The New York Daily News reports on the "hellscape" facing Social Security disability claimants. I don't think blaming it on the lack of a confirmed Commissioner is going to take the GOP very far. If nothing else, it's a signal to any candidate for the job that there're going to be the designated fall guy for the backlogs. Try finding a little more money for the agency, for goodness sake. It's not like anyone thinks you really care about deficits.
5 comments:
What makes you think they want to fix the backlog? They have a trillion dollars to make up, and since Joe and Joan Public do not consider disability "real" social security, they have an opportunity to bash those programs, SSI and SSDI, so they can "save" retirement benefits. They can point to the staggering number of people looking for a handout that is the current backlog, spout a few things about fraud and sprinkle with a flourish of self reliance. They have a perfect opportunity to dismantle and make things much tougher than we have seen in many years. The way they will fix the backlog is to gut the program. Be careful what you wish for, you might get it in a way you don't want it.
Remember, somewhere there is a patriotic, god fearing, high frequency trading/front running billionaire who has not received a tax cut and must be saved before it's too late! Don't Tread On ME!!! dammit and Drain that Swamp! I'm late for my golf game.
I wish just one of these articles would address the actual criteria that is used to determine disability . People should realize that with the current criteria someone is not necessarily disabled because they had a leg amputated, had a heart attack or have cancer. The discussion should be whether the criteria are too harsh rather than just how long it takes for a third determination/decision
@3:33 There are plenty of people who in fact meet the disability standard but who cannot prove it. A person in a very difficult situation (lets say a mentally ill homeless person with no insurance, income, or support network), would likely need a combination of social work, financial assistance, medical case management, stable insurance, and legal help just to develop the evidence needed to present a persuasive disability claim.
Since it's very hard for such a person to find all that help they often become frequent filers. Limit access to insurance or other assistance, and more people become trapped in that "hellscape" of not being able to work, but at the same time not being able to prove their disability claim to get benefits.
I think the rules for the grids are rigid enough to deny whoever you want, especially under age 50. At the same time, they are "flexible" enough to approve almost anyone at the ALJ level, especially after 50. The ALJs are thus basically allowed to make any decision they want by dismissing any evidence they want to. This explains both high and low approval rates. The AC has become little more than a highly paid rubber stamp. SSA has systemically put downward pressure on approval rates at all levels. As for the federal circuits, due to political appointments and different procedural rules, some circuits are clearly friendlier to claimants than others. When you also consider that some disabilities, by their nature and perception versus others that are poorly understood, has led to an inequality of justice. Whether the claimant can actually sustain SGA has become increasingly irrelevant.
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