SSA Facing Criticism for Disability Benefit Process Amidst Efforts for Fairness

It has been reported by multiple sources that the Social Security Administration (SSA) has not updated a listing of jobs that disability benefits applicants may be able to perform, leading to criticism from the author of a recent news piece.

Despite of this, it is important to note that the SSA has consistently been subject to laws and internal studies aimed at improving the fairness, efficiency, and integrity of the disability program. This has been a consistent occurrence throughout the 32 years of service within the organization.

The complexity and subjectivity of the Social Security disability program, the largest program of its kind in the U.S., leads to constant scrutiny and interference from various parties.

Determining eligibility for the disability program can be challenging as there is often disagreement on what constitutes a disabling condition. In contrast, the eligibility rules for the Social Security retirement program are clearer, being based solely on age.

The subjectivity of the disability program makes it difficult to manage, as different individuals may have varying interpretations of what should qualify as a disability preventing an individual from working.

The government aims to make the Social Security disability program as impartial as possible by providing a handbook of regulations and utilizing teams of medical professionals to assist in the decision-making process.

However, ultimately, a government official will have to make a subjective determination on a person’s eligibility for disability benefits based on the presented medical evidence and guidelines.