[bko]

I just looked it up and the number of kids on disability started to skyrocket in the early 90s. In 1980 there were about 260k kids on disability. By 1990, there was ~300k kids on disability. In 2000 there was nearly 900k.

> Let's imagine that happens. Jahleel starts doing better in school, overcomes some of his disabilities. He doesn't need the disability program anymore. That would seem to be great for everyone, except for one thing: It would threaten his family's livelihood. Jahleel's family primarily survives off the monthly $700 check they get for his disability.

https://apps.npr.org/unfit-for-work/

[sjg007]

You should read the rebuttals to the NPR piece which I think is one of the worst reports NPR has ever done. The journalist should have done better research. This was something I would expect out of a conservative think tank and completely missed the boat.

https://www.npr.org/sections/money/2013/04/18/177745599/form...

[asmos7]

I mean yea - another way to look at is if you're making $700 per month doing nothing you'd need make at least $701 to even consider from a pure economic perspective - realistically more like $1000+ to be motivated enough to go to work.

So many will write that off but then you have the a ha moment of what if I do work under the table so that's what you do - best of both worlds free money and extra cash. Problem obviously is a lot of ppl choose illegal options especially considering how profitable they are.