New Law Cuts Drug Addicts Off Benefits Addiction No Longer Will Be Considered A Disability

Alcoholics and drug addicts who receive Social Security benefits because they can’t work will be cut off, cold turkey.

A little-known section of a federal law taking effect Jan. 1 says they won’t be considered disabled if only their alcoholism or drug addiction keeps them from working.

Rep. George Nethercutt, who voted for the change, said it’s a way to keep the federal government from subsidizing substance abusers.

But those who work with alcoholics and drug addicts wonder whether the change will have the opposite effect. Without those payments, they may lose one motivation for seeking and staying with treatment.

“I think the big guys (in Congress) need to walk a mile in somebody else’s shoes,” said Carol Moulton of the American Indian Community Center, which oversees benefits for about 90 people under two federal programs.

Those two programs - Social Security disability and Supplemental Security Income - provide money to about 570 alcoholics and drug addicts in northeastern Washington and 90 people in North Idaho.

Addicts and alcoholics who have worked in the past but no longer are employable currently can receive up to $1,100 a month on Social Security, depending on how much they paid into the system while in previous jobs.

Those who have no work history but qualify for welfare can receive up to $477 in Supplemental Security Income.

The money does not go directly to the alcoholic or drug addict. It must be sent to a “protective payee” to ensure that the money is spent for such things as food and rent - not drugs or alcohol.

One alcoholic facing the cutoff said the program provided him with hope.

“Before I got on the program, there was no hope - I was a lost soul, living at the Mission,” said the 52-year-old man, who worked as a government official, truck driver and nurse’s aide. He asked that his name not be used to avoid embarrassing his family.

“In my life now, there is hope. I spend my checks on rent, utilities and the phone bill.”

To remain in the program, alcoholics and addicts must seek treatment.

“To some degree, that was happening, but there was not a high rate of success,” said Gail Whitehead, manager of Social Security’s Spokane office.

The Social Security Administration is sending out notices that the program is ending to all people who receive the money, and to their payees. They must decide whether to appeal by the end of July.

Moulton said she has mixed feelings about the cutoff.

“I have great empathy for these people. But I wonder, have we contributed to their choice by giving them money,” she said. “Have we been enablers?”

Nethercutt said he hopes the cutoff will spur addicts and alcoholics to get the treatment they need, and result in them returning to the workforce.

“The intention is to get them unaddicted,” the Spokane Republican said. “If they make progress, they get their benefits back.”

But Social Security officials say that’s not what the new law does.

“Treatment is not a factor,” said Dan Ferrell, regional public affairs director for the Social Security Administration. “The intent (of the law) is to cut them off from federal dollars.”

Alcoholics and addicts can apply for other, state-sponsored programs - just as they can now, Ferrell said. But under the new law, they will not receive money from Social Security because their condition will not be considered a disability.

They must prove another medical condition keeps them from working.

Many long-term alcoholics and addicts suffer serious medical problems and are expected to qualify for benefits because of those conditions, Ferrell noted.

More than half of those notified in Spokane of the impending cutoff have filed notices saying they intend to appeal, said Whitehead.

Some have contacted attorneys, Moulton said, and others “may be waiting to see if someone (in the government) is going to change their mind.”

, DataTimes