by Anthony Megna

Created on: February 04, 2011   Last Updated: October 29, 2011

As someone who fought for over four years to receive his social security disability, I still believe that this benefit should go to fewer people, those that really need and deserve it. From personal experience, I suffer from Spinal Stenosis as well as degenerative disc disease. This malady is so painful that I've been forced on to a regimen of pain medicine that can and does have a number of side effects, at least for me. But there are some important facts that should be brought to the forefront.

First and foremost, the social security disability system is so over-burdened, that most people who apply are going to have to wait a few years before they get their response. And that is only to let them know if they are approved or denied! That's right, it takes quite a while, and it is the most frustrating experience I've ever gone through. Also, according to the latest government report, social security disability is running in the red and will be broke by 2017. If congress can ever get their act together to save it, then it has a fighting chance to survive....

So the reader can identify why I believe that this benefit should go to the people that really need it, I must relate what my experience was. After being laid off from my job as a surveillance agent, I finally decided I had the time to see my doctor due to a painful condition that grew progressively worse for a number of years. My neck and upper back were absolutely killing me with pain, and some mornings before going to work I could barely get out of bed, it was that painful! So off to the doctor I went for the bad news, which was what I previously described. Spinal Stenosis is the constriction, or narrowing of the vertebra walls that protect the nerves. Since the walls of the vertebra narrow, they impinge upon the nerves causing the pain. That's a general, nutshell description of what I'm going through, and it was very discouraging getting this report as I've been healthy all my life.

I had no choice but to file for disability, because between the medication and the pain, my chances for working again seemed slim, even though I wanted to. Not too many employers are willing to hire people that are on a narcotic regimen. Why? Because the medication causes sleepiness, irritability, and a whole host of other problems. Since my age is close to retirement, this was the course of action I had to take. But when I filed for my federal disability, I had no idea what was in store for me!

To be short and sweet about it, the federal disability system is so over-taxed and so clogged up by fraudulent requests, that the people that really need it have to suffer. That and that reason alone is why only those folks that really need it, such as myself, should get it. I eventually had to get a lawyer, get a court date, and plead my case in front of a judge. When the judge saw the stack of medical evidence of my case, he immediately rushed his decision through so that I could get my disability. In fact, he even apologized about how screwed up the system is, even though I was thanking him profusely for helping me by rushing his judgement through the bureaucratic process.

Realize that over ninety percent of the people who file will get denied. The reason? Between the fraudulent requests, lack of manpower, and the agonizingly tangled, slow federal process most people are automatically denied. Even though I was one of those people, and went virtually bankrupt waiting for my benefits, I still believe that less people should receive this benefit. Only for the people that really deserve to get the benefit should the social security disability system be rewarded.

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