Rural communities have strongest reliance on disability benefits

[pstokely]

http://www.kansascity.com/2012/01/28/3397747/disability-rolls-have-a-rural.html#storylink=misearch



"WARSAW, Mo. -- Around this rural county seat 100 miles southeast of Kansas City, 1 out of every 8 people of working age is home collecting disability checks from the Social Security Administration.

That compares to about 1 in 20 for the Kansas City area — which may sound low, but it’s climbing here, too.

Everywhere, Americans below retirement age are surviving on Social Security disability benefits and, with baby boomers aging in a slow economy, applications are exploding. Each year since the onset of the recession, more than 400,000 have been joining the system’s disability rolls, where they collect a monthly average of about $1,000.

But where are they most apt to collect it? A recent tabulation of data nationwide reveals the highest concentrations of communities subsisting on disability benefits, per capita, to be in historically poor, rural settings.
"

[freshwest]

1. Interesting to see how many voted against 'soshellism' and take a socialized benefits.

Rural areas are alleged to vote GOP.

[Historic NY]

2. Wait a minute thats going to screw up their welfare queen scheme mantra..

that all those northern big cities have people driving caddy's and eating bon bon's.

People with states that actually offer nothing scraping by.

[Hestia]

3. I am really shocked that Ark. is so high! But the fuscia is in the Ozark and

Ouchita mountain areas - no industry, snakey highways and poor soil for crops. Beautiful country though. Totally amazing.

[pstokely]

6. Highy red area also

nt

[customerserviceguy]

4. Interesting map

But it may be measuring where people have to move to, to be able to live on a disability check. You sure can't get by on one in Manhattan.

[Mopar151]

5. Absolutely true!

Your money goes further out in the boondocks, and self-help (like vegetable gardens and cutting wood for heat) works better there, too.
It's not all gravy, tho. Isolation and alcahol can be problems, especially for relationships.

[customerserviceguy]

7. There are small towns out there

that have the necessary infrastructure, etc., where you can rent something for a really reasonable amount, especially after the factory closes down because the jobs have been shipped to China. That can combat the isolation.

[Mopar151]

8. Berlin, NH

And Vermont's Northeast Kingdom. Trailer parks are actually a pretty good option - some have gone "co-op", buying out the owners with a loan deal from the state.