THE FEDERAL DISABILITY INSURANCE TRUST FUND PROBLEM By John R. Bullis

The Board of Trustees of the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance and Federal Disability Insurance Trust Funds sent identical letters on May 31, 2013 to the President of the Senate, Hon. Joseph R. Biden, Jr. and to the Speaker of the House of Representative, Hon. John A. Boehner.

 The law requires the Board of Trustees to submit a report to each House of Congress when it determines that the balance ratios of a trust fund for any calendar year may become less than 20 percent.

 The letters stated “…we project the asset reserves held in the Federal Disability Insurance (DI) Trust Fund will become inadequate…”  “…the projected asset reserves of the DI Trust Fund fall below the 20 percent of annual cost during 2015 based on our….assumptions”.

 “Moreover, we project the reserves of the DI Trust Fund will be depleted one year later, in 2016, and only about 80 percent of the benefits scheduled in current law will be payable at that time if no legislative action is taken.”

 The Trustees recommended that “…Lawmakers should take prompt action to strengthen the short-term finances of the DI Trust Fund.”

 “…lawmakers could choose to increase revenues to the DI Trust Fund independent of any effect on the OASI (Social Security) program, to reduce cost through modification of the DI program, or to use a combination of the methods…”

 That means--increase the payroll taxes devoted to the DI Trust Fund or reduce the cost (reduce benefits) or a combination of those actions.

 Also, the lawmakers could consider reallocating part of the existing payroll tax rate from the OASI (Old-Age and Survivors Insurance) also known as Social Security.  However to take funds from Social Security, as was done in 1994, just depletes Social Security that much faster.

 Yes, I understand there are some folks getting qualified for Disability Payments that might be able to work a little, but most of the folks getting Disability Payments really 1 need the money.

 Maybe we all need to contact our members of Congress and ask them to start working on solutions to the Social Security and especially the Disability Insurance Trust Funds projected depletion of the reserves.

 Did you hear “The government is like a baby’s alimentary canal, with a happy appetite at one end and no responsibility at the other” Ronald Reagan.