The Tattered Safety Net for the Disabled (Washington Post)

A report from Social Security trustees found that the costs of the disability insurance program would exceed the amount coming in from payroll taxes by 2013, and run out of money completely in 2016. The number of workers with disabilities has almost tripled since 1990. Benefits average about $1,100 a month, 60% of those receiving benefits have a high school education or less, and almost one-fourth live below the poverty level. The disability program is in need of updating. Beyond the Americans With Disabilities Act, employers currently have no incentive to accommodate workers with disabilities. The wait time for determination to receive disability benefits can take years, and those who receive benefits are discouraged by the rules from finding suitable work.