stuff in my life ALWASYS PAYING CASH. Am I mad at what I see? Oh yes, do I turn her in. No, I will let God take care of her. Fact, I am done watching it, I am signing off on this plastic friendship. One more thing, she lies about everything to everyone. I am tired of the scam and the lies and need to move on. I have been feeling better myself and now is the time to make the move.
ChicagoBonnie
May 4th, 2009 at 3:41 pm
If you are able to work or not,and are currently collecting,please keep in mind and never forget this is not FREE MONEY from the gov.It is off the backs of “those” who can and will.Please respect this before attempting to file. THANK YOU FOR READING
May 4th, 2009 at 3:59 pm
Im a taxpayer with a story of someone who i feel is full of shit.However I am unable to prove it.WHAT I DO KNOW is this person is and has always been a drug addict alcoholic, and now that her body is “shutting down” from abuse and is unable to get it together she filed and won!!!!!! Now she partys on our dollar way to go gov.
May 29th, 2009 at 10:17 am
i know someone that has fibro supposely she sick all the time but for some reason is always out n partying and drinking she somkes weed n im pretty sure she does pills if she can do them things then she should work supposely she cant because of what she has i know people with the same thing and still works n plays sports n also what she has supposely makes u go to the bathroom alot will if u seen her she like 300 pounds i mean she may have it but not that bad for her not to work like i said if she can do the things she doin then she can work i think what she has is fibro lazyness i would like to file a complaint because she is frauding the goverment can someone please help
June 15th, 2009 at 5:03 pm
My cousin has been getting disability since the 1980’s. It is based on his claims to have a crippled left arm. I have grown tired of watching him lift furniture, do carpentry work and the latest kicker…he climbed a 20 foot ladder and using his crippled left arm, single handedly used a chainsaw to saw the limbs off the tree and chip away at it all day until there was nothing but a stump left. What’s funny is that most times he will wear his arm in a sling when he goes to the doctor. There is nothing wrong with him. He’s strong as an ox. He’s told me ways to scam the government, but trying to get someone in the government to listen is next to impossible.
June 24th, 2009 at 3:48 am
Disability fraud is so rampant that the program should be discontinued. But then again, I was never a fan of social security anyways. Of course, a democrat introduced this crap and forces us to invest in SS every paycheck. I would rather invest my own money as I see fit. Any real man doesn’t need the government to take care of him. A real man will take care of himself and his family. I’ve had enough of working my nads off just to see my earning go to those lazy a$$holes not willing to work no matter their health. What a joke.
July 25th, 2009 at 1:24 am
Please keep working, millions on wellfare depend on you!
July 27th, 2009 at 8:40 pm
I just want to say that some people need to get their facts straight before reporting someone to the Federal Government for fraud, not only are you sometimes wasting tax payer dollars by having them do all the research and take a lot of time, but your costing us in privacy rights. I know there are some out there that commit fraud, and I think they should be turned in. I also know that some people turn others in just for revenge for broken relationships, or because they loaned money or for other personal issues, just imagine how much money was lost on these frivolous investigations over someone getting ticked at someone else. Most who report over egotistical reasons are the same ones out there complaining about others wasting tax payer dollars. I know a man who said he was going to divorce his wife so that she could get disability and he is already receiving disability from his former company, yet he works out everyday and has new muscles he never had when he worked, looks something like a body builder and is proud that he is retired early.
July 27th, 2009 at 8:42 pm
I also know another gentleman who claims to have loud noises in his ear, yet he has left a voice mail on my phone, and I tape all of my voice mails, where he is listening to extremely loud music and doesn’t seem to be feeling any pain at all, he is currently on medical leave with his company for this illness.
August 5th, 2009 at 7:33 am
I have a co worker who collects full disability benefits and works full time. Is that legal. How do I report this? I don’t know why my tax dollars go to someonw scamming the system. I know for a fact she is collecting because she has told me so.
August 17th, 2009 at 6:31 am
I would really like to report someone who collects disability for an illness she has and receives money for both herself and her children. This is a lazy woman who does absolutely nothing for her kids when she is with them, but when the kids are with their dad (50% of the time), she goes out to bars and dance clubs. She must be well enough to party. She spends her money on getting her hair and nails done regularly, a cleaning lady to clean her house, cigarettes (a chain smoker), and buying a new car every couple years when she gets bored of the one she has. This is supposed to be someone who is too ill to work! Isn’t it nice to know that the money we work so hard to earn so she can collect disability is used to throw parties! Yes, she does that too. It really gets my blood boiling. I work hard every day at my job and I too have a chronic illness, though, she makes more money than I do doing nothing but relaxing all day long. If she was a good mother and took care of her kids, that would be at least something positive, but she doensn’t even do that. The worst part is knowing that someday when I need social security, it won’t be there for me because of people like her who are frauding the system.
August 27th, 2009 at 11:48 pm
I KNOW OF OVER 30 PEOPLE THAT ARE FRAUDS.I HAVE WORKED IN THE MEDICAL INDUSTRY AND I KNOW THEY ARE FRAUDS.THE THINGS THEY DO ARE FACTUAL OF IT.WE ACTUALLY HAVE THE MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY TO PREVENT THIS.A FRIEND OF MINE[REST HIS SOUL WAS A DOCTOR],HE TOOK A PRACTICE OVER AND SAID HIMSELF,32 PERCENT WERE FAKING INJURIES.WHEN DRUG TESTED HE FOUND 14 PERCENT DID NOT HAVE TRACES OF ANY DRUGS WRITTEN TO THEM IN THIER SYSTEM, BUT CONTINUED TO GET THEM FILLED.HE REFUSED TO WRITE THEM OUT,NOTING THEY MUST BE GIVING THEM AWAY OR SELLING THEM ,OR TRADING THEM, BECAUSE SOME HAD HIGH TRACES OF COCAINE AND DRUGS THAT WERE NOT WRITTEN TO THEM.THE OTHERS HAD VERY HIGH CONCENTRATES OF THE SAME DRUGS WRITTEN TO THEM,BUT MORE THAN WHAT WAS PRESCRIBED.HE REFUSED TO WRITE THEM ANY PRESCRIPTIONS.HE ALSO REFUSED TO WRITE THEY WERE DISABLED,BECAUSE OF FURTHER TESTS HE HAD DONE,THESE PATIENTS SAID THEY WOULD DROP HIM AND FIND ANOTHER DR.HE STATED THAT DR’S ARE FRAUDS BECAUSE ALOT OF THEM ARE GETTING PAYMENTS FOR MEDICAID AND GET PAID MORE FROM TESTS THEY DO AND KNOW THEY ARE FRAUDING[THUS,EASY MONEY].I KNOW PERSONALLY OF 30.I SEE THE THINGS THEY DO,TOTALLY IMPOSSIBLE IF YOU HAVE THESE TYPE OF INJURIES,I HAVE BAD SCOLIOSIS BUT STILL CONTINUE TO TRY,THERE ARE TIMES I CANNOT WALK FOR WEEKS,BUT I DO NOT GIVE UP NOR TAKE PAINKILLERS.I AM BLESSED THAT GOD GIVES ME STRENGTH.THE PAIN IS EXCRUCIATING.I HATE THAT THESE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO TAKE FROM OTHERS BENEFITS.WE COULD START A PETITION AND PUT THE NAMES OF THE FRAUDERS AND THE REASON WE KNOW THEY ARE FRAUDS ON IT AND SEND IT IN.NO ONE WILL KNOW THAT YOU TURNED THEM IN.LET US RALLY TOGETHER.THE MORE PEOPLE TOGETHER,THE MORE EFFECTIVE.!!!!
September 1st, 2009 at 5:00 pm
I turned in a disability recipient for fraud just this week (she is working the same job she had before her disability). Does anyone know how long it should take for the wheels of justice to cut her off? I included 90% of the required information to SS to start their investigation. You would think that all an investigator needed to do was call her place of employment and ask for her (she is the only person at that office location). The case is ‘open and shut’ in my opinion.
Let’s work together to preserve the system for our future!
September 29th, 2009 at 6:40 am
People….Jesus said, “he who is without sin,let him cast the first stone.” I am quite sure that those, on this sight, who complain the loudest, have some skeleton in their closet they would rather not have exposed to the public view.
Now, if you think you are better than Jesus, which nobody is, well….. you figure it out.
September 30th, 2009 at 3:22 pm
i know this pathetic girl on disability who claims to be so disabled! She says has trouble seeing, has random seizures,, and says can’t walk up the stairs. She recieves more than some hard working people earn! Yet, somehow she is able to work as a bartender and serve drinks four night a week.And don’t forget the flashing lights and blaring music in the bar!(that’s great for a seizure disorder) Not to mention, she drives with this condition! And she brags how she goes for rides in her boyfriends race car! But maybe she is takinga miracle drug! Gee, wish i had some of that! It’s disgusting , lazy peoples like her that use all of our money! She should be forced to pay it back!
October 8th, 2009 at 10:11 pm
This article is bogus. How can nearly 1 in 10 people in America be qualified for “Severe Disabilities”? It only counts if by “Severe Disabilities”, you mean “Extremely Lazy”.
Here is a great scenerio that I will need to have explained.
2007:
I am working full time (nearly 50 hours a week).
My wife is working part time (roughly 20 hours a week).
I receive a car allowance from work in addition to my weekly salary.
I herniate a disc in my back. Mild PT and I am back on track.
Life is not perfect but it is good and we are happy.
2008:
I am working full time but just barely.
I have lost my car allowance.
My wife has lost her job. Two weeks later, we find out she is pregnant.
Complications throughout pregnancy = a fortune.
Complications/emergency surgeries during/after childbirth = More money.
I have to sell both mine and my wife’s cars to help pay for all the medical bills.
2009:
Work hours have dropped again.
Constantly searching for second jobs.
I had arthroscopic surgery on my knee 6 weeks ago.
Now having to sell nearly everything I own, including my condo, just to keep up.
So, in the span of almost three years, I have herniated a disc, had my knee scoped, brought a child into the world, nursed both the child and his mother back to health from several surgeries, lost a relatively large chunk of change at work, lost an entire 2nd income, watched my health insurance skyrocket, lost my cars, belongings and home.
All of this and I don’t “qualify” for ANY govt. assistance. Apparently, my wife’s health problems don’t qualify as she was working, was then laid off, found out she was pregnant and then the problems arose. Had they been in a different order, maybe.
My health problems weren’t nearly “severe” enough to warrant the use of disability. My lost income, both through mine and my wife’s income wasn’t enough to qualify for assistance. They said I make too much money. The irony is that I have had to sell two cars to help cover the medical bills, sell my condo to cover the rest, sell everything else to pay for food. How is that making too much money? Yet, every day I put my blue collar on, I go to work to provide and I am the one paying out? Go figure.
In my perspective (from under the bus) is that if a person is eligable for the Special Olympics, they qualify for Disability. Everyone else, start taking a little pride in what you do. Those who can’t or won’t take pride in what they do should join the military.
October 12th, 2009 at 5:47 pm
I know a woman who states she is disabled but hops on a harley, moves granite slabs with her husband, mows the lawn in 90 + humidity in the south and washes and waxes cars in the heat. I have asthma and don’t collect disability. This is total fraud
October 13th, 2009 at 7:02 am
I was really interested and angered at reading this article and all of your comments. My ex-husband is doing the same thing I am seeing all of you write. In 1994 he had a car wreck because he was drinking and driving drunk and about 4 years later his back hurt too bad to work so he got disability. He was a mechanic…and still is. Thing is that he has his shop at his house and works for cash under the table. I know for a fact that when he would get his pain meds he would sell half of them and keep a few for himself so that when he went back to the doctor to get more and they drug tested him that they would be in his system. He is using our tax dollars to buy $3000 lawn mowers, and the latest is a 4-wheeler. When I say he is a mechanic he is doing heavy mechanic work not just tune-ups and oil changes but is doing paint and body work on cars, replacing and rebuilding engines…he does it all but won’t even take a check because he won’t have anything going through his bank account except for that $500 a month disability check. Now wonder why his check is so low? He hardly ever paid into the system even before the wreck he always worked for cash. He even does plumbing work with his friend who owns a plumbing business. Another thing that is really driving me nuts is that summer before last he took my son (we have shared custody with me being primary custodian) and he took him to the foodstamp office, lied probably and told them he had custody and said he got $200 a month for free food. Now he don’t have to cut into his cigarette and beer money for food anymore but I have to pay cash for mine. He won’t pay child support or even give my son lunch money for school. I have to pay for his health insurance and everything while he buys him expensive toys and ATVs and wants all the visitation rights and you cannot cut a disability check for child support. I was thinking about turning him in but it probably wouldn’t do any good. It made me very angry yesterday when I rolled $38 in change to have gas money to make it to work until Friday and my son tells me his dad had $220 cash in his pocket and just bought himself a 4-wheeler so they can ride together. Now he has a mortgage, utilities, a Nextel phone for him and my son with unlimited minutes, a dish network package with all the movie channels but still can afford to buy all these expensive things and I work 40 hours a week…can’t get a raise because of the economy and am broke 5 days before my next paycheck having to sometimes borrow money from the Check Advance place to be able to afford to put my son in before and after school daycare so that I can work. These frauds have got to stop! It’s just not fair when you have people out there with cancer and other life threatening illnesses that get denied when you have someone like him out there milking the system dry and working on the side not paying any taxes. I thought at least he could let my son pick out some food to bring to my house with his “free food card” as my son calls it but he won’t do that! I guess he wouldn’t get as many ribeyes and soft drinks for himself if he did that. I hope that everyone that is doing this kind of “robbery” (that is a good word for it) would be caught and have to pay every single dime of it back or either go to jail…I’d rather my tax dollars feed them in prison than them living the good life on the outside like my ex-husband is doing.
October 16th, 2009 at 1:37 pm
My fiance’s ex wife just recieved disability and there is NOTHING wrong with her! Over 10 yrs ago she had knee surgery due to a work accident and the only thing she has to do is get her knee scraped once a year. She never did any of the exercises that she was suppose to do and prior to getting her settlement, she was walking all over town and a mile to get to the bar! I have no sympathy for this woman at all! I have arthritis in my knee, plantars fasciitis (sp), depression, anxiety disorder, asthma, and a bad back. But I still get up everyday to go out and work because I CHOSE to work and not expect a free ride! My career is a certified nurses aide and that job is the most body breaking job to have. So if anyone whines about their bad knees or a little ache, I don’t want to hear it!
November 8th, 2009 at 9:27 pm
I know a man who gets disability and walks around with a cane but he is able to hunt and fish without his cane. You can’t hold a cane and gun to. He is a convicted felon and on Thanksgiving night he shot and killed my son. I believe he knew how to beat the system and sit home and draw disability. My question is when he goes to jail will he be able to get his disability. I don’t think he should. I work two jobs and now I have alot of problems because of what this man had done but you don’t see me trying to get disability.
November 20th, 2009 at 6:34 pm
I understand how confused many of you are about disability, but as a person with a serious disability from a TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY, along with multiple other serious health problems that often follow a TBI I see many nurses, doctors, social workers, politicians, family members and friends very ignorant, more like plain stupid, closed minded about the situations that you “it’s my way or no way” bastards just don’t get it….are you with that person 24/7, do you really know how these injuries/disabilities, etc. effect a person in daily life and a job. Go try to get a job, tell them all you med. problems,…and then you can see how many with disabilities are treated, daaa, and think about it, whom are they going to hire, a person who tells the truth about there health problems or a person who is so called perfect with no health problems? I had recently made the mistake of hiring a home addition contractor trying to get a handi-cap accessible flat ground space for my mother to die in since she wanted to be with family during her last days, only for me to foolishly tell the contractor that I have a disability due to a brain injury, in which he then to advantage of the situation…..1st, not making it handi-cap accessible, next using poor, used materials…the door windows are dated 2004, the cement floor was unsealed, uncured, etc. releasing vapors, high humidity in summer(on average it was 75 to 80% humidity), black mold form in the toilet and spread throughout the addition and the existing home…..he then after being paid the $76,000.00 for the unfinished toxic addition….oh, and after all that he made up a new invoice for after charges totaling $23,000.00 dollars yet screwed up, which is good, since he never had a signed invoice with my father the home owner signing it…..he even made up a fake lien…..and to top it off I now have he friends and family stalking me, like predators by following me around when i go the a store, taking pictures of me walking, and driving by with brainless hicks with loud mufflers……and the minnesota attorney general – lori swanson – fbi mortgage fraud unit is now taking to the bank/contractors side…….politics, BS PERIOD……so most of you out there, open up, learn about other people, help them like the bible tells you so….and maybe you can start feeling good about yourself!@!!! you know, your dam weak by putting down disabled people, i suppose you’ll do that to the vets whom come back from the war too,,,,,right?
November 20th, 2009 at 6:59 pm
oh, i suppose you think, i can write this letter and that means i am just fine, but did you know my head is pounding with aches way different than others, my balance is not good, i often sit and stare at the wall in a dream world cause nobody calls……i am clean and sober since 1995, quit on my own after going to a few rehab places, and them too at that time just plain did not get it, in fact they listed me with bi-polar, WRONG THEY WERE….took till 2005 for a doctor to finally do a spec scan of my brain for him to say, you’ve been on the wrong meds for 12 years……he at least admitted he made a mistake, he said the file follows you everywhere and most all doctors believe the past doctors papers/file and ignore what you, the patient has to say and just keep you, meaning me in the same place which often leads to more health problems creating a disability of the disability……..goes on and on…..human services, ha, they just get their pay check, and go home at 4:30, numerous gov. holidays….oh, and dumb nurses,, god, please open up their brains in which have been programed from all the drug companies,,,,,docs like them too since they get many gifts so they keep on poluting the victims bodies…..one doc told me food and drug companies work together…..it’s like get them fat, then you can sell them drugs to treat the problems………..bitching big mouth i am too, but at least i know the other side and can give you the crap back which many of you deserve…….hope you can see there are two sides to the story…….oh, didn’t you in the med world realize with out all of us disabled, fat, sick,,,,,,even fraud sick people too, you would not have your way over paid job….QUITE BITCHING AND LEARN TO ACCEPT THE WORLD IS NOT PERFECT, AND IF WE ALL KEEP POINTING FINGERS AND LEARN TO WORK TOGETHER…….IT WILL COME TO AN END, USA AN EVER BIGGER 3RD WORLD COUNTRY…..AND THEN YOU TOO, WON’T HAVE A JOB OR THE HEALTH COVERAGE TOO……..MOST ALL CORPORATIONS, ESPECIALLY MEDICAL, DRUG CO.’S ETC ARE GETTING AWAY WITH MURDER……WHICH BRINGS TO MIND THE CATHOLIC BUSINESS OF HOSPISIDE OR TORTURE CARE FOR THE PEOPLE WITH NO MONEY…….MY MOTHER WAS PLAIN MURDERED UNDER THOSE SICK PROGRAMS, ANOTHER LONG SICK STORY…..THE DOCS WANTED HER DEAD, SINCE THEY MADE MULTIPLE MISTAKES, LIES AND SO ON… ALONG WITH MYSELF BEING HERE ADVOCATE IN WHICH I REPORTED TO MEDICARE/STRATIS, ETC….DOCS ARE NOT GOD, PERIOD!
November 29th, 2009 at 3:12 am
I’m currently 26, and over the past 10 years I’ve had severe panic disorder, generalized anxiety, depression which has led to agoraphobia. I’ve tried working and going to school so many times, and each time has resulted in me having to quit due to the extreme panic attacks that seem to come on without reason.
All of these years I felt undeserving of any kind of financial help because in my mind it was my fault I couldn’t get my life together. Only recently have I been diagnosed, because I was too afraid to go to the doctor, or I’d downplay my symptoms in my own mind.
My family kept urging me to try for SSDI, but in my mind I wasn’t disabled, and I refused to be one of those people that collected money from the government when I didn’t deserve it.
This last year, because of the depression and anxiety, other health problems have occured. Now I’m having to deal with not only having a mental illness, but also other physical problems to go along with it… all without having a job. I’ve become a burden to my family because of this, and now I have no choice but to apply for SSDI because the medication costs and medical care is becoming more than we can handle. I’m having to choose what medications I can afford based on the seriousness of what the medication was prescribed for.
I still feel a sense of shame because I feel that I’m applying for something someone else who is sicker could use over me, but I’m also at the end of my options right now. I’m currently going to counselors and psychiatrists because I don’t want this condition to be life-long. I want to have a normal life again where I don’t have to depend on tax payer’s money to survive.
If you have had or know someone who has suffered from a mental illness, you can get a sense of understanding just how serious it is. People who have mental illness and denied it (like I have for so many years) or others that haven’t had to deal with it do not understand just how horrible and debilitating it is.
I understand that I do need to be on disability, but at the same time I’m afraid I’ll be looked at as someone who leeches off the government. I was never raised that way, and everyone in my family has worked hard for what they have. It’s a very difficult concept for me to accept, especially since reports of SSDI/Welfare fraud infuriate me. It’s because of people like this that people who really need this help don’t get it or don’t seek it out.
December 2nd, 2009 at 9:14 pm
PLEASE GET ON SSDI, MA, MEDICARE, FOOD STAMPS, FOOD SHELF, ETC…..ANYTHING YOU CAN GET….YOU’LL FIND OUT IT IS A FULL TIME JOB IN GETTING SSDI AND PLEASE DON’T TRY TO GET IT ON YOUR OWN,,,,,THEY AUTO. TURN YOU DOWN…GET A LAWYER, THEN IT WILL GO THROUGH FASTER….THEN NEXT YOU’LL HAVE A FINANCIAL WORKER AT HUMAN SERVICES, THEN YOU’LL SEE A GOOD DOCTOR WHOM CAN GET YOU ON THE RIGHT MEDS IN WHICH A PHARMACY ASSISTANT WILL GIVE YOUR ORDER TO THE PHARMACIST WHOM BUYS THE DRUGS FROM THE DRUG SALESMAN, WHOM JUST BOUGHT A NICE CAR FROM THE AUTO DEALER WHOM IS BUILDING A HOUSE GIVING WORK TO THE LOCAL BUILDERS, VENDERS, GOV. ZONING OFFICE, GOV. BUILDING PERMIT ADMINISTRATOR……..OH, CAN’T FORGET THE NICE LADIES WHOM HAVE A JOB OR LOVE DONATING THEIR TIME HELPING OTHERS…..OH, CAN’T FORGET THE JANITOR, THE MAINTENANCE MEN/WOMEN AT THE DRUG STORE-DOCTORS CLINIC-AUTO DEALER-GOV. OFFICES-HUMAN SERVICE BLDG…….SEE, YOU HELPED CREATE MANY JOBS!!!….DON’T FEEL GUILTY, YOU ARE WORKING TOO AT GIVING PEOPLE JOBS DUE TO YOUR UNFORTUNATE DISABILITY, BUT NOW PLEASE THINK YOU ARE DIFFERENTLY-ABLED PERSON WHOM DESERVES TO BE TREATED LIKE ALL THE OTHER PEOPLE OF THE USA WHOM HAVE GOOD JOBS DUE TO YOURSELF, MYSELF AND OTHERS…..WERE ALL WORKING, JUST IN A DIFFERENT WAY…..MONEY GOES IN A CIRCLE WORLD-WIDE, BUT RIGHT NOW WE NEED TO KEEP MORE IN THE USA….THAT WAY WE CAN GET THE USA BACK ON ITS FEET AGAIN, CLEAR THE DEBT., ETC….AS DID PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON…..YOU KNOW HOW HE DID IT????…..HE CREATED MANY GOOD GOV., YES,,,, GOVERNMENT JOBS, LAUGH!….NOT FUNNY, BUT MANY, ESPECIALLY THE MEDIA (don’t tell know one, but mostly republicans, ha, ha) TELL MOST THAT GOVERNMENT IS A BAD THING, BUT WE MUST GO BACK IN HISTORY, LOOK IN THE DICTIONARY AND REALIZE AGAIN THAT GOV. MEANS FOR THE PEOPLE BY THE PEOPLE…AND SSI, SSDI WAS CREATED TO HELP OUT THE RETIRED LIVE A GOOD, HEALTHY REMAINING YEARS OF THEIR LIFE SINCE THEY WORKED HARD, PAYED INTO SSA, ETC…..AND ALSO CREATED TO HELP OTHERS WHO UNFORTUNATELY BECAME DISABLED, OR WERE BORN DISABLED….AND I SAY AGAIN, CREATED MANY GOOD JOBS THAT PAY WELL WITH GREAT BENEFITS, HEALTH INSURANCE, AND SO ON……..PLEASE EXCUSE ME IF I REPEATED MYSELF, I OFTEN FORGET I ALREADY SPOKE IT OR WROTE IT, LAUGH! COMMON WITH TBI SURVIVORS…..WISH EVERYONE THE BEST!!!…AND HOPE WE ALL UNDERSTAND THE REAL WORLD BETTER, THANKS FOR READING MY ARTICLE AND THANKS TO ANTHONY FOR THE INSPIRATION TO MY BABBLING….HOPE I HELPED…TAKE CARE! TT
December 2nd, 2009 at 9:53 pm
oh…..i must say WELLFARE, i know it’s spelled Welfare, but it means to be WELL and treated FAIR(E)LY, i think, but who cares, if i am right or not……I know it was created to help others, and again it helps the people, the corps, banks, apt. building renters, caretakers, grocery stores, policemen/laugh!,,,,,see even criminals create jobs….but please don’t commit a crime because you read this, it is best to learn, work and be proud of your own success, and like i said before, even us differently-abled people are working,,,,,even paying taxes every time we buy certain items, etc….back to welfare, it is like the word “family services” in which they (gov) changed to “human services”………whoooo horsey, i start with one subject and go to outer space, laugh!……..anyway, nothing wrong with welfare, they now give a card like a credit card for monthly help with food, etc. instead of food stamps as it was in the past…..at least in minnesota………..take all the help you can get, remember you are creating or should i say keeping many people employed by doing it.
chow
tt
December 10th, 2009 at 6:46 am
I am legally disabled and have been for many years. 17 operations to rid my leg of osteomilytus, spinal deterioration, and depression just to name a few. Yet I know a woman who is most definitely not disabled, but is applying for disability just the same.
I know for a fact that I would watch her “be sick” Monday to Friday and when the weekend came she was well enough to go out and party with her friends. Would claim she was to sick to get up and go to the store, but all would change as soon as going out for dinner was mentioned. And the worst of it was that she claimed she was physically to ill to clean the house or do any household chores, but could jump up in anger and physically abuse a child by hitting, throwing objects as biog as some furniture, or wrestling the child to the ground and and pin them down like in Wrestling.
Now there is a further motive to her madness. For one she walked out on these children after being confronted about her abuse of these children and told to go get a job. Not long after she left she became pregnant that which the father did not want this child. (She is legally extorting this guy now for child support.) And then went on to have another child not long after this first one. Yet now she has 2 older children she owes over 20K in child support to. Her hopes are to get on disability and avoid paying this all together. Yet how the hell is she disabled if she can run after 2 toddlers all day? I think not.
In all the time I have known her she has never been able to produce anything from a doctor stating that she is disabled or unable to work. Not even when she is in court for contempt of non-payment of child support. And a little over 6 years ago I was able to question a couple of her doctors that told me that she has problems, but absolutely nothing that prevents her from working. I don’t see that this prognoses has changed since then at all.; But she has managed to get doctors to prescribe her several different drugs that she abuses and uses to give herself the look of being ill. I know she learned this by researching on the Internet and got the idea from a news report several years ago. This story told of a woman who used a combination of over the counter vitamins to give herself the appearance that she had Lupus. And it obviously worked for a while.
She is but one of a group that get together at AA meetings. No honor there. Yet she is the type to claim being sober for a length of time when she was just out drinking a couple of nights before. Go figure.
February 2nd, 2010 at 10:50 am
We love this site. Finally people getting mad about these scammers, abusing social security and costing taxpayers to work longer and pay more. We need to expose these people, don’t be afraid. They are the ones that are breaking the law. GET A JOB !
February 4th, 2010 at 8:53 pm
For all yall. dont hate the hustler hate the game. this is America a capitalist world. IF you aint got the knowledge to get money then you want get it. yall have a certain knowledge to help you get money. Everybody is not provided or cant attain the so called ” right knowledge” that you have to get the so called “righteous money”. why dont you ask the government why do you have to pay taxes, its your money, justify that. why do they have to take my money out of my check. I know their excusses, but I say no, are they going to me listen if i say no….NO!!! what do you call that ROBBERY. But dont get me wrong its not okay for an individual to break in someone house or rob them from gun point or anything like that. But the government is robbing us. So what they do to us is done back to them. what goes around comes around. I can go on for ever but im not, for now. when the government change the people will.
February 5th, 2010 at 8:45 am
I know a woman who has been on disability for at least 18 years. She can see, hear, walk, drive, babysit her grandchildren for long stretches of time, and spends hours and hours every week working at her church. And for a couple of years she was working from her home, getting paid under the table by a friend of her. It’s absolutely disgusting to me that she’s been paid for so long when she is most definitely capable of getting a job.
I know this person very well as she is a family member and there is NO DISABILITY – physical or mental – other than scheming laziness, but I don’t think that counts.
I’m thinking about reporting her for fraud. Does anyone have any actual experience doing so? Would you do it again?
February 5th, 2010 at 11:51 am
How do get the government to get rid of these deadbeat fraudsters. How do you know they are even investigated when they are reported. The gov’t is so broken, it’s a joke. I am going to turn someone in that is clearly not disabled, she works and does not report it. She gets pain pills for none of her supposed disabilities and then sells them on the street for money. I wish I could get that on film. She’s gets food stamps, fuel assistance, makes me sick. She has a facebook page always in a bar drinking getting drunk and then is STUPID enough to post them, duh!!! Wake up America, you’re going broker because of these people and the governemtn workers that should investigate them, don’t!