As difficult as it still is to be approved for Social Security Disability benefits in a timely manner, there is no doubt the SSA has dramatically improved its efficiency at processing SSDI claims since the implementation of Compassionate Allowances in 2007.
The original Combating Autism Act was enacted in 2006, allowing for millions of dollars in funding for the cause of autism treatment, development and research. Over the last five years, the CAA succeeded in doing just that. One example of the funding was the support of 17 advanced Autism Treatment Networks across the United States through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).
For millions who are waiting for months, or is some cases even years, to have their Social Security disability claims processed, it may come as a bit of a bitter pill to hear recent reports of disability claim processing being stalled to increase next year’s bonuses (often, quite substantial bonuses) to managers at the Disability Determination Services (DDS).
Although the so-called “Texas Alternate Plan” to retirement and disability insurance coverage provided through Social Security has been in effect in the state of Texas since 1981 and 1982, the recent political debates between Republican Presidential hopefuls Mitt Romney and Rick Perry have brought it to the forefront of the debates’ hot button topic – Social Security reform.
Each year the Social Security Administration receives millions of claims for Social Security Disability benefits. Statistics show us that between 60 and 70 percent of the claims that are filed by disabled workers are denied by the SSA. This means that millions of disability applicants are faced with the overwhelming task of pursuing a Social Security Disability appeal in order to receive the benefits they need.
Is an appeal always the right step to take? Or is it sometimes better to start an entirely new Social Security Disability claim altogether?
Individuals who receive Social Security Disability benefits often worry that they will be unable to earn any type of income if they want those monthly payments from the Social Security Administration to continue. The fear of losing their Social Security Disability benefits makes them shy away from pursuing employment in any line of work.
In a perfect world, taxpayers would not have to pay for the greed of a few shameless individuals. Unfortunately, we do not live in a perfect world. The good news is that, many times, the individuals who are fraudulently taking money out of the pockets of taxpayers are caught, as was the case with Bradley Shane McCorkle, 41, of Moline, Illinois.
It is no secret that there is a significant backlog of Social Security Disability claims in the Social Security system. Unfortunately, many of the people who are funneled into this backlog will wait months, if not years, before having their cases decided by an administrative law judge. To make matters worse, the wait for Social Security benefits seems to be increasing as the SSA struggles with ways to manage the massive backlog of cases that they are experiencing.
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.
