Eligibility Criteria

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Capella University *

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5006

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Sociology

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Feb 20, 2024

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1 Eligibility Criteria Jessica Watts SWK 5006, Capella University Social Policy and Planning in Human Services Dr. Dorothy Jimenez May 26, 2022

2 Eligibility Criteria Social Security is a federal based program designed to provide benefits to retired, unemployed, or disabled individuals. Persons must meet certain eligibility criteria to start receiving Social Security Income. To be eligible for Social Security Benefits as someone retiring, they must be age 62 or older, disabled, or blind and have enough working years on their records. For retirement, individuals need a maximum of forty work credits and a minimum of six for disability regardless of age. Disability is viewed case-by-case and sometimes work credits will be overlooked for eligibility ("Understanding SSI - Social Security Entitlement", 2022). Stigma and Alienation The stigma surrounding Social Security boils down to Social Security Disability (SSID) "Since the creation of social benefits, disabled people have been stigmatized in society, oftentimes being viewed as either incapable or unwilling to work. Those who work are perceived as incapable employees, while those who are unable to work are viewed as lazy" (Tucker, 2020). However, the stigma that comes along with SSDI is not a surprise. Back in 2014, the Social Security Administration had to reevaluate how they looked into eligibility criteria as there were an increasingly large number of SSDI fraud. Social Security has implemented social media monitoring to screen for disability services to weed out any individuals trying to manipulate the system. Alienation comes in because those individuals receiving SSDI are only allowed to work a limited amount of time per week. Some people obtaining their SSDI because of a physical disability will choose not to work. However, those with mental health issues receiving Social security disability may want to work to continue having interactions within the community. Their

3 work week is limited. "Payments will stop if you are engaged in what Social Security calls "substantial gainful activity." SGA, as it's known, is defined in 2022 as earning more than $1,350 a month" (AARP, 2022). Off Targeting of Benefits & Costs According to our text, "Another criterion for judging eligibility rules and their associated procedures is the extent to which benefits are directed to population groups who are not the main object of the program" (Chambers & Bonk, 2014). Furthermore, "The Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program, administered by the Social Security Administration (SSA), is the income source of last resort for the low-income aged, blind, and disabled. As the nation's largest income- assistance program, it paid $38 billion in benefits in calendar year 2006 to roughly 7 million recipients per month" (Social Security, 2022). SSDI often requires month-to-month, recipient-by-recipient benefit recomputations. This is to keep up with recipient eligibility and helps with monitoring the costs being spent through the program on a month-to-month basis. Also, due to limited income, some individuals will be eligible for other welfare programs, such as SNAP. "To help people who receive benefits and payments keep up with the changing cost of living, Social Security beneficiaries often receive an annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA). Each year, Social Security bases the COLA on changes in the Consumer Price Index" (Ticket to Work, 2022). In 2022 the payments should increase by 5.9 percent. Political Interference & Negative Incentive Policymakers created SSI in 1972. The idea was to provide an income to individuals aged 65 or disabled. Many argue that policymakers need to be more involved and make changes to SSI in more than one way. "Policymakers can strengthen SSI by expanding and simplifying it.

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4 They should update its asset limits and income rules and automatically adjust them. They should raise its basic benefit, exempt retirement savings from the asset limits, and ease eligibility restrictions for immigrants and residents of the territories. And, they should repeal some of its complex and intrusive rules. Such changes would improve the circumstances of low-income older and disabled people and help close racial equity gaps" (Romig & Washington, 2022). Identified Problems and Social Well-being Five questions are looked at to see if an individual qualifies for disability. Are you working? Is your condition severe? Is your condition found in the list of disabling conditions? Can you do work you did previously? Can you do any other type of work? Based on these criteria, is how applicants are accepted or denied SSDI. It is easy to see someone that may be suffering from a physical disability. However, those individuals suffering from a mental health condition have a more challenging time getting approved for disability. Often, people with mental illness need to record being hospitalized on more than one occasion to get approved. They also need the involvement of their therapist or psychiatrist to help get them approved. The tighter restrictions to reduce the amount of fraud it has created a barrier for those who do not present with physical symptoms. Workers providing applicants with acceptance into SSDI should better understand mental health and how severely it can impact someone's well- being. Understanding that not all disabilities can be seen is essential to the criteria process. SSI reform would boost the economic status an individual falls under when receiving benefits and could potentially keep them out of poverty. Implementing reform can also limit access to other welfare programs that individuals may need access to based on their income.

5 References AARP. (2022). Working Part-Time While Getting Disability Benefits. AARP. Retrieved 5 June 2022, from https://www.aarp.org/retirement/social-security/questions-answers/part-time- work-on-disability.html?cmp=KNC-DSO-COR-DisabilityResources-17089-GOOG- SocialSecurityPart-TimeWork-Exact- NonBrand&gclsrc=aw.ds&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIgqqXnuWW- AIVSFtyCh0Wzwt2EAAYASAAEgIYwPD_BwE. Chambers, D. E., & Bonk, J. F. (2013). Social policy and social programs: A method for the practical public policy analyst (6th ed.). Pearson. Romig, K., & Washington, S. (2022). Retrieved 5 June 2022, from https://www.cbpp.org/research/social-security/policymakers-should-expand-and- simplify-supplemental-security-income. Social Security. (2022). Simplifying the Supplemental Security Income Program: Options for Eliminating the Counting of In-kind Support and Maintenance. Social Security Administration Research, Statistics, and Policy Analysis. Retrieved 5 June 2022, from https://www.ssa.gov/policy/docs/ssb/v68n4/v68n4p15.html. Ticket to Work. (2022). Update: 2022 Cost-of-Living Adjustment. Choosework.ssa.gov. Retrieved 5 June 2022, from https://choosework.ssa.gov/blog/2021-12-16-update-2022- cost-of-living-adjustment. Tucker, S. (2020). Silencing and Stigmatizing the Disabled Through Social Media Monitoring - NYU School of Law – CHRGJ. Chrgj.org. Retrieved 5 June 2022, from https://chrgj.org/2020/10/29/silencing-and-stigmatizing-the-disabled-through-social-

6 mediamonitoring/#:~:text=Since%20the%20creation%20of%20social,work%20are %20viewed%20as%20lazy.

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