According to the Wall Street Journal, lawmakers are considering a probe of the Social Security Disability program. This probe is not the same probe reported earlier about the judge in Huntington, West Virginia who was put on administrative leave for awarding an unusually high number of Social Security Disability cases (100 percent in the past six months, to be exact).
There is no doubt that the backlog of Social Security Disability appeals that are currently in the Social Security system is a significant problem for the Social Security Administration. While the Social Security Administration did, at one time, have plans in place to decrease the backlog of disability claims, budget cuts put a stop to those efforts before they even began.
Many of us know how frustrating the Social Security Disability claim process can be. For some, it is easier than for others. A few fortunate disability applicants receive access to their Social Security Disability benefits in a few short months. Most, however, have to wait a year or more before benefits begin – if they begin at all.
Everyone is concerned about Social Security reform and recent discussions that have taken place about cutting the Social Security retirement and disability benefits that workers receive. Recent proposals have been a very hot topic as of late and public interest organizations are outraged. AARP is one of the organizations that is crying out regarding the proposed changes to Social Security and Medicare benefits.
We all know that the fight for Social Security Disability benefits can be a struggle. A mere 30 percent of claimants are awarded disability benefits during the initial stage of the application process, and that process alone can take three to six months to complete. The remaining Social Security Disability applicants must endure a complicated and lengthy appeal process. While many of us are familiar with the statistics and timelines related to disability claims, we don't really understand what happens to these applicants as they fight for disability benefits.
In a perfect world, a disabled worker would apply for Social Security Disability benefits and be approved for those benefits in just a few short months. Unfortunately, this is usually not the case. Estimates state that a mere 30 percent of disability claims are awarded during the initial stage of the application process. The remaining 70 percent of disability applicants must appeal the SSA's decision to deny their Social Security Disability benefits if they hope to receive disability payments at some point in the future.
To the dismay of many Social Security Disability applicants, the Social Security Administration has removed endocrine disorders from the listing of disabling impairments. While this does not mean that it is impossible for individuals suffering from an endocrine disorders to obtain the disability benefits they need, it does mean that it will be much harder to do so and the disability claim process will likely involve the need for an appeal.
It is no secret that, while the economy may be coming back slowly, there are still many individuals who are finding it impossible to obtain a job in today's job market. Unemployment benefits are meant to help these unemployed individuals make ends meet until they are able to find other suitable employment. The problem is, these benefits are only granted for a specified period of time. Once that time period has expired, the unemployment payments stop.
Many people assume that Social Security Disability benefits are only available to those who suffer from physical disabilities. This is definitely not the case. Those who suffer from mental illness may also be eligible for Social Security Disability benefits if they meet the SSA's qualifying criteria. In fact, mental illness is the most common affliction among younger Social Security Disability applicants. There are, however, some things that you must understand before applying for benefits based on a mental illness.
With recent cuts to the Social Security Administration's budget, plans that were in progress to open new Social Security Disability appeal sites were understandably put on hold. However, putting the construction of new sites on hold was not enough to address the financial issues that the Social Security budget cuts have caused. Some of the existing Social Security Disability hearing sites have had to be closed to help the SSA address its current financial crisis.
