CNN Doing Social Security Disability Story

Linda Fullerton reports on the Social Security Disability Coalition board that CNN is doing a story on Social Security disability and is seeking to talk with people who have suffered great financial distress while waiting for Social Security or to the survivors of those who died while waiting on Social Security.

Astrue Misses Missoula Event

Michael Astrue, Social Security's Commissioner, got stuck in Arkansas and did not make the public meeting scheduled in Missoula, MO with Senator Max Baucus, the Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee. Nancy Berryhill, Social Security's Denver Regional Commissioner substituted for him.

The Missoulian reports that Charles Drinhill, the father of a Social Security disability claimant, and the son's attorney, Susan Gobbs, showed up to express their frustration with delays in adjudicating Social Security disability claims. In response Berryhill talked of her pride in Social Security's internet presence. That did not satisfy Drinhill or Gibbs.

Social Security Working With Wal-Mart

The Morning News of Northwest Arkansas reports that the Social Security Administration is working with Wal-Mart to get more people signed up for Part D of Medicare, the prescription drug benefit.

Congresswoman Criticizes "Culture Of Denial"

From the Tuscon Citizen:

After Randall Burger's lifelong epilepsy became uncontrollable, the Oro Valley man applied for Social Security disability payments.

His claim was denied.

The federal agency turns down 64 percent of initial claims for disability, said U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz.

Her office stepped in to help Burger and his application was approved on appeal.

Giffords, in Tucson Tuesday to talk about the issue, said she is concerned about the "bureaucratic red tape" and what appears to be a "culture of denial" in the Social Security Administration.

Dead Man Walking

I hate to post another story about a man mistakenly labeled as dead by the Social Security Administration, but wow! From the Times-Tribune of Pennsylvania:

The 64-year-old Green Ridge resident said a Social Security Administration worker admitted the agency mixed up a digit in his Social Security number and confused him with a dead man somewhere in California.

“I just want this resolved,” Mr. Bethel said from his Olyphant Avenue home. “I’m not speaking from the grave. At least, I don’t think I am.”

Mr. Bethel said his ordeal began in September 2005, when he received a letter from the Social Security Administration’s Scranton office notifying him he would soon begin receiving monthly payments on or about the 21st of each month.

The letter, which was followed by a timely benefits payment, was the beginning of “the end” for Mr. Bethel and his wife, Alma.

The following month, when his benefits check failed to appear in his checking account, Mr. Bethel questioned a teller who suggested he call Social Security.

“When I got home, I called them, and they asked me my name, birth date and mother’s maiden name, and I said I simply wanted to know what happened to my money,” he said.

The answer was downright chilling.

“Our records show that you’re dead,” Mr. Bethel said he was told. ...

“I was told to bring proof to the Social Security Administration, which is located at the Oppenheim building downtown. It was a weird thing, because all of their files were being moved and the office was being relocated to another floor. I was sitting at this table, and a worker comes back and tells me again that I’m dead.”

After the worker shared laughs with colleagues, joking that Mr. Bethel was a “dead man walking,” he was escorted to his bank, where things appeared to have been cleared up.

Mr. Bethel’s resurrection turned out to be short-lived.

Later, he was told to go to the Social Security Administration’s Wilkes-Barre office so he could resume receiving his benefits payments, which had ceased because of his “death.”

“The workers then informed the bank to disregard any notice of my being dead,” he said. However, after the bank received a subsequent deposit to Mr. Bethel’s account, the notice to disregard was, well, disregarded. Social Security Administration officials declined comment.

Mrs. Bethel received a letter from PennStar Bank expressing condolences over her husband’s “death” and informing her she was required to reimburse $841 in Social Security payments. ...

Mr. Bethel received a letter from the Internal Revenue Service dated April 27, 2007.

“According to the information provided to the IRS by the Social Security Administration, the primary Social Security number entered on your tax return is that of a deceased individual,” the letter stated. ...

Mr. Bethel followed that letter with one of his own, again including proof he is alive. On May 29, 2007, in an attempt to ensure the matter would be resolved, Mrs. Bethel called the IRS and was told by an agent to wait for a written response that would be mailed soon.

No response from the IRS ever came. Three weeks ago, however, the Bethels received a letter from the Social Security Administration’s Wilkes-Barre office.

“We are writing to you about earnings reported in your name ... because we’re not sure whether the earnings belong to you or someone else,” the letter read. ...

The Bethels recently filled out what they called a “mountain” of paperwork to refinance their home only to be told by the bank that Mr. Bethel is deceased and that it is the bank’s policy not to lend money to a dead person.

“I gave up on the refinancing,” he said. “I wasn’t going through that again.”

Last week, the Bethels spoke with Social Security officials and are optimistic they are finally close to resolving what has been a three-year mission to prove he’s alive.

Social Security Audits A Claimant

From the St. Charles, MO Journal:

Between Thanksgiving and Christmas my wife and I received a letter from the Social Security Administration (SSA). It was not a "happy holidays" wish.

The first paragraph of the letter stated, "Each month, the Social Security Administration asks a few people who file an application for Social Security benefits to help us make sure that we handled their claims properly. Your claim was chosen this month for one of these reviews. It was chosen entirely by chance, NOT because we have any special question about you or your benefits." ...

The social insurance specialist who sent the letter - I'll call her Alice, since she survives within a governmental wonderland - directed us to review all enclosed information and mail her the originals of our birth certificates and marriage license. ...

Alice suggested we call a toll-free number she provided if we had any question. Disbelief and concern for legality spurred me to call. I connected with the Social Security Administration, Office of Quality Assurance and Performance Assessment in Kansas City. Alice worked there. The letter was legit.

I said to my wife, "It's fact! We're being audited by Social Security. Can you believe this?"

She replied, "No! It's bizarre." ...

On the appointed date and at the exact time, Alice called. She was acutely courteous. She explained that both our claims were being reviewed under what's called a stewardship review within the Retirement, Survivor, Disability Insurance Quality Review program. ...

When Alice finished her questioning, I boldly asked, "How many Social Security recipients receive these audits each year?"

She answered, "In fiscal year 2006, 1,440 cases were selected nationally."

Fear Mongering

From the Californian.com (emphasis added):

The Social Security office in Salinas has made a move to improve service to the community, even as potential candidates for the presidency debate the existence of the system.

While the financial fate of the Social Security Administration hangs in the balance, the Salinas office was transplanted from its former location on Alvin Drive to 928 E. Blanco Road, in part to be able to treat customers with more dignity, Social Security officials said.

I do not know this reporter's motivations, but this looks like a ridiculous effort to turn a simple story into a propaganda piece.

Poll -- Education

Free Web poll for your Web site - freepolls.com