Senator Calls For Social Security To Scrutinize Binder And Binder Clients
From
UPI (they still exist?!):
U.S. Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., called on the Social Security Administration to examine cases of disability claimants represented by a high profile legal firm.
Coburn Thursday called on SSA Commissioner Michael Astrue to look into the health status of people represented by Binder & Binder, a firm based in Hauppauge, N.Y., that advertises nationally. ...
Coburn, the top Republican on a subcommittee on Social Security, said Binder & Binder's practices were "potentially fraudulent" and raised questions on how many disability beneficiaries "are potentially improperly receiving benefits."
5 comments:
Ooooooh boy, here we go. The Republican crazy-train keeps on rollin'. If the GOP wins the White House next year, I'm moving to Denmark.
I'm curious. Chuck, I know you're no fan of Binder. What do you think of this?
I read the article yesterday and even though I am no fan of Binder I'm not sure what the point of the article is. They highlight two cases where SSA denied benefits which were then awarded at District Court in which Binder represented them for 5 plus years. Sounds like Binder did a good job on these two anyway.
They interview an employee who worked for them for less than a year who was fired for apparently doing his own cases while working for Binder. Then they make vague references re withholding evidence but then say that SSA has no real clear rules on what should or should not be submitted.
It seems to be a big leap by Coburn that all their cases should be investigated for possible fraud.
Former B&B EE here; everything in that article was spot on, and let me tell you, it was worse than that. The article didn't hit on nearly half of the problems with that company. Sure, they make a habit of withholding adverse evidence, it is part of the corporate culture and everyone does it, but things go far beyond that. How about the generally ineffective and untrained staff? The staggering turnover ratio? The flagrant overcharging on fee petitions? I could go on and on. Believe me, if that's all the dirt the WSJ dug up, they were only using a teaspoon on a landfill. You'd need a backhoe to get to the bottom of that stinking heap.
The senator should distinquish between his conservative views and what is improper under the law. These are entirely two different things. I hope SSA knows it.
Signed,
the disabled
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