Opinion

GUEST COLUMN: Lifesaving ‘welfare’ program badly in need of reform

By CALVIN RUBY, Published: July 27, 2025

Two years ago, my brother and his wife both died within a month of one another.

For various reasons after working very hard in his own small business (up to a week before his death) as well as many side jobs, my brother died leaving no physical or financial assets. The dilemma was that his 55-year-old disabled son, who I will call Ronnie. They had always cared for Ronnie, who now no longer had a place to live and no financial resources. Like most Americans I “assumed” our government had “welfare” programs that would provide for Ronnie’s basic needs. I was very wrong. I would like to share a portion of what I discovered while trying to assist Ronnie navigate the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program. (Exploring Medicaid would require another 700 words.)

Because the term “disability” is too generic, some context is necessary. Ronnie’s issues began at a young age and progressively got worse. Many issues were undiagnosed, misdiagnosed and untreated and his parents shunned government assistance. Ronnie has been diagnosed with treatable schizophrenia, autism, learning disabilities, hand tremors, diabetes and other issues that have no medical codes. The good news is that his body is relatively healthy and with medication he is able and “willing” to work with significant supervision and currently works 16 hours/week. He is not capable of living independently.

Ronnie worked under his father’s close supervision for 25+ years and paid payroll taxes but is not eligible for the Social Security Disability Insurance benefits (another story). Becoming eligible for “welfare” turned out to be a long, complex and frustrating journey which involved appeals, congressional assistance, etc. I am puzzled how the “system” seems to think someone with Ronnie’s disabilities is supposed to navigate their labyrinth of rules and mounds of paperwork! Ronnie was just another statistic on a bureaucratic assembly line. Rarely did anyone want to meet with him face to face. I also discovered that many of the well-meaning, dedicated people who work with our welfare programs lack an in-depth understanding of its complexity and its financial limitations due in part to its compartmentalization.

This life saving “welfare” program for “people with disabilities and older adults with little or no income or resources” originated in 1972. Despite some recent pending reforms, it has changed little, is poorly managed and often does not meet the financial needs of many of its participants. SSI beneficiaries are penalized for working, saving and receiving family assistance. I am puzzled by what “income” was to be “supplemented” since the program allows little to no income? The program designers seemed to forget about a little thing called “inflation.”

SSI basics for a single and disabled adult, from the program’s website:

• Can take up to a year or more to qualify and initial claims seem to be automatically denied. You are welcome to live on the street while they process your claim.
• SSI rules reward lawyers assisting applicants for drawing out the application process.
• The maximum payment is currently $967/month, or $11,604/year “before” clawbacks.
• Managed by Social Security Administration and administrated by states and funded by the General Fund, Social Security Disability Income is paid from the SSA Trust Fund.
• Benefits are reduced $1 for every $2 in earned income after the first $85.
• Family financial assistance reduces benefits dollar for dollar (with limits).
• Beneficiaries are never allowed to have more than $2,000 including savings (with rare exceptions).
• Oddly, you can own a home and car. Life insurance is limited to $1,500.

Ronnie’s budget:

Monthly resources

• Gross wages (not guaranteed): $600
• SSI maximum cash benefit: $967
• SSI work penalty: ($257)
• Net after clawbacks: $1,310

Monthly expenses

• Food & shelter (retail rate $3,500): $1,872
• Clothes, incidentals, co-pays, dental, transportation, etc.: $100
• Total: $1,972
• Deficit: ($662)

Other resources (not guaranteed)

• Medicaid cash payment: $482
• Deficit: ($180)

Solution: Acknowledge the problem and support change. Simplifying the rules and  reducing bureaucracy and fraud will save the program money and improve the lives of those dependent on it.