Suspecting fraud, the Social Security Administration is reviewing the claims of hundreds of Eastern Washington and North Idaho children with attention deficit disorder who get disability checks.
Officials fear some poor parents took advantage of loose guidelines, coaxing their children into faking symptoms. Qualifying children get up to $500 a month in Supplemental Security Income.
"We suspect, but haven't found" fraud, said Michael Rineer, operations supervisor for the Spokane Social Security office. Nevertheless, the review has led to the elimination of benefits for many.
The review was demanded by Congress last year. As part of welfare reform, federal rules for SSI were tightened, making it harder for parents of kids with ADD to get benefits.
Previously, children didn't need a medical diagnosis and could qualify based on a single school counselor's assessment, said Rineer.
With the review nearly done, 114 of the 328 children in the Spokane area will lose their ADD-related benefits, according to Dale McGruder, area manager for the state Disability Determination Service.
In Idaho, a statewide review of 1,500 cases is still under way, but about 40 percent of the claims examined have been stopped, according to Sharon Grunke of the Idaho DDS office.
SSI is intended to pay for treatment of children with ADD who live in low-income families, although parents previously weren't required to spend the money on their child.
Qualifying children also received Medicaid, which pays for medication.
ADD claims rose steeply during the early 1990s, as the controversial disorder gained attention.
News reports exposed instances in which parents asked teachers to diagnose ADD in their child in order to qualify for benefits. Government watchdog groups railed against the disability classification.
