From the Arkansas Democrat Gazette:
The Legislative Council on Friday approved Arkansas Disability Determination for Social Security Administration's request to create 92 new positions. ...
"Due to the current situation in our country, Social Security Administration ... anticipates a significant national increase of federal Social Security disability cases in many states, as well as Arkansas," state Personnel Director Kay Barnhill wrote in a memo to the Legislative Council's personnel subcommittee chairmen, Rep. Jim Wooten, R-Beebe, and Sen. David Wallace, R-Leachville. ...
I haven't seen a surge in disability claims due to Covid-19. I'm expecting some claims as a result of long term health problems related to Covid-19 but I haven't seen a single case yet.
17 comments:
It's incredible that the line of thinking continues as if people lose their jobs and immediately file for disability. It's not how it worked in 2007-2008 and it's not how it'll work this time.
Economy tanks, jobs are lost. First, people take some time to get their bearings. Second, they file for and collect unemployment. Third, once the UE runs out and jobs don't come back (and the hard truth is a huge number of lost jobs and businesses aren't coming back), then other benefits are filed for, including disability.
Any spike in applications will occur in 2021 due to economic conditions. Go back and look at when the spike in applications occurred during the last recession. It's not an immediate reaction.
SSA authorized more positions than that.
I've noticed a spike in disability claims here in MI/OH. There are many people who were marginally employed who saw no other options once they lost their jobs in March then to look into disability. Most of our new disability applications now are listing 3/20 as the disability onset date. The claims aren't because they're sick from Covid, but that they lost their jobs because of Covid, have other underlying health issues, and don't see a path to return to work.
I do agree, however, that the ending of UE will trigger more cases as people run out of options. Plus, the UE ending will open up potential SSI cases now that they meet the asset criteria. I think the general trend will be an increase in disability claims nationally through 2021.
Economy tanks, filings go up, representatives say there is no correlation. It is a disability program, not an extension of UE.
Arkansas DDS has a large unit that actually does disability determination casework for other states. I wonder if these were positions hired for that unit?
I agree with the first comment. Also, it's better to prepare for the inevitable surge in applications now, rather than wait until the backlog gets huge again.
I am seeing a spike in SSDI claims, but far fewer worker compensation cases. Those who have jobs are working hurt.
To hire new people both the Feds and the state ..not the DDS but the state as a whole. Often one says yes the other no. The state may have a hiring freeze for example. Where I am currently the receipts are way down but we hired new people anyway. You have to get while the getting so good. They were hired from other states so on the federal level probably no net increase in disabilty workers. The main impact on us currently is cases staying in our office because schools closed, medical offices closed, no CEs, Cannot deny or cease for failure to cooperate or provide evidence even when all that is needed is work history or 827 forms. Have one case with a serious complication related to COViD and a pre-existiing impairment tha our MD says might get better within 12 months. Unfortunately I do not work in that state where one of your lawyer contributors says the doctor never looks at the records.
10:51 am:
In a tight labor market, employers are more willing to accommodate older and impaired workers. In the current labor market, employers will not do that as they will have many more applicants than jobs. I believe that explains some of the increase in disability applications when there is a downturn in the economy.
You are right. Disability program is not an unemployment program. Congress needs to deal with the current problem.
Seems odd to do. Not sure the surge in claims is going to go up that much. Hearing offices might have to close given the lack of work.
I did see a big jump in disability claims about 1-2 years after the recession in 2007-08.
A lot were just people who could not find jobs so they filed for disabiilty.
But a lot got severely depressed and could not just snap out of it. Feel like the mental toll of the coronavirus will be the most severe. People will loses. Some may become homeless. It will be bad.
But also remember there could be severe breathing problems with this disorder. There could be other longterm effects. I have heard there is some sort of chronic brain fob coming from this virus. So we just don't know.
I would expect a surge in a year or two.
@7:28
10:05 here. You are absolutely correct. This isn't going to be a purely economic disaster. The combination of potential long-term effects from Covid with the economy could lead to a large spike in cases. Excellent point.
Will be interesting to see if the change to so many workers working from home with the ability to sit/stand at will, and other accommodations has any effect. May be a double edged sword.
@7:28 It will take a long time for those cases to reach hearing offices. Maybe many hearing offices will be closed soon due to the lack of work at them.
@7:28 Could see hearing offices closing. No need for all the offices now with so many people apparently working at home and cases way down.
In NC we had had a lot of cases in 2008 when all the manufacturers closed. We will see them when unemployed stops.
Oregon needs to hire more examiners to reduce their backlog and stop sending to FDDS.
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