We have heard continuous talk about the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) trust fund running out of money by 2016 in which those receiving benefits, who are unable to work, would see about a 20 percent cut in benefits. Although no one would claim that the Democrats are perfect, it remains a fact that the party’s members are the only ones who are proposing plans to avoid cutting the benefits of disabled Americans who are already barely getting by.
The only action the Republicans have taken is to block any chance of transferring funds between the disability and retirement funds, something that in past years received bipartisan support. The Republicans have offered zero plans on ways to save either the disability or retirement programs.
The Republicans, in their great wisdom, thought they were forcing the Democrat’s hand by this maneuver so Democrats would agree to changes to Social Security that would likely cut benefits, but once again the Republicans have only shot themselves in the foot. The Democrats have come-up with an alternative plan of merging the disability and retirement trust funds into one pot, which would certainly extend the life of the disability program and ensure full benefits are paid to retirement and disability recipients well past the next decade.
No plan is perfect of course and the one thing combining the disability and retirement funds does not do is to solve long-term funding problems for the two programs, but it certainly provides many more years to come-up with solutions rather than piece together one at the last minute.
If nothing is done and disability benefits are cut by 20 percent it will be the Republicans who are blamed for blocking any solution to the problem. The one thing disability recipients can feel a bit more easy about is that the Republicans in Congress have not shown any profiles in courage to the extent they are willing to put their valuable congressional seats on the line to make a point.
To learn more about the Democrats plan click here.
