Pain In Bismark -- And Allsup Can Help

From the Bismark Tribune:

The weather is changing. Bismarck resident Dan Neer can feel it from his lower back to the tip of his right toe.

Cool, damp weather makes his usual, constant back pain unbearable to the point he can be bedridden. ...

The pain also was the center of a battle to get disability benefits from the Social Security Administration. ...

It took two separate claims to the Social Security Disability Insurance, including appeals that were denied on the first claim, before he was approved for Social Security Disability in February. It took more than two years from his first application to be approved. ...

Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., has asked President Bush and the inspector general's office to look into the process. ...

He wants the inspector general's office to investigate the process to find out why the approvals are happening on appeal instead of the initial consideration. He wants to know if it is deliberate or a lack of resources. ...

Neer reached a point he felt he needed the outside help. He found out about Allsup from his father-in-law. He called and talked to them about his experience.

"This woman wanted to know everything," he said. "This lady believed me. She said 'Dan, I think we have a case.' Someone believed me. Someone could help. So much pressure lifted off."