Waiting In Bakersfield

From a piece in The Bakersfield Californian written by John Tello, a local attorney who represents Social Security disability claimants:

A hearing is scheduled in April 2010 for a Bakersfield woman who has been waiting since 2006 to get approval for Social Security disability benefits. That's right, four years.

My client, who suffered a serious work-related injury, was initially denied benefits in October 2006. Her application has gone through the process of reconsideration, denial, request for hearing, denial and appeal of denial. Finally, she has been granted the April hearing. While her disabilities are serious, it is a good thing they are not fatal. Otherwise, Social Security could have waited her out, allowing death to resolve the matter.

Regrettably, that is what often happens. And with a recent spike in the number of disability applications pouring into Social Security offices, the tragic consequences of long-delayed decisions are growing