As our readers are surely aware, there are a variety of opinions on what should be done to manage the Social Security Disability program. The issue has become one of the major issues of the upcoming presidential election, and recent data has shown that the number of disability claims has increased significantly during the recession.

According to sources, 8.9 million Americans were on the disability program back in 2007, but that number has increased to 10.7 million, a 20 percent increase. Non-economic factors such as an increasing backlog of applicants and a large aging population have certainly helped contribute to the problem, but the recession itself has certainly had its effect.

As we wrote in one of recent posts, two recent studies have shown a correlation between when individuals seek Social Security disability payments and when their unemployment benefits run out. The studies suggest that many Americans turn to Social Security disability benefits as a fallback to unemployment insurance and personal savings.

The other part of the picture is that, while more people may be benefiting from the program, particularly as unemployment remains high, the fact remains that may people honestly rely on the program's benefits to get by.

The process of being approved for benefits is, according to those who assist applicants, no walk in the park. Not just anybody can be approved. It may also be misleading to focus on unemployment as the reason behind the increase in applicants to the program, since it is also true that national medical and economic trends have had an effect on the number of applicants.

There is no question that the program will need reforming in the years to come, and that may mean some sacrifice for Americans. But it is also true that the needs of our population are changing, and that many Americans honestly need the assistance Social Security Disability can offer them.

Source: USA Today, "Opposing view: Disability benefits remains a vital lifeline," Charles Martin, February 3, 2012.