HD,

I don't think you have to 'prove' your point to anyone here. There are many, many newstories (and posts here at NT) that have shown/predicted SSA will be in the red.....in "a few years" or "4 to 6 years" or "2016"

It's all about simple math and what they take in vs what goes out. Just because the outgoing will be more than the incoming in the near future, doesn't automatically mean SSA payments to people will stop....that will depend on how our government decides to deal with the problem....let it go under and have many of us applying for welfare or raising taxes or shifting money from other programs to pay.

I refuse to worry about that BECAUSE it is out of my control....aside from making my vote count in the next election.

I will worry instead about what IS in my control. How much money can I save ? What are the programs for low cost housing in my area ? How much debt can we handle for our kids college education considering my SSDI income could be in jeopardy someday ? What happens when the kids are in college and I get divorced so I don't have my husband's income to rely on if SSA goes belly up ? How long can I live off of my half of the equity in our home ? Those are the questions that I focus on because they are the ones I have some control over.

Of course, right now my focus is on whether or not I will be able to get in the shower tomorrow before my doctors appointment

No, they don't want to retire ten years before their deaths. They want to retire before they even start working. Live longer? Ha! They keep trying to kill themselves with horrible food, unhealthy habits, and unhealthy lifestyles.. but these medical advances, what can I say... they live another 15 years without even trying!

They don't want minimum wage. They want at least 12 dollars an hour. With benefits. and they don't want to adhere to getting into work the same time every day. And... work? they need to have lots of breaks during the day... to check email or chat or do facebook... otherwise the task is just mental torture!

They don't want arsenic in their drinking water, they want nitrates in their wine! Cadmium or mercury in their food? blah, those don't taste good. They want fats and sugars. Mmmm, heart-attackerific! don't worry, when they go into the hospital and need to get a bypass, Old Joe Taxpayer will foot the bill. Clean Air? Why? they're inside all the time. Now, Air conditioning? that's more like it. Cribs that suffocate their annoying, crying babies? oh, jeez, can't you just give them a break and provide government-funded daycare?

Drugs that damage their brain... no, they want those! They make them feel better! Car tanks that explode... depends... is it a cadillac? 401K plans? PLANS? they don't have time to plan. Just give them a check based on how much they want... why should they have to suffer "risk?" And c'mon, bail out the bankers? Why not bail THEM out? Please, take care of everybody's mortgage instead... they re-painted the walls, after all, it's their home now! you can't let it be taken away!

And there's your perfect world, Jose

I had to post this on here. There are over 100 comments on the WSJ's article. Many people like this guy think we are bloodsuckers. I had to stop reading as it depressed me even more. As to what others think. Sad thing is many people around here feel the same way towards me and others on SSDI that I also know.

I just read that article, and I must admit I didn't understand the increasing problem SSA is facing with the continuous flood of SSDI claims. It was shocking what is going down in Puerto Rico.. 60%+ get admitted on first claim, coincidentally they have a large unemployment rate.. So does the country.. A lot of people are literally using SSDI as another form of unemployment payment. I wonder how SSA is going to handle this problem, and at the very least it will make some of our lives a little tougher

I hadn't heard this, but it doesn't surprise me, given that I've just gotten my fully favorable ruling today, after almost 4 years of fighting for it, despite multiple disabilities. I worked with many of them until I could work no more, then filed for my disability pension and applied for my ssdi. I thought I would have no problem because my pension went through with no problem but no, the thugs in suits over at SSA decided that since I wasn't quite dead yet I was not disabled. What they should do is make the SSA docs responsible if they provide diagnoses that hold up a claimants benefits. This should include punitive damages and force the doc's insurance to match the backpay to help offset the issues people face while living without those much needed funds. Of course, I'm just venting, and this will never happen, but it should. Personal responsibility would stop these SSA doc cattle calls from denying everyone who comes in based on the doc's need for more income from the SSA. And what about those poor folks who don't know enough to hire an attorney, keep their claim going, keep going to treatment, or who can't seek treatment for various reasons? I consider myself lucky because I was given a substantial pension and an insurance payout when I retired. The insurance $$$ is gone now, but the pension plus the SS $$$ will together be enough for me to pay my mortgage, eat, and otherwise live comfortably. And now I'll have medicare along with my private insurance, so I'll be able to get treatment in my own state for most of my conditions. Anyway, sorry for ranting, I shouldn't have gone off topic so much.

Congrads Steve !