Congress has to immediately recognize that Social Security Disability benefits are not a luxury – this program is a right that has been earned by tax paying American workers. Promises were made to American workers that must be fulfilled.
San Antontio, TX (PRWEB) August 26, 2014
Heard & Smith, a national disability law firm that concentrates on the disabled and the injured, is applauding a new Los Angeles Times article published on July 28, 2014, in which reporter Michael Hiltzik calls upon Congress to take urgent action to shore up the shrinking Disability Trust Fund, which is used to pay Social Security Disability benefits to qualifying American workers and their dependents.
Hiltzik’s article is in response to the recently-released annual trustees’ reports for Social Security and Medicare, which estimates that the Social Security Disability Trust is on track to run out of funds by 2016. Consequently, disability benefits would have to be cut by 19%, resulting in an average monthly benefit payment of $928 – down from today’s level of $1,146.
The trustees of the Social Security Administration have recommend that Congress repeat the action they took during a prior crisis in 1995, when they voted to fortify the Disability Trust Fund by increasing its share of the Social Security payroll tax – a practical move that wouldn’t materially dent the ample coffers of the much larger Social Security trust fund, which is used to fund other old age programs and hit a surplus of $32 billion last year.
“Congress has to immediately recognize that Social Security Disability benefits are not a luxury – this program is a right that has been earned by tax paying American workers. Promises were made to American workers that must be fulfilled,” commented Joshua C. Eyestone, an experienced SSD lawyer in Heard & Smith’s Social Security Disability practice group. “Disabled workers earn their SSD benefits, just like they earn their retirement benefits by paying taxes. Those taxes are similar to paying insurance premiums. Changing the rules now after these people have paid into the system isn’t just unfair, but it’s egregiously wrong.”
Added Mr. Eyestone: “We cannot abandon the most vulnerable in our communities when they need help the most. These folks in need are our neighbors and oftentimes family members, disability cuts across all socioeconomic lines. We should not consider reducing average monthly benefit amounts amongst some of the financially poorest people in our communities when the cost of living continues to rise. Hopefully, Michael Hiltzik’s article and our attempts to publicize the issue will help dispel myths, galvanize support, and provoke Congress to take action that supports disabled American workers; not next year, but right now.”
For more information, contact Joshua C. Eyestone at jeyestone@heardandsmith.com or 210-820-3737.
About Heard & Smith L.L.P.
Heard & Smith helps thousands of clients each year get the disability benefits they are entitled to. The national disability law practice group at Heard & Smith represents deserving clients in all 50 states. Heard & Smith specializes in representing the disabled in Social Security Disability (SSD), and Veterans (VA) Disability matters.
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