The Other Welfare
The Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program for children was created mainly for those with severe physical disabilities. But the $10 billion in federal benefit checks now goes primarily to indigent children with behavioral, learning and mental conditions. Qualifying is not always easy -- many applicants believe it is essential that a child needs to be on psychotropic drugs to qualify. But once enrolled, there is little incentive to get off. And officials rarely check to see if the children are getting better.
Day 1
story
Cash and hard choices in
disability program for children
A Boston Globe investigation finds that a $10 billion, federal disability program for indigent children has gone seriously astray. It is now a fast-growing alternative welfare system with troubling incentives - such as financial reasons to take psychotropic drugs. The top category for approvals is ADHD.
(By Patricia Wen, Boston Globe)
- Photos Hard choices
- Video Behind the series
Day 2
story
Benefit increasingly goes
to the very young
Preschoolers are the fastest-growing age group qualifying for a federal disability program, largely because of a 12-fold spike in cases of speech delay. The government is aggressively trying to help these young children, but spends little time to see if they're getting any better.
(By Patricia Wen, Boston Globe)
(By Patricia Wen, Boston Globe)
- Photos Benefits for the young
- chat@Noon Patricia Wen takes your questions
Day 3
story
For teenagers, a
difficult balancing act
Many teenagers in this federal disability program dream of fulfilling careers and adult lives free of government dependency. But for now, they decline part-time jobs, largely because they fear working will jeopardize their disability checks. Their families are poor and need the money.
(By Patricia Wen, Boston Globe)
- Photos Difficult balancing act
- Mailbag Experts answer your questions
Latest news
- 5/24/2012 Review faulted on disability benefits for children | 5/11/2012 Program gets further scrutiny
- 10/28/11 Children’s SSI program examined
- Testimony from the Congressional Hearing
- 7/27/11 Series wins national journalism award
- 7/11/2011 Disability program, concerns on rise
- 5/24/11 SSI program is flawed, chief says
- 1/18/11 Some in Congress look into incentives in benefit | 12/18/10 Brown calls for hearings
- 12/16/10 Congressman asks hearings on benefits | 12/16/10 Murky Path to SSI fixes
- 12/16/10 Globe Editorial: SSI to help caregivers while discouraging abuses
Leave a comment on our moderated discussion board.
Globe Staff Writer Patricia Wen answered your questions.
mailbag
A panel of policy experts answered your questions: MIT economics professor David Autor, Massachusetts General Hospital pediatrician Dr. James Perrin, Williams College economist Lucie Schmidt and Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children president Mary Lou Sudders. Read their responses.
Examine Supplemental Security Income benefits for children by state.