Conservatives cheer as America's threadbare social welfare system kills 110K people

[LJ_Reloaded]

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/soci...eath-government-watchdog-finds-202040572.html

A new study released by the government’s watchdog the Government Accountability Office (GAO) has found that long wait times for appeals for disability claims had disastrous impacts for those in need of disability benefits from the Social Security Administration. Over 100,000 people died while waiting for their appeal, while roughly 50,000 had to file for bankruptcy.

The report comes at a time of “heightened risk” to “worsening medical and financial conditions,” the GAO says, for Americans living with disabilities due to the coronavirus pandemic. The report’s findings could indicate troubling times ahead for the millions who might need disability benefits.

Roughly 10 million people receive disability benefits, according to the SSA Annual Statistical Report. The majority of disability benefits went to disabled workers — 87% of all beneficiaries. In December of 2018, payments to disabled beneficiaries totaled almost $11.6 billion.

As part of this analysis the GAO examined wait times and outcomes during the fiscal years 2014 to 2019. They examined applicants for disability benefits who appealed Social Security Administration’s (SSA) decision to deny benefits or only partly award benefits they applied for. The study found that most people who filed an appeal “waited more than 1 year for a final decision on their claim.”

What is the right wing response to this? "Not enough poor people dying!"

Let's not forget Trump wants to do away with Social Security entirely.