Most U.S. workers have no disability plan

[Judi Lynn]

Most U.S. workers have no disability plan
Posted on : Thu, 01 Mar 2007 23:04:59 GMT | Author : Business News Editor

KANSAS CITY, Mo., March 1 More than half of U.S. workers would not be able pay their bills or meet expenses if they become disabled and unable to work, an insurance survey found.

National Association of Insurance Commissioners researchers found 44 percent of respondents had long-term disability coverage.

Of those, 71 percent said their disability insurance was employer-provided rather than individually purchased, suggesting many people could lose their coverage if they change or lose their jobs, NAIC said.

The survey, conducted by International Communications Research of Media, Pa., found only 13 percent of U.S. workers said it was somewhat or very likely they would become disabled and unable to work.
(snip/...)

http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/35722.html

[lumberjack_jeff]

1. All legal us workers have disability coverage

Social Security.

Is it adequate? Perhaps not.

[Donnachaidh]

2. it's NOT -- not by a long shot.

most I know on SS have to have rent help, or a mate that works.

[sandnsea]

3. It's usually better than welfare

Young people often forget that SS is also their family's first defense against complete poverty should they become totally disabled. Yes they usually need other assistance, but it's a lot better than trying to rely on welfare.

[CreekDog]

4. California has State Disability Insurance (6 months)

It is mandatory, doesn't cost much and you are eligible to collect benefits after 1 week of disability.

As a practical matter, the tax free income reduces your need for sick leave/vacation time, and extends those benefits, if you get them.

For instance, the SDI benefit might be worth the equivalent of 6 hours of your pay, so to maintain your pay, you only have to take 2 hours of sick leave per day.

I wish other states and the Feds had this program.

[lumberjack_jeff]

17. It's not keyed to employment?

SDI is usually a mechanism to support the victims of workplace injury.

[Donnachaidh]

5. welfare recipients get food stamps and other help

Too many seniors live on $500 a month, and then have medical problems on top of that. When you have to decide on food or prescriptions, it's obscene any way you look at it.

[Lars39]

6. There's a lifetime limit, though.

I think it's 3 years.

[Donnachaidh]

8. isn't it dependant on the State, and personal circumstances?

I cannot see any welfare program throwing a quadriplegic off the program.

[sandnsea]

10. You can with ss too

It's income based, regardless of where the income comes from. Anybody at that low of an income generally qualifies for both food stamps and Medicaid prescription programs.

[pitohui]

7. except that of course you can't get it

i realize louisiana is one of the worst states for this, but it takes years and an attorney who specializes in social security issues for people to receive any disability from social security

"first defense"? it is no defense at all if you can't get it with a MINIMUM of a two year wait, being disabled for 1 year w. no income will be enough to destroy a young family just starting out and will probably destroy most middle middle income families too -- who has a year's worth of expenses PLUS medical just sitting around

long term disability is soooo expensive and social security does not fill the gap for a great many people

it should...but it doesn't...they look for every excuse not to pay

you have M.S., paranoid schizophrenia, etc? forget it, i've known people to actually give up, and spend a year or two establishing residency in another state in hopes of finally getting some disablity

[sandnsea]

11. Near the same everywhere

It is difficult to get, no matter where anybody lives. But it is better than welfare once one qualifies, which is what I was addressing.

[haele]

9. That's if you can get SSI Disability -

It takes on average two years from the time of the disability for someone to actually get the assistance. And that's usually if they get a halfway decent lawyer and doctor that are willing to go to court for him or her.

Only about 10% of applicants will get disability as soon as they apply - and there's no guarantee that if even you have a serious disability (say, total paralysis and limb loss) and you qualify for state disability that your condition will be considered serious enough to be granted SSDI.

Close to 90% of applicants get disapproved first time they apply. Supposedly, this is to keep the "lazy" from applying for SSDI for minor conditions.

Most people on SSDI had to go on welfare for a year or two while they waited and re-applied three, four times. I don't think there's any accurate numbers on how many people who should be on Disability are on the street or already dead because they gave up after the first rejection or couldn't keep it together to keep applying until they were granted the "benefit".

Haele

[NMMNG]

12. Right

My father's wife has applied several times and keeps getting turned down. It's outrageous the hoops people have to jump through to get what they deserve when the government thinks nothing of throwing away billions on senseless wars and other needless things.

[cap]

16. I know this from my relative's experience

He had a ruptured heart, some sort of aneurysm. Was in intensive care for months. SSDI sat on his case forever. They would not process the paperwork despite being shown a picture of him in the hospital with all kinds of tubes. The system just doesnt work. His wife finally found a relative with some pull who helped her write a letter to the judge. She sent the letter with the pictures of him still in the hospital. The judge ruled on her case within a week. She finally got her SSDI. A few weeks later, he died.

You can't deal with the system by yourself and have it work. You gotta get a lawyer or get some pull. They deliberately hold onto your money for at least six months -- that's why you need supplemental disability.

[cosmicdot]

13. yes; and, a long term disability employer program

can be a legal battle as well, if one is lucky enough to have bought the coverage through payroll contributions ... if one exceeds the 26-week short term disability period and finds oneself permanently disabled ... the employer might challenge the claim to the employer for LTD ... even though the employee bought the coverage ...

workers' comp (state level) ... another legal battle; and usually calls for an entirely different lawyer


of course, if one is fortunate to qualify for SSDI and has LTD, the LTD (% of one's income at disability) is reduced by the amount of the SSDI (which is based on life time earnings to date) ... they don't want the disabled to have too many funds ... plus, if, for whatever reason, one loses SSDI (imagine it's scary with Bu$h-Norquist wanting to drown it in the bathtub), the person would have to contact the former employer to report that change (loss) ... wonder if the employer and its insurance company will say, 'sure no problem, we'll just make up the difference in the next monthly disability check' ?? or might there be, yet, another legal battle?

justice costs a plenty in America


many people may not know (unless it's changed) that if one is approved for SSDI, there's a 30-month wait before Medicare coverage kicks-in ... that's a long haul without any health insurance for anyone, much less the disabled

[liberal renegade]

14. we sure know to take care of each other, don't we......

[The Anti-Neo Con]

15. I have my own personal disability plan.

It's called a shotgun barrel in my mouth.

I don't want to burden anyone else financially or in any other manner if something happens to me & I can no longer care for myself. Yes it sounds sad & maybe a little crazy, but that's really how I feel.

[The2ndWheel]

18. It's sort of sad the way

we have to plan for something like that. There is no living in the moment, it's all just worry about the future. Then obviously in our hyper-specialized world where we have to be as productive as possible, our support networks(family, friends) are dying. It's just a sad isolated world we're molding.

[rman]

19. Many have been deluded into thinking they can avoid disability

by taking personal responsibility; making the right choices and all that. As though ultimately everything that can happen in life is under their control.