From The Virginian-Pilot:
Struggling through what might be the last year of her life, Laura DeLong Smith heard some good news in late May.
A counselor from the American Cancer Society told her she qualified for a Social Security program that gives monthly disability checks to people with terminal cancer. She was elated.
The counselor coached her on what to say so that processors at the federal agency would steer her to the Compassionate Allowances Program.
Smith made the call, sat for a lengthy phone interview and went down to the Social Security office to sign a medical release form.Then it got ugly.
She received an eight-page form at her Virginia Beach home asking question after question that seemed strange for someone with a terminal illness: Was she left- or right-handed? What were her hobbies? Did she have pets? Did she make her own meals? ...
She was told that she had to fill it out or she wouldn't get the money. Everyone has to do it, she was told. ...
"I hope that the next person who comes along with terminal cancer doesn't have to put up with this humiliating experience," she said. ...
Mae Novak, a Social Security Administration spokeswoman who looked into Smith's case, said the function report is used to determine eligibility for many programs, not just those serving the terminally ill. ...
"The agency is pleased at the speed at which she was being serviced."
It is not clear to me who sent this form. If the FO sent the file to the DDS flagged properly, it should have gone right into the QDD and been allowed without delay after confirmation of the findings, prognosis & diagnosis. As usual with these reporters, they don't dig very deeply or they leave out facts in order to enhance their ironic twist in their articles.
ReplyDeleteEveryone DOES NOT have to fill out the Activities of Daily Living form, or ADL as it is known. Someone totally dropped the ball on this, if her disability is as alleged. I have had QDD and compassionate allowance claims that were approved in a matter of days. Someone at SSA is probably covering their butt, and the reporter did not do a good enough job.
ReplyDeleteUnless flagged for compassionate yes everyone answers the form. I feel for the woman and hope her status is changed as needed but I cannot believe someone is offended by the ADL form.
ReplyDeleteAgain, no they don't. Maybe some DDS's make a habit of it, but I have seen many disability claims, approvals as well as disallowances, with no ADL form.
ReplyDelete