Support the Making DI Work For All Americans Act, H.R. 6532

On behalf of FreedomWorks’ activist community, I urge you to contact your representative and ask him or her to support the Making DI Work For All Americans Act, H.R. 6532, introduced by Rep. Todd Rokita (R-Ind.). This legislation would reform Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) by making it more fiscally responsible and ensuring it caters to those who truly need it.

According to recent data released by the Social Security Board of Trustees, Social Security will be paying out more than it takes in revenue by 2022. The Board also projects that the SSDI fund will be completely exhausted by as soon as 2032. The status quo is clearly unsustainable, and Congress must take action now to prevent the insolvency of this program.

The Making DI Work for All Americans Act starts by instituting a review of all potential recipients of the program who may not actually meet the eligibility requirements. Judges who issue the most approvals will have their caseloads reviewed, and determinations will be made about whether those recipients actually qualify. This will lighten the burden of recipients who collect benefits based solely on having been rubber stamped by administrative judges.

The legislation also eliminates the requirement that the Social Security Administration compensate disability attorneys. This is not the role of the government, and payment should be worked out between a client and an attorney. H.R. 6532 makes that the case.

The legislation also updates medical-vocational guidelines so it will be easier for recipients to return to work if they wish. It also helps them to be better matched with employers when they do begin seeking work again. There is dignity in work, and the policy should be to push for greater independence for all citizens who are capable of it.

Lastly, the bill increases transparency and accountability. At the outset, it sets a flat monthly benefit for all who first apply to the program. It also allows social media activity to be taken into account when determining eligibility. This is a common sense provision that brings the process into the modern era. There is no reason we shouldn’t use all tools at our disposal to root out any potential waste, fraud, and abuse in our system.

If Social Security is to survive, changes need to be made, and SSDI reform is a key part of any workable solution. It is for these reason that I urge you to contact your representative and ask him or her to support the making DI Work For All Americans Act, H.R. 6532.

Sincerely, Adam Brandon, President, FreedomWorks