In addition to the "correction" for "double-dipping" which will deduct whatever Social Security award players might receive from their NFL disability checks, there are other provisions equally if not more concerning.
First, to clarify, while some disabled players receive as much as $11,500 per month in disability pay and likely receive about $2,000 from Social Security Disability, this is very much on the high end. Others are only getting around $3,000 per month and about $1,200 in SSD.
This would be devastating to the players on the lower end of the scale, reducing them to about $1,800 per month. Beyond this, the new CBA seeks to begin eliminating SSD determinations as automatic approval.
For those who aren't aware, the NFL disability situation was so corrosive and unfair that congressional hearings were held in the late 1990s and the DOL began investigating the Disability Plan. Acceptance of SSD determinations was done to avoid legislative intervention.
Now that many of the legislators on the panels have retired and congress is in a state of dysfunction, the proposed CBA seeks to remove this policy as well as deducting the offset for SSD compensation.
"If costs spiral." Accountants can do amazing things with numbers. Be prepared for costs to spiral and see benefits reduced. And never forget that Groom Law Group is keeping close tabs on this. 
Conflicts of interest abound and reforms are needed. Why is Groom Law Group allowed to make recommendations to the DICC and Trustees and when they succeed in seeing a player denied, make even more money litigating against him?
Over the past decade, Groom Law Group was paid over $50.2 MILLION to keep retired #NFL Players from receiving disability benefits. Think of how many players this would have helped.
This also leads to more questions about De Smith's views on retirees and why he is still using Groom Law Group for consultation on legal and CBA matters. The most recent LM-2 shows over $300K from #NFPA coffers.
It might come as a surprise to active players to learn that Groom hasn't only been used against retired players. They were also used against a current dues-paying member -- Lane Johnson.
I've written several articles on Lane's lawsuit but this one should give #NFLPA members an idea of what he's had to deal with along with numerous backdoor deals with #NFL advocacyforfairnessinsports.org/current-litiga…
Going back to disability, here are some questions that both active and retired players should demand answers to:
Finally, this will give you an idea of what the Plan spends and #NFLPA approves in paying doctors to find players not disabled. It's your future and health. #KnowYourWorth
@threadreaderapp unroll
