Dec 28, 2011

15,043 Died Waiting For Disability Determination

     From today's Wall Street Journal:
The backlog of applications for disability benefits is so big the Social Security Administration has a special code—DXDI—for appeals dismissed because the applicant died waiting. Since 2005, the agency has made 15,043 DXDI designations.

11 comments:

Nobbins said...

Surprised this number isn't higher. I wonder what % of backlogged apps this is? Probably less than 1%.

Anonymous said...

But how many of those individuals were actually disabled before they died? That would be the more telling statistic.

The guy mentioned in the article who died of colon cancer should have been granted benefits before he died, but people die for reasons unrelated to their alleged disabilities. Of the cases I have handled involving deceased claimants, the majority have been denials.

Anonymous said...

I assume these cases are dismissed due to death in the 5 month waiting period. As cases still have medical decisions made after the claimant dies, correct?

Anonymous said...

also remember that usually only SSI only apps get dismissed due to death. In concurrent and T2 only cases there is usually a substitute party to come in.

Anonymous said...

This code has got to pertain only to cases for which there is no one eligible for a potential underpayment. T16 only pays underpayments to eligible (T16) spouses and spouses living with the deceased claimant within 6 months of death. A deceased T16 child's underpayment can be paid to a parent living with the child within 6 months of the child's death. T2 underpayments can generally be paid, if not to a relative, to the estate.

If there is no potential for paying an underpayment, SSA does not make a disability decision, but dismisses the case. There's no point, from SSA's perspective, to putting a lot of time and effort into getting and evaluating evidence if nothing can be paid.

Anonymous said...

But SSI apps may survive because the person received interim assistance -- in which case a decision has to be issued.

Anonymous said...

I had a cl. die this year waiting.. tried an on the record request. They didn't like the onset date. I amended it. They scheduled the hearing. She died. No hearing. No SSI paid. SSA wins. Good job SSA. Sleep well tonight.

Anonymous said...

15K since 2005? Hate to sound heartless, but that doesn't really seem statistically significant. Humanely, yes, but not otherwise.

Anonymous said...

Since people die for reasons unrelated to their alleged disability, a better measure is needed of how long disability claims are delayed. The best measure of course is simply how long of a period of time between filing their application and the date they are awarded or denied.

Anonymous said...

We all die waiting for something. Sorry, but this is just a fact of life. Sensationalism as it relates to this article.

Dhesbar Publications said...

Are we sure this isn't a classic case of purging? Congress loves using the SSA slush, I mean trust fund for their pet projects (Reagannomics). Old useless disabled sick people can survive on hearty dog food, if that.