| The original legislation creating SSD was passed by congress in 1956. This law made monies available for the disabled worker. In 1972 the SSI program was created to provide cash benefits and eligibility for medical benefits (i.e. Medicaid and Medicare) for the aged and disabled (McCarthy, 1999). With this legislation, a policy of required treatment and representative payees was implemented. In 1994 PL 103-296 instituted additional more stringent requirements including a 36-month payment limitation, suspension of benefits for noncompliance, and limitation of retroactive benefits. Efforts to identify “all drug and alcohol abuse” increased at this time. The following year, in 1995 during welfare reform, congress heard testimony about alleged drug abuse by recipients, which influenced passing of this legislation in 1996 (McCarthy, 1999). As part of the bill, Medical Assistance eligibility was no longer available after a 120 day reclassification period by each state to establish whether benefits were available (Dunne. 1997). |