What do you think when some people that are on DISABILITY because they are over weight?

Question

Lot of People are on SSI Disability because of weight problems ,Do you agree for them to receive benefits from Tax payers to sit at home, ,in that case why dont we give disability to drug and Alcohol abusers ? What do you think?

Answer 1

I used to weigh over 320 lbs, and was never ONCE on disability! And I decided to change my life, and lose weight, and now an average size 12/14!

I had to work, even at that weight, because for the past 10 years, I've raised my 2 youngest children! So getting on disability was something I never thought about, and wouldn't have done anyway. That's taking advantage of the situation at hand, and a bit underhanded if you ask me. And my work has taken it's toll...I've now got to go for rotator cuff surgery on both shoulders, and have arthritis in my knees, hips and back, and I'm STILL working!

Maybe this is where we need to get strong and let our congressmen and senators know we are tired of paying for everyone else to sit at home!

Answer 2

SSI does not give disability benefits to obese people just because they are obese. The person has to prove (and the requirements are tight) that they cannot work due to other medical conditions too. Size alone does not count.

However, I do want to say that there is a medical condition, hypoglycemia - one of the pre-diabetic conditions - that gives a person no choice about gaining weight or not. A hypoglycemics' body will pack food into cells to be stored as fat, despite the person's need for current use for that food.

Some estimate that 30-40% of Americans are hypoglycemic - with most not knowing it.

Testing for hypoglycemia and pre-diabetes involves a glucose tolerance test (6-hour is recommended) and a fasting blood insulin test. If these come back positive, it takes away all the guilt of being fat, however it does then add the personal responsibility of learning what foods to eat to slow down insulin production. (Low glycemic carbohydrates, moderate protein and moderate good fats). Obesity is not what you eat, but how your body processes it.

Answer 3

1. There is no such thing as SSI Disability. Social Security issues several type of payments. The first is the one most are familiar with and is retirement. The second is SSDI or Social Security Disability Insurance. This fund pays you your social security benefits if you become disabled for a period over 6 months. The rate you are paid is calculated as if you were of age to retire on the date of your disability and so is tied to your wages (the more you make the more you pay in SS taxes and the more you draw). Thirdly there is what is called SSI or Supplemental Security Income. This program is an "extra" allowance which is paid to all social security recipients who are at a point below the poverty level. You are issued these funds based only on income and you must be drawing social security. I am not sure of the limit but it is not much. Perhaps a few hundred a month maximum for a family below poverty level.

Do I approve of people on SSDI regardless of the reason? Yes in general I do. I have never been able to ascertain what the true percentage is of people on SSDI who are "fakes". Are there some? Of course there are but it is probably an extreme low amount. Trust me you will not get rich on social security. As far as people who are overweight having a reason to be disabled consider this: not all overweight conditions are due to overeating. There are several glandular disorders to name just one condition which can cause the body to become overweight. Let's say a person is overweight because they do overeat. There could still be a medical reason such as depression which is a valid disability issue.

Giving disability to drug and alcohol users?
Yes we already do if they have some other medical condition which qualifies them for disability.

So what does it take to receive disability? It is truly not easy. You first must file an application for disability with SSA. This paperwork includes pretty much your life history and all medical issues. It takes a considerable amount of time to complete. You also include documentation from your physicians as to the nature of your health problems. For SSA to consider a Doctors report it must be specific as to why your condition prevents you from working. Had a heart attack and lost 30% of the heart muscle? SSA requires the physician to state exactly why losing that amount of muscle renders you disabled. Then your case is sent to the State Disability Determination Center (these are run by the individual states even though SS is a federal benefit). Here the case worker reviews your file and makes one of three decisions:
1. Denied - This happens to the majority of people.
2. You are referred to a physician who will examine you and then report the findings to SSA.
3. Approved. Rare at this stage but it does happen.

All this can take from 6 - 12 months from the date you file.

If you were sent to a physician your case worker will again decide:
1. Approved. 30% are.
2. Denied. 70%

If you are denied you have 90 days to ask for a second review. A different case worker will then review your file and again makes one of the first 3 decisions. Here a majority of people are approved on appeal. If you are still denied you can appeal to the next level which is an Administrative Social Security judge. This could take a year or longer. At this hearing you can present any evidence and there will be representatives of the SSA there to dispute you. At this stage to be successful you usually need an attorney representing you. Again a majority of the denials are overturned. If you are denied here you may if you wish proceed through the federal court system. There have been social security disability cases that reached the Supreme Court.

After you receive approval SSA will let you know what your benefits will be and will calculate any back pay you are owed. This is calculated from the date SSA believes you became disabled and then they add six months. Payment is calculated from that date. All this takes an additional several months. Many people after being on SSDI for 3 years receive a notice that they must attend a physician who will review their case. SSA will again decide from this report if you are still disabled. I know one gentleman who has spinabifida. Annually his Dr must submit a detailed report. Of course there is no cure for his disease but SSA requires he report annually.
Just a little food for thought on the subject.

Answer 4

I don't agree with it at all. I'm overweight, not by a lot mind you, and I still manage to work. With diet and exercise you can lose weight. If they're gonna sit at home and collect the SSI the least they could do is check into getting help to lose it (personal trainer, gastric bypass, etc.) And then get back out in the workforce. Lol this is just one sore subject for me...can't stand people who sit at home and live off my tax dollars while it looks like the retirement age is going up and up every year. At this rate (I'm 24) I'll have to be 85 before I can retire.

Answer 5

The problem is not the fat people, the problem is the goverment,. See goverment pay doctors to evaluate this cases them pay the same doctor for treatment they give this people, now the doctor will label any laise jack a$$ the do not want to work as disable because they will continue getting pay by the goverment. That is the Law in New York City,NY I think.

Answer 6

I think it's stupid. If they have a REAL medical problem that made them overweight that's different. But for your average overweight person who can't stay away from McD's, Baskin Robbins and Dunk'n Donuts...........no way should they be considered disabled! Get off your butts and exercise a little, clean up your eating habits, and lose the fat. Don't sit there and make us pay for your junk food! And we're also paying for all the medical problems they're giving themselves by being so overweight.

Answer 7

I don't think they can get disability based on being fat alone. But the fat contributes to back issues, knee issues, etc. And alcohol and drug abusers both have more legal rights in the workplace than fat people. In those cases employers are required to let them have drug/booze counseling, it is considered a disability. Smokers and fat people don't have that same protection.

Answer 8

I believe that giving DISABILITY benifits to larger people is a bad idea. UNLESS there weight has caused major problems. My mom has problems with her legs [knee down] and when she goes to get them wrapped all the other people getting there feet, and arms wrapped because of the swelling are majorly overweight, in that case i believe that they should get the benifits of SSI but if they just cant get their fat *** out of a chair... they dont deserve it, they caused that on themselves.

Answer 9

I think that in an extreme case,that if someone is morbidly obese to the point that they are confined to their bed ,that it would be understandable for them to draw a disability check.Some weight problems are due to glandular disorders,and the person suffering has no control over their body weight .

Answer 10

I understand what you are saying. I haven't come the conclusion whether it is something genetic or a personal addiction habit. So I don't know yet, it would depend on the medical condition that caused the disability.