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CNSNEWS.com Editor in Chief Terry Jeffrey on disability spending and if America is becoming an entitlement nation.
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Now that's OK -- a record eight point seven million Americans.
Are are now collecting federal -- disability payments.
We actually getting thicker and -- mean that this this is a huge number or is this just some new way of getting extra cash in a bad economy.
CNS news.com editor in chief Terry Jeffries and he joins us now.
Terry you know this is an extraordinary number.
And a lot of people filled that a lot of this reflects may be.
A new sense of entitlement this country -- -- of scamming this country and also that's true perhaps people who really are disabled aren't getting the benefits that are truly do due to them.
But I.
Again mass represented that some sort of cultural shift -- more people are willing to take disability and not work I think the reason that's true.
There's not just because Iran members have high eight point 73.
Million people more than the population -- York city take disability.
That twenty years again when -- in 1992.
-- -- there were 35 point five Americans working taking a paycheck paying payroll taxes for each person accepting disability payments from the federal government.
Last month and per person taking disability.
You know I've heard horror stories people who just walk and assailants and -- economy's so bad is driving me nuts and they actually call up the crazy check in in their entire towns where.
All these young men young able bodied -- are sitting Iran imports is all day long.
Bragging about their crazy checks -- -- this is now we're.
Just.
It is outrageous and day you know -- -- fact that they had Social Security Administration their fiscal 2011.
Budget request pointed out that there have been what they called.
And -- president's surge.
And first time disability applications.
They try and attributed to the baby boom generation essentially arguing.
That at 59 year old person is not yet old enough to qualify for retirement benefits.
May be more likely to be disabled 124 year old but the fact is 24 year old can't qualify for disability if they've heard 6000 dollars or more over -- over six quarters excuse me.
And the Social Security Administration isn't publishing the data of the age breakdowns of the people collecting disability.
I think Americans have a right to see how many 25 year old people in this country are getting disability how many 29 year -- And how many six year old Saturday Anderson data for us to say.
Absolutely so how much more fraud is in the system vs how many people who rightfully deserve the disability check.
Well that's a question we don't know I -- another bit of data I think we knew we should see from -- security administration.
Is what exactly are the medical claims that people are pretty ending collecting disability for.
I think that be very enlightening I think this is something that congress ought to look into the age breakdown of his getting disability how it's changed -- time.
In the medical claims that people are putting in for disability and how that's changed every time because clearly.
As the numbers show we've had a massive increase in the percentage.
Of the working age population.
Is actually -- getting disability.
Military and in -- to the point you made earlier.
It feels like this is just another one of these waves of having.
Cushioning.
Or are being able to actually just incentivizing people to stay.
Of the jobs market we've seen jobs participation go down dramatically in if you break it down this a -- ages it's a really amazing.
Sixteen to 24 year olds they're just not in the jobs market and if that's the kind of stuff like this that lets him get away with that isn't it.
I didn't exactly right and I think that's another very important point to this is.
The unemployment rate of course is the number of people not working.
Who look for a job in the last four weeks who work in the labor force these eight point 73 million people on disability they're out of the labor force that they keep the unemployment rate down.
That eight point 2% would be a lot higher.
If some of these -- -- kicked off the disability rolls instead.
-- find a job so there actually people in government politically.
Who have an interest in expanding the roles of disability and I think that's another thing.
That there's less examination.
You know what I think we put it all on a pot and start to break it all down from food stamps to this kind of stuff.
And get people out there working to deserve the working people who really deserve these benefits -- got to get them this is nuts I'm glad you're on the job Terry we appreciate your time this morning.
Thank you very.
