I agree with this. SSI disability is for people with genuine disability and seems to have been hijacked to encompass much more than what it was designed for. I have posted a proposal for disability reform that I feel will better serve the people and save taxpayer money:
Provide a safety net for SSI disability recipients to work - Health - Policies for the People
I am a mother of son (adult) who was born with a disability and had no idea that addicts and people with various mental health issues and addiction are put in the same category. This tarnishes the public perception of benefits for those who have legitimate disabilities and is a misuse of these limited resources.
I would propose:
Separate agencies or funding sources for addiction / mental-health related disability from those that serve congenital or physical causes. The needs for these groups are very different because people who are born with disabilities such as down syndrome, muscular dystrophy, etc will always be disabled. People with addiction and mental health issues are treatable and require access to different services.