Despite the efforts of three Republican senators in supporting legislation that is aimed at influencing people receiving disability benefits to return to work, it remains unclear how the Return to Work Act of 2017 does anything to change the current system.
Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) introduced the legislation in hopes that it would result in more people, who are receiving Social Security disability benefits, return to work after their condition medically improves.
The main problem with the legislation is that it duplicates current regulations that already exists. Social Security never finds someone permanently disabled for the rest of their lives. Yes, some people do collect Social Security for the rest of their lives because they have significant medical impairments that never improve, but most people are reviewed by the agency to see if they continue to be disabled. Social Security routinely conducts Continuing Disability Reviews (CDR) mostly based on an Administrative Law Judge’s (ALJ) recommendation for people who are receiving disability benefits. Because some people who are reviewed are determined to be able to go back to work, disability benefits stop. It is unclear why this legislation is being introduced considering it would change very little about the current process. There are also the people who have serious medical conditions that, according to their medical providers, are never expected to improve. It is unclear how this legislation might create extra hassle in their lives.
