Disability Benefits as Disincentives to Rehabilitation

Abstract

The relations among physical disability, governmental and voluntary benefit programs, and rehabilitation outcome are more complex than has generally been assumed. Factors of motivation and functional capacity are not adequately accommodated by current methods and level of benefit provision. Preliminary investigation shows that programs may, in fact, deter some of the disabled from return to work. Proposed congressional legislation does not appear to likely to resolve conflicting goals and expectations of the labor market, the disabled, and the taxpayer.

Somatization, secondary gain, and chronic pain: Is there a relationship?

“…Mechanic [58] has claimed that the communication of somatic complaints may represent an attempt by the patient to attain certain personal objectives such as attention, release from social obligations and demands (or an excuse for failure to meet them), resolution of an inner or interpersonal conflict, support from others, or financial benefit. Similarly, other authors have claimed that because of these secondary gains, disability benefits serve as a disincentive to rehabilitation [59].…”

Worklife After Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury

“…There is also an inherent bias towards over-reporting disability by those who do not work due to incentives created by government transfer programs (16,17). Two specific factors that create a bias toward over-reporting disability are the loss of federally provided health insurance and the difficulty of re-establishing disabled status if the employment is unsuccessful in the long run.…”

The Decline of Rehabilitation Services and Its Impact on Disability Benefits

“…For many years it had been known that people in receipt of social security bene®ts are rehabilitated less frequently than non-bene®ciaries 15 , and that the offer of services for rehabilitation to a disabled person may be perceived as a threat to his or her income 16 . Such secondary gain might serve to diminish the uptake of rehabilitation on offer and also the willingness of disabled people to return to the workforce.…”