Roundup Of News Items

There are too many news items on Social Security backlogs and office closures today to give each its own post, which is an interesting milestone in and of itself. Here are today's items:

• The Times Observer of Warren, Pennsylvania is running a story on Kathy Bimber who says she was left legally blind by a tumor, but who was denied Social Security disability benefits. She has contacted many elected officials without success. She is draining her family's savings as she waits for a hearing that may be two years off. Mrs. Bimber cannot understand since she says "I don't want welfare."
• CBS 46 in Atlanta reports on the delays in obtaining a hearing on a Social Security disability claims. I had wondered when a news outlet in Atlanta would finally report this story. Atlanta has the worst backlogs in the country.
• The Galveston News has an editorial on the decision to close the local Social Security field office. I would suggest that the paper start asking their Congressional representatives what they plan to do to prevent this office closure. See below.
  
• The Quad-City Times is running an article on the successful effort to keep the Clinton, Iowa Social Security field office open. The effort was successful due to the efforts of the state's Congressional representatives, particularly Senator Harkin.