“Sit home and collect the check”: race, class, and the social construction of disability identity

Re-Claiming Disability: Identity, Procedural Justice, and the Disability Determination Process

“…Another issue that was discussed by interviewees from both identity groups was the social stigma associated with claiming disability benefits—with not working and collecting checks. The findings from the interviews validate existing notions in the literature about stigma (Soss , 38, 48, 57–59; Little , 193). Ben, from the medical‐individual model group, said, “I think they [the SSA] should take into consideration that most people apply to disability [benefits] because they really don't feel like they have a choice.…”

“…Keeping this concern in mind during data collection, I tried to reach as diverse a population as possible within my constraints. Since disability studies scholars were criticized for not taking account of aspects of oppression that are derived from other intersecting identities such as gender, race, class, and sexual orientation (Asch 2001, 418; Bell 2010, 377; Little 2010, 187; Ribet 2010, 219), I kept those identities and the idea of intersectionality in mind while trying to recruit participants for the research and assess its subjects' disability identities. I managed to interview people representing different demographics, backgrounds, socioeconomic statuses, and legal consciousness so as to offer a broad description of the phenomena (see the Appendix for the summary table describing the research population).…”

“…It is no wonder that poverty and disability are so closely connected (Smith 2003, 29; Wing 2005, 657; Schweik 2009, 16; Mor 2011, 184). Research indicates that there is a stereotypical expectation of people with disabilities to “just sit home, out of society's sight, and collect the check” given to them as a paternalistic gesture of governmental assistance (Little 2010, 193). This notion of welfare mentality goes along with the sick role people with disabilities are expected to play in order to receive the help and accommodations they need (Winter 2003, 40; Parsons 2013, 294).…”

“…Especially in the period before the Affordable Care Act, which seeks to guarantee health care coverage for the United States population, many disabled people were forced to turn to SSDI or SSI in order to obtain health care (Little 2010, 192). Thus, SSDI and SSI also served the purpose of covering some medical costs for their recipients through such complementary programs as Medicare and Medicaid (or Medi-Cal in the State of California) (Weber 2009, 581; Huberfeld and Roberts forthcoming).…”