Vitter Introduces Bill to End Double Dipping Between Unemployment and Disability Insurance

U.S. Senator David Vitter (R-La.) has reintroduced his legislation to disqualify recipients from receiving both unemployment compensation and disability insurance simultaneously, or "double dipping." Vitter previously introduced his legislation as an amendment to the Unemployment Insurance extension last year.

"Unemployment and disability insurance are meant to give folks a helping hand, but we need to make sure these programs aren't being abused. If you receive Social Security disability benefits for being physically unable to work, you shouldn't also receive federal assistance for not being able to find work," Vitter said. "My commonsense legislation would maintain the integrity of these programs, while making sure folks who truly need the help are still able to receive it."

The Unemployment Insurance (UI) program assists unemployed individuals by offering weekly unemployment benefit checks while they search for work. In order to be eligible for benefits, jobless workers must have a history of attachment to the workforce and must be able and available for work. Disability Insurance (DI) benefits are for those who are physically unable to work.

Estimated savings of eliminating "double dipping" would be $1 billion over 10 years. In fiscal year 2010, at least 117,000 individuals received both DI and UI benefits. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) estimates the overlapping cash benefits paid to these individuals totaled over $281 million from DI and more than $575 million from UI.

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