Former Disability Examiner here. I concur - the paltry SSI sum and the insane rules about assets enforce poverty & that’s only the beginning. Disability reviews (CDR cases) are one of the worst aspects of the system. They are labor intensive to process and rest on the premise that the odds are people will medically improve when there’s actually a slim chance of it. Plus, the system is so backed up that cases that are slotted for review in 3 years don’t get reviewed for 10 years or more. Universal income is the answer because you are medically disabled is ridiculously complex. I often argued for approval in cases where it was completely obvious the claimant could not work (400 lb non-English speaking illiterate migrant worker with anemia so severe he just missed the cutoff for the right number of blood transfusions within six months comes to mind) but the rules were unassailable. Many of the forms make no sense -especially the work hx since that can be looked up- including the ADLs which are self reported and ignored by the docs (medical consultants) in favor of labs, X-rays, and the gods of ‘objective findings.’ SSI/SSDI is a dinosaur and an incredibly punishing, expensive system that should be overhauled in so many ways. The VA system is grueling, too, but at least they allow for partial disability. Most people want to work and are honest & benefits should be provided based on that reality.