Rand Paul: 'Over half of the people on disability are either anxious or their back hurts'


During a two-day tour of New Hampshire, Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) stopped in Manchester to share his opinion on disability insurance, which he thinks is being ruined by people with anxiety and back pain.
"The thing is, in all of these programs, there's always somebody who's deserving," Paul said at a meeting of state legislators. "But everybody in this room knows somebody who is gaming the system."
Paul went on to say that "over half of the people on disability are either anxious or their back hurts."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
"Who doesn't get up a little anxious for work every day, and their back hurts?" Paul said. "Everybody over 40 has a little back pain."
His comments come as congressional Republicans prepare to push reforms to the Social Security Disability Insurance program. The program's trust fund is expected to run out of money by next year, which could lead to benefit cuts for enrollees. As for Paul's claims, according to the Social Security Administration, 14 percent of disability beneficiaries have "mood disorders," and 27.7 percent have diseases in their musculoskeletal systems or connective tissue (back pain would fall into this category).
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Meghan DeMaria is a staff writer at TheWeek.com. She has previously worked for USA Today and Marie Claire.
-
Critics push back as the government goes after Job Corps
The Explainer For at-risk teens, the program has been a lifeline
-
5 horror movies to sweat out this summer
The Week Recommends A sequel, a reboot and a follow up from the director of 'Barbarian' highlight the upcoming scary movie slate
-
Bryan Burrough's 6 favorite books about Old West gunfighters
Feature The Texas-raised author recommends works by T.J. Stiles, John Boessenecker, and more
-
Nobody seems surprised Wagner's Prigozhin died under suspicious circumstances
Speed Read
-
Western mountain climbers allegedly left Pakistani porter to die on K2
Speed Read
-
'Circular saw blades' divide controversial Rio Grande buoys installed by Texas governor
Speed Read
-
Los Angeles city workers stage 1-day walkout over labor conditions
Speed Read
-
Mega Millions jackpot climbs to an estimated $1.55 billion
Speed Read
-
Bangladesh dealing with worst dengue fever outbreak on record
Speed Read
-
Glacial outburst flooding in Juneau destroys homes
Speed Read
-
Scotland seeking 'monster hunters' to search for fabled Loch Ness creature
Speed Read