Don't Blame Us!

A letter to the editor published in the New York Times:

Re “Disabled Need Help Now, Not Later” (letters, Dec. 17):

The New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance takes great pride in our expeditious review of federal disability claims.

Our work force has the tools and the training to decide initial claims in a timely manner. We review extensive medical documentation, consult with medical professionals and render a decision in less than three months on average.

The backlogs identified by The New York Times in its earlier coverage occur at the appeals stage, which is directly administered by the Social Security Administration.

As a result of our ability to manage our own caseload, our office has taken on and completed approximately 4,500 cases that would otherwise have been handled by the Social Security Administration, to assist in reducing the backlog of cases on appeal.

David A. Hansell

Albany, Dec. 17, 2007

The writer is the commissioner of the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance.