Is not being able to speak English a "disability"?

Apparently the Social Security Administration thinks it is. From the Washington Post:



Puerto Ricans who can’t speak English qualify as disabled for Social Security

Quote:

Hundreds of Puerto Rico’s residents qualified for federal disability benefits in recent years because they lacked fluency in English, according to government auditors. . . . Under Social Security regulations, individuals are considered less employable in the United States if they can’t speak English, regardless of their work experience or level of education. . . . The inspector general noted that a nurse in Puerto Rico who speaks only Spanish could be considered “unskilled” under current Social Security standards. “A claimant’s inability to communicate in English can lessen the relevance of work experience and education, potentially making it more likely the claimant will receive disability benefits,” the report said. Auditors identified 218 cases between 2011 and 2013 in which the the Social Security Administration granted disability status to Puerto Rico residents because of the existing guidelines. The inspector general recommended that the agency evaluate whether the rules are appropriate and determine the number of beneficiaries who have received disability status based on their inability to communicate in English.

It seems like what they are saying is that inability to speak English is a qualification (not the only one, but one) to receive welfare from the government.

via International Skeptics Forum http://www.internationalskeptics.com/forums/showthread.php?t=291531&goto=newpost