Social Security Disability Insurance - The Coming Crisis
Steps must be taken in the SSDI program to ensure that Americans with disabilities have access to the benefits for which they paid. Allsup Inc. offers this summary of the current state of disability insurance in the U.S.
(Vocus/PRWEB ) June 22, 2007 -- Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) provides regular monthly income to people who can no longer work because of a serious illness or injury. Every working person pays for these benefits through FICA tax deductions.
Problems Mounting in Washington, DC
Today, the Social Security Administration (SSA) and its SSDI program are over-worked, over-loaded and under-staffed because of budget cuts and the aging boomer population. Combined with the pending retirements of over 50 percent of SSA employees, the situation will get much worse.
A U.S. House Ways and Means Committee press release recently stated, "Nowhere is the situation more grave than in the processing of applications for disability benefits. Due to large and increasing backlogs, severely disabled individuals can wait years to get the benefits they need for basic economic survival." The release continued, "At the end of fiscal year 2006, about 1.3 million people were awaiting a decision." In reality, SSA numbers show over 1.4 pending cases at the end of fiscal 2006.
The Ways and Means Subcommittee on Social Security met to discuss the problem on February 14, 2007. At the hearing, Social Security experts warned Congress that the problem will grow even more severe if the status-quo continues.
In written testimony to the subcommittee, Jim Allsup, founder and CEO of Allsup Inc., stated that a public-private partnership might be the solution to the SSDI disability crisis.
He warned of a meltdown in the SSA's disability program, adding that third-party organizations such as his company "are well-tested and available to assist increasing numbers of individuals with applying for SSDI claims." The former SSA employee added, "Current [disability claimants are experiencing unacceptable delays in obtaining determinations. Disability applicants and [Social Security Administration employees need help immediately."
Allsup Inc. is a leading national provider of SSDI representation services.
Delays Across the Country
News articles across the U.S. have brought this crisis to the attention of the public, but those caught in this backlog feel the reality every day.
A recent story in the Columbus Dispatch revealed the waiting lists in just two offices in Ohio to be over 20,000. Nationwide, the backlog has now reached 1.4 million and continues to grow daily.
The delays take place at every level of the application process.
The first level is the initial application. This is where all relevant medical and vocational evidence is submitted to the SSA. Next is the reconsideration level. If a person's initial application is denied, he or she can file an appeal. The backlog at these two levels is about 700,000.
If the reconsideration is denied a person can appeal again. This takes him or her to the hearing level with an administrative law judge hearing. If a person's hearing ends in a denial, he or she may submit an appeal to the Appeals Council. The Appeals Council will review the hearing decision to determine if it was rendered properly according to the law. The backlog at these two levels is at approximately 730,000.
If the Appeals Council affirms a denial there is an available appeal to the Federal District Court. There are no statistics available to track any backlogs at this level.
It is a lengthy process that is made much longer by the building crisis. But securing SSDI benefits means increased monthly income and automatic Medicare benefits. That means awardees will receive medical benefits, prescription drug coverage, protected retirement benefits, benefits for dependents and return-to-work incentives.
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