Social Security is now requiring that attorneys and others who represent Social Security claimants file appeals for their clients electronically if they want to receive direct payment of fees. To help educate everyone on how to file appeals online, Social Security sent out invitations to a "Webinar" today.
I have heard from several attorneys who tried to access the "Webinar." They all say that they were not allowed to join the "Webinar."
Update at 2:15 P.M. EST: I just tried to join the Webinar. I was able to but the video feed keeps hanging up.
Update at 2:15 P.M. EST: I just tried to join the Webinar. I was able to but the video feed keeps hanging up.
10 comments:
World Class Service.
Unfortunately it's much more time consuming than the old process. If you list a medication you have to go through and list all the particulars about each doctor that prescribes a medication, even if there has been no recent medical treatment. Plus, when it shows the overall summary of everything you've completed on the appeal it does not show you the entire summary. It only shows you the first sentence for each response. In the end, I hope it will result in expediting the entire process. Now the problem is the same day the appeal gets filed electronically SS sends out a letter saying the 827 is missing. Well, considering it has to be mailed in, of course it hasn't been received yet.
You could try watching the video at non-peak hours (after business hours). It's 08:51 PM on 03/07/2012 and I am streaming the video. It seems to be going pretty well so far. - - - - I wonder what they are going to with those cases (which invariably occur) cannot be filed electronically(?)
So, now the attorney/rep will start to represent the claimant the day after the soon-to-be client has mailed in their scribbled letter request for hearing"?
(or, If the attorney/rep gets a first telephone call the night before the hearing, the on-line form would have to be completed before appearing at the next day hearing? Assuming a "no adjournments" ALJ or hearings office.)
Appears that attorneys have to work a bit harder for their fees. SSA is moving fast and furiously into the do-it-yourself online era; there is not enough staff to sit and transcribe the written documents; compassionate allowances are identified by the computer; Patty Duke has been hired to be the spokesperson of online retirement claims for baby boomers; claims reps already don't know enough about claim processing to give an answer other than "that's what the computer says". This is where we are and where we are going.
re: 7:30pm
The SSA-827 is supposed to go to electronic signature in 04/2012.
re: 9:54pm
Just print the screen showing the appeal can't be filed online and mail a copy in with the paper forms. SSA won't give you a problem about it in that circumstance - if you can't file it online, you can't.
Says to send docs to any SSA office. Good luck with that. The DO is very specific that they only handle workload in their direct geographic area. Send appeal docs for a PA resident to NJ office, or even within the same state, it will be lost in the circular file.
Just tried to use the beloved 1-800-772-1213 at 7:30AM to check the status of an appeal filed early in February and "Greg" could tell me nothing, since I am not the Claimant. Told me to call the DO. That's a full time job trying to get through 9A-3:30P! Why do they advertise the 800 number to reps at the webinar when it is useless to us!!
I've been filing all my IAs and appeals online for years with generally no problems. It's fast, easy, and doesn't require any brainpower. I have the claimants fill out the paper forms and I transcribe their answers to the online forms, tinkering here and here to clarify things. It's worked beautifully for me so far....
The solution is very simple. Hire more employees. They are pusing the internet since that is the wave of the future since so many employees are retiring and not being replaced. Welcome to the new and "improved" Social Security.
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