The National Association of Disability Examiners (NADE) has released its Spring 2013 newsletter. NADE is an organization of the personnel who make initial and reconsideration determinations on Social Security disability claims. Here's a quote from the NADE President's column:
One issue that seemed to come to the forefront [in meetings with Social Security officials] was the destruction of prior paper folders, especially involving claimants in pay. We discussed with SSA officials the difficulties this caused while working CDRs [Continuing Disability Reviews]. We also discussed the cost savings associated with continuing to do the CDRs. That is, for every $1 spent on a CDR there are $12 in saving realized. We discussed the different funding mechanisms associated with the CDR workload. We discussed the current evaluation standards and the probable need to revisit the Medical Improvement Review Standards (MIRS).
I have always wondered who decided it would be a good idea to destroy disability files for claimants in current pay. I've seen this for even relatively young recipients. Don't they know these people will need a CDR someday???
ReplyDeleteIt also slows fraud prosecutions. Doesn't make it impossible, just a bit more difficult in some situations. Nothing better than original copies of prior statements with a wet signature. DOJ raised their concerns with SSA management, but it did not outweigh the SSA's desire to get rid of the cost of keeping the files.
ReplyDeleteWhy not scan the old files into PDF and thereby save lots of physical file space and storage costs?
ReplyDeleteMy personal belief is that $12.00 in savings is largely a myth. I worked medical reviews for 30 years.The majority of cessations returned to the rolls in very short time either through appeals or new claims . Low birth weight babies and age 18 DC claims were the only ones that stayed ceased.
ReplyDeleteThe $12.00 myth however keeps the bureaucracy fully employed and the congress buys into the myth of the $$$ saved.