NOTES TO STUDENTS:

• This is an informative article only, and in no way discounts those Americans who truly need the assistance of government disability insurance. 
• Rather than criticizing any individual person receiving disability payments, we should question the government system that has created the problem of over 5% of the workforce being on disability.
• Read the "Background" below the questions before answering.

1. What is Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)? Who gets it? What requirements must you meet?

2. How many workers stopped working to go on disability in March?

3. a) How many Americans went on disability during President Obama's first term?
b) What is the total number of American workers who are currently on disability today?

4. a) What is the number of Americans working fulltime today?
b) Compare the number of Americans working full-time for each person collecting disability in 2013 vs. 1997. 

5. a) What is believed to be the main reason for the large increase in the number of Americans entering the disability program?
b) Are you surprised by the answer to 5a?  Explain your answer.

6. What is the greatest concern about the large number of people signing up for disability?