While javert's comment might have been un-sympathetic, its narrative is true. People have gotten on disability in proportion to the reduction of people on welfare. Check out this awesome Planet Money piece: http://apps.npr.org/unfit-for-work/

More specifically, check out this graph: http://apps.npr.org/unfit-for-work/img/pm-gr-disabilityvswel...

This does not mean that these people are bad or that we should end disability aid. But it's true... people are becoming "disabled" as a means of surviving.