Comments On Proposed Procedural Rules Changes

I thought I would go through the comments already available online and post links to comments from important organizations or prominent individuals. This is a very subjective list.

• David Ettinger
• Senator Tom Harkin
• National Organization of Social Security Claimants Representatives
• National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare
• Robert Rains, Penn State Law School
• Disability Policy Collaboration
• National Alliance On Mental Illness
• John Heard
• Ray Cebula, Cornell Law School
  
• American Association for Justice (formerly known as ATLA)
• Federal Bar Association
• Multiple Sclerosis Society
• Leadership Council of Aging Organizations
• National Council Of Disability Determination Directors
• Richard Feinstein

There are many comments from individuals, probably claimants, in the San Antonio area.

My Comments On Procedural Rules

I have posted on the separate Social Security Perspectives blog my comments on the proposed changes to Social Security's procedural rules.

I urge anyone reading this to file their own comments. Today is the deadline. Comments may be filed online.

The Motley Fool (And Allsup) On Social Security Disability

From The Motley Fool (a internet investing advice site):

Most investors today are taking steps to provide for their own retirement income, since they understand that relying solely upon Social Security retirement benefits is a prescription for poverty. But many seem more than willing to count on Social Security's disability program if something happens to them during their careers. However, they may not realize just how little is covered -- or how difficult it might be to get benefits. ...

Even if you meet all the requirements, it's tough just to get a hearing. There's already a backlog of 750,000 pending requests for disability hearings at the SSA's Office of Disability Adjudication and Review. That backlog equates to about one in every 300 American adults. It's a long line you'll be standing in if you're expecting government insurance to carry you through. And that backlog is expected to keep growing.

Jim Allsup, a disability claims expert and president of Allsup Inc., has seen a 168% increase in the number of people seeking out his assistance in navigating the minefield of the disability application process. Some experts suggest that statistics show as many as 70% of all disability claims are initially denied by Social Security. With that in mind, Allsup has offered 10 ideas to break through the backlog, including timely filing of your application, preparing an accurate medical record, and reducing your spending.

Deadline To Post Comments On Procedural Regulations Is December 28.

About two months ago, the Social Security Administration (SSA) posted a notice of proposed rule-making (NPRM) on changes in its procedural regulations. The deadline for posting comments on this NPRM is December 28. This is a major NPRM. Anyone who works in the Social Security disability field, either for SSA or representing claimants should strongly consider filing comments on the NPRM. If you want to comment, you must do so quickly. Comments can be posted online.

Bush Signs Appropriations Bill

President Bush has signed the omnibus appropriations bill that will fund Social Security's administrative operations through September 30, 2008. This is is likely to be the rate at which the agency can spend money until early 2009, since there seems little chance of agreement between a lame duck Bush and the Democratic majority in Congress on the fiscal year 2009 budget.

Saving The Juicy Stuff For The Week Of Christmas

From today's Federal Register:

We are issuing these final rules to adopt without change the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking published on August 16, 2007 at 72 FR 45991. These final rules amend the regulation at 20 CFR 422.527, which requires a person, institution, or organization (person) to obtain the Social Security Administration's (SSA's) approval prior to reproducing, duplicating, or privately printing any SSA prescribed application or other form whether or not the person intended to charge a fee. Section 1140(a)(2)(A) of the Social Security Act (the Act) prohibits a person from charging a fee to reproduce, reprint, or distribute any SSA application, form, or publication unless he/she obtains the authorization of the Commissioner of Social Security in accordance with such regulations as he may prescribe.

Christmas Poll

Free Web poll for your Web site - freepolls.com

Social Security Recipients By Zip Code

Social Security's Office of Policy has issued statistics showing the number of Social Security benefits recipients by city and by zip code.