scholarly journals Tax Rates and Work Incentives in the Social Security Disability Insurance Program: Current Law and Alternative Reforms

10.3386/w6058 ◽  
1997 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hilary Williamson Hoynes ◽  
Robert Moffitt
Keyword(s):  
Social Security ◽  
Disability Insurance ◽  
Social Security Disability Insurance ◽  
Tax Rates ◽  
Work Incentives ◽  
Insurance Program ◽  
The Social ◽  
Social Security Disability

scholarly journals The Growth in the Social Security Disability Rolls: A Fiscal Crisis Unfolding

2006 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 71-96 ◽  
Author(s):  
David H Autor ◽  
Mark G Duggan
Keyword(s):  
Social Security ◽  
Moral Hazard ◽  
Disability Insurance ◽  
Fiscal Crisis ◽  
Social Security Disability Insurance ◽  
Screening Process ◽  
Insurance Program ◽  
The Social ◽  
Social Security Disability ◽  
The U.S

The U.S. Social Security Disability Insurance (DI) program has grown dramatically over the last 20 years in size and expense. This growth poses significant risks to the finances of the DI program and the broader Social Security system, and raises troubling questions as to whether the program is being misused by claimants. This article first provides an overview of the Disability Insurance program, describing who qualifies for the program, how an individual applies for benefits and how the level of benefits is determined. Next, we summarize the factors responsible for the growth in the DI rolls and discuss how the characteristics of DI recipients have changed as a result. We then explore the extent of moral hazard in the DI program and the effectiveness of the screening process in distinguishing meritorious from nonmeritorious claims. Finally, we identify the challenges that the DI program creates for Social Security finances and Social Security reform, and discuss potential reforms to the DI program.

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