gary burtless of the brookings institution says this is a snapshot of a troubling long- term upward trend in the number of adults collecting social security disability benefits. once they start collecting, few ever re-enter the workforce. >> it means that the contribution rate that all of us are currently paying for social security disability insurance will eventually have to go up unless there is some kind of a change in that trend. >> reporter: burtless says over the long run he hopes to see new ways to help keep the disabled in the workforce longer. sylvia hall, "nightly business report," washington. >> tom: the new year is for resolutions, and the federal reserve isn't alone. the central banks wants to communicate better. next month, chairman ben bernanke and his colleagues will craft a plan to help markets understand where the fed is heading. darren gersh takes a look at the federal reserve's plans for 2012. >> reporter: one way the fed might change its communications strategy is by releasing its forecast for short-term interest rates. fed watcher roberto perli says markets now expec