DO YOU HAVE A CLIENT IN NEED OF ADVICE ON SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY? Feb - We can meet with groups of potential clients in your office setting - please call our office to make arrangements. Much of our work can be done by phone and mail if it is a hardship for a client to get to our office.Check our blog!

February 2010

Social Security (SSA) estimates that the backlog may be eliminated by 2103. This is small comfort to someone disabled and out of options right now. But an even more disturbing statistic is emerging.

An unexpected result of our current economic situation is a surge in new disability applications. Decisions on these new claims are coming very slowly. In fiscal year (FY) 2009, SSA received 385,000 new claims, an increase of nearly 15% from the end of FY 2008.

Every state has an office called Disability Determinations, which makes initial level decisions on applications. A perfect storm has resulted in delays there: an increase in applications accompanied by challenging state budget issues. Many states are putting disability determination employees on temporary furloughs. At a time when applicants most need speedy decisions, things are slowing down for lack of staffing.

Furloughing workers who help the needy is “fundamentally irrational. People should be getting their benefits,” says Social Security Commissioner Michael Astrue.

The state offices that work on these cases are a time bomb. Fewer cases are being processed to completion, and so fewer are making it to the hearing office. This may make the hearing office inventories look good at this moment in time, but eventually this bubble of cases will rise to the hearing level. And the delays there will become more profound.

So what is the best strategy for your clients as you help them navigate through this quagmire? If there is a silver bullet, it is to win a case early by submitting thorough and comprehensive information. Of course, appeals should be filed promptly - a claimant can add three to six months to the delays just by waiting the full 60 days allowed for appeal.

We are passionate about ensuring everything is right the first time. We work with medical treatment providers to be certain all the records are in the file, and all the appropriate data has been gathered. We have many years of experience with the application and appeal process, and long relationships with many medical facilities locally. We monitor appeal deadlines so that no unnecessary time is lost.

We never charge a fee for an initial consultation. We can take this complicated matter off your desk and provide your clients with an experienced guide along a difficult path.

To receive this newsletter by mail: Email your name and mailing address to us here: Subscription request Thank you.

DISCLAIMER - This web page is a resource containing general information which is intended, but not guaranteed, to be correct and current. Do not rely on information on this site in place of the advice of an Attorney. Visitors should consult an attorney to address their legal concerns. You should not consider this information to be an agreement for an attorney-client relationship. You should not rely on information provided here as constituting legal advice. Contacting us through this web page or e-mail does not mean you have contracted for representation by this office.  We are not engaged in your representation until you sign a contract with us.  Licensed attorneys may practice Federal Social Security and SSI Disability in any state. Copyright 2007-2010 Sarah Patterson