There is a long article in the Tampa Bay Times that deals in part with Social Security disability. I will not try to pick out excerpts. Here are some pertinent facts from the article to give you some idea of what it is about:
- Gretchen Molannen files Social Security disability claim.
- Ms. Molannen's disability claim is denied. She appeals and has a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ).
- The ALJ denies Ms. Molannen's disability claim.
- Less than three months after receiving the ALJ decision, Ms. Molannen commits suicide.
- Ms. Mollanen's alleged disabling impairment was persistent genital arousal disorder.
8 comments:
if anything, it sounds like the publishing of the story was the trigger.
She lived with the problem for many years, then committed suicide one day after her story was published?
Yes, her impairment sounds awful, but doesn't seem disabling.
What is disabling?
100% Incapacitated or certain level of difficulty with all gainful employment. I suspect aljs and others use the first definition posed.
Damn tragedy. She doesn't fit a cookie cutter common diagnosis. Reasons are viewed as excuses. Seen this too often. Justin
We recently had a child client commit suicide. This was several months after an ALJ decided their behavioral and emotional issues were not disabling.
I'm not implying that the decision lead to the tragic end but we are still tempted nonetheless to send the ALJ a notice about what happened.
At first, I thought it was unfair to name the ALJ in the article. My attitude changed when I read this sentence:
" 'The judge said Gretchen was seeking disability for 'pecuniary gain.' "
Really? Have seen this in a few decisions and it is a dumb statement. Ninety percent of what everyone does in life is for pecuniary gain. Of course, claimants file for benefits for "pecuniary gain". This ALJ may have had good legal and factual reasons to deny benefits to this unfortunate woman, but her desire for "pecuniary gain" (i.e. not starving or being homeless) was not one of them.
3:52 PM - I agree completely. All of my clients apply for financial gain. I work for financial gain. It is a truism of the highest degree.
12:56 PM - I hope you don't send the notice, I think that would be too much. Justin
7:24 AM - Maybe it pushed her over the edge, although she wrote the paper she was happy for the story. And she had several prior attempts. Justin
In the last year and a half, I have had one ALJ who presided over three hearings, after which two of the claimants committed suicide. The third had her significant other take his life after waiting years for a remand only to have the claim denied again. He was well aware that if an appeal were successful the same ALJ would likely preside. In one of the hearings, the ALJ asked the claimant how he felt by manipulating others. The claimant (who was psychotic) committed suicide that evening. After a prolonged post hearing process,this ALJ denied the case. The fact is there are some individuals who have disdain for those they have been appointed to "judge". Moreover, there is no accountability. At least not on this earth.
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