Would This Possibly Help The Minimally Disabled?

1. A F Says

   This would make a worthwhile voluntary pilot program for people who wish to become self supporting or more self supporting particularly of they already have computer skills or it is accompanied by a way to learn them and the work at home jobs are pretty much lined up for them in advance. It is not for everyone obviously. The Magic Jack idea may have some merit if phone usage through magic Jack does not exceed the hours or Mg’s of usage on whatever net service. I know a few disabled people who do telecommute. Telemerchandising is one area that seems quite open so is being a basic answering service for small businesses that want a live person not voice mail. but there are skills and personality traits needed. The biggest drawback I see is the Vocational Rehab system which will buy a disabled person a computer with all the bells whistles and such if they think there is a likelihood of it making them self supporting. Few who have the skills and gumption to do the work are going to look for stripped down models when that is available. That being said though if there were funding and if someone had researched jobs available the best “nitch” for it might be people waiting to be approved for disability.
   Vocational rehab is still the place to start (look up state of __, bureau of vocational rehabilitation)
   Another way to go is to call 211 (United Way help info resource line) and ask about disability resource agencies in your area (these would not be government but private nonprofits) and also about other ministries that provide help and work readiness training. You may find more receptivity there than in the government offices. I know that if the cost was $99@ and someone found the work opportunities and volunteered to help coordinate it the ministry I head in the NE GA mountains would consider a small pilot program of that type so maybe some organization in your area will also.
   However I don’t know that there will be a massive government money savings for 2 reasons. 1. Social Security Disability is funded through money the employee and their employer (or the self employed person themself) pays in and is as another answerer noted insurance not welfare. SSD does offer incentives to help the person make a transition back to work but they are voluntary 2. and more important I have never seen a new government program actually save any money. These are the people who pay several thousand for a toilet seat. And pay at least 3 people to install it plus a supervisor and then an auditor to be sure they were paid correctly. My guess is that a sensible idea like this will need to come through the private nonprofit section and the smaller and more penny saving the nonprofit the more likely to succeed.

2. Jayne says READ MORE BOOKS Says

   > if we were to give these to the minimally disabled popualtion, would the
   > amount of money being paid in disability benefits go down? rather than
   > paying millions per month to someone who could possibly benefit from
   > working at home?
   Working from home doesn’t require a person be homebound — it requires that a person have an area of expertise. The person has to be able to do high-quality work that can be done remotely, such as:
   designing brochures
   translating text from one language to another
   designing a database
   analyzing and summarizing data
   evaluating a report
   architectural design
   media and/or academic research
   writing outreach materials
   Working from home — telecommuting — is *not* for everyone, nor for every job.
   * You cannot telecommute effectively if you are also looking after children at the same time.
   * You cannot telecommute if you cannot be available to colleagues for spontaneous online meetings, or meetings during regular business hours.
   * You cannot telecommute if your job functions cannot easily and practically be performed offsite.
   So laptops to people who are home-bound, for whatever reason, is not at all the answer. Job training is. And most people who are disabled prefer working *outside* their homes, just as we all do (even those of us who work from home want to get out for work at least a few times a week).

3. gosam777 Says

   Well, the idea is honorable. The thing is, people are disabled for a lot of different reasons. Once they are determined to be disabled, you cannot force them into work activity, they cannot do. Especially since the majority on disability are on SSDI which is insurance you pay into for coverage when you reach retirement age, or become disabled. That is the FICA SS payroll tax they deduct from your pay check
   Since it’s an insurance, you cannot change the rules or benefits after they paid into it, and became qualified. It could only be offered as an incentive with the option of participating or not. That option is already in place. SSDI has a program where people can sign up to try and return to work, without losing benefits.
   Now for those who are disabled but did not pay into it, and cannot collect, there is SSI (Supplemental Security Income) available which is a supplement for the low income, with very few assets. . But the maximum benefits are very low now, and although it is funded by tax dollar money, the benefits are so low, extra income really would not reduce it very much. And again, many are not physically or mentally in a position they could do it.
   So I doubt if you would reduce taxes, since most of it is part of an insurance policy they have already paid into to, come out of special Treasury intragovernmental bonds, and they cannot be forced to participate in, since it’s an insurance benefit. . And again, both programs already have policies in place where they can work if willing and able.

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