(CNSNews.com) - The number of American workers collecting federal disability payments climbed to yet another record high of 8,830,026 in January, up from 8,827,795 in December, according to newly released data from the Social Security Administration.
This is the 192nd straight month that the number of American workers collecting federal disability payments has increased. The last time the number of Americans collecting disability decreased was in January 1997. That month the number of workers taking disability dropped by 249 people—from 4,385,623 in December 1996 to 4,385,374 in January 1997.
As the overall number of Americans collecting disability has increased, the ratio of full-time workers to disability beneficiaries has decreased.
In December 1968, 1,295,428 Americans collected disability and 65,630,000 worked full-time. Thus, there were about 51 Americans working full-time for each person collecting disability at that time. In January 1997, the last time the number of disability beneficiaries declined, 4,385,374 Americans collected disability and 104,900,000 worked full-time. Thus, there were then about 24 Americans working full-time for each person collecting disability.
In January 2013, with a record 8,830,026 Americans collecting disability and 115,918,000 working fulltime, there were only 13 Americans working full-time for each person collecting disability.
Whether these claims are all legitimate or not, I have to question how long we can sustain this trend that seems to continue to accelerate. I have a hard time buying that it can all be financed by continuing to increase taxes on the 1%. But I guess I'm not really buying it. I go to work and other people decide how much of what I earn should belong to them.