The Truth About Stigma and Disability Insurance

With all of the talk recently about the country’s fiscal policies, we thought we’d address a major issue with our nation that we think might be a problem: there are a certain few people speaking very loudly about disability insurance and how people are “ripping off the system.”

Keep in mind that we don’t take kindly to when people start talking about disability insurance like this. It’s not what these people make it out to be. We’ve seen a lot of people who are in dire need of the assistance that it provides. Those of us who are able to work should count ourselves lucky.

The Illnesses Themselves Carry a Stigma

Part of the problem is that some of the illnesses covered by SSDI have a stigma attached to them, particularly the mental illnesses. America hasn’t been too kind to mental illness over the years, and even now most recognized mental illnesses (whether covered by SSDI or not) are treated like they can be fixed by strength of will alone.

While they’re right in that it takes strength of will, there’s more to it than that. Depression, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and other affective disorders usually take the brunt of this assault. However, we’d wager that the people who say these things are usually the ones who’ve never suffered from them. At best, they can be moderately annoying and can be managed. In the worst cases, they can be as debilitating as losing a leg or arm.

The stigma that mental illnesses carry is only one part of the problem, though.

The Issue of “Freeloading” Versus Actual Need

The Social Security Disability program was, from its inception, a program designed to provide benefits to those people who could no longer work. When the program started, detractors had already started talking about how the program would finance “freeloaders.” This storyline is nothing new, and there’s a fundamental problem with the argument.

It’s not easy to get on these programs.

Our very existence is evidence of this. If it were easy to get into the program and receive benefits, everyone would do. So, to argue that most of them are freeloaders who don’t really need the assistance is just plain wrong. For SSDI in particular, look at the SSA’s Blue Book. The requirements are stringent and specific. There are qualifications that you must meet. Your symptoms must be of a certain severity, sometimes down to a percentile and, most importantly, must be medically documented.

To Those on Disability Insurance (and Those Who are Considering it):

We’ve got a message for you, and it’s something that’s incredibly important for you to hear: stigma or not, there’s nothing wrong with seeking help when you need it. Whether the talking heads on television agree with it or not, the program was instituted to make sure that you could live independently. That’s not up for debate. Are there people who are abusing the system? Probably—just like every other system on the planet. Just because someone’s abused the system doesn’t mean that everyone is.

Take advantage of the help being offered, and stay secure. Don’t let the financial struggles of being disabled keep you from your life, your home, or your family. It’s not a good choice—and if you’re concerned that you might be “cheating the system,” then you’re probably not cheating the system at all.

If You Need Help

If you’re not sure how to apply or whether you qualify, feel free to call and ask us. We’re here to assist in any way that we can. Don’t let some bully on the TV keep you from living a comfortable life.