SSA would deny the claim. They have a recent work history. It is much easier to qualify for VR benefits than it is to have SSA declare you permantly and totally disabled. If he was working and was part of a voluntary layoff, SSA would not even consider his claim for SSDI. He might have gotten temporarySSI while he retrained or found work. Or if one of his parents died before he was 18 he could have qualified for temporary SSDI based on his deceased parent's payment into the system. But I work with SSDI all the time. I do evaluations for them. I have good friends who are CRC's who actually testify in hearings. I'm just not buying it.
That is exactly what "should" have happened. However, as I stated, this individual was able to pull it off (as well as having an additional huge lump sum squirrelled away in someone else's account).
As I sit here .... thinking about all this ... it still stuns me. I wish I could give you all the details but that could get me in trouble.
To be clear on how I view SSDI and other government benefits - no, I am not opposed to them being there. However, having seen the above mentioned situation happen, and having the full details of how it happened - I believe there should be better safeguards against this type of abuse. I often wonder how common it is. I am sure very common as this is not the only situation I am personally aware of.
I just feel that if people can be contributing workers, they should work. I will give you another example (and yes, a real life one).
I took in a homeless 22 year old who eventually got fired from his job. I promised to help him get back on his feet. It is just a silly thing I do sometimes. Anyways, he filled out more applications for government assistance than job applications. He spent far more time going to these different agencies for hand outs than looking for a job. He even attempted to sue his previous employer for discrimination when there was none involved that I am aware of.
I became frustrated with this, and I got on every online job finder and gave him a list of phone numbers and addresses to go and seek employment. His attitude was like "Huh? why should I do that?" - I am not blowing anything out of proportion.
Now, I can completely understand the purpose of why those government benefits are there. What I have seen, personally, far more often than not, is the purpose of these benfits being defeated.
Ok - anyways, this 22 year old eventually got another job and was fired for the exact same reason he was fired from his previous job - with me warning him the whole time to "cut that crap out".
Now, I have the authority to kick him out - but I want to give him one last chance. He is a high school drop out - his mother passed away last year and he has no family - so yes, he needs counselling to deal with all of those issues. he has a lot on his plate.
So, I went back to finding employment for him while he hid down in the basement apartment for three days sulking and throwing a pity party. I finally gave him an ultimatum.
I called the National Guard, and what do you know? They have a program for high school drop outs and he can get paid for enlisting while earning his GED. In addition to that, once he has served, he will have the option of choosing from over 200 different occupations to train.
My ultimatum was stern but not mean.
