Posts Tagged ‘Benefits of representation’

Contrary to Recent Reports, Getting On SSDI Isn’t Easy

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In its March 2013 member newsletter, the National Organization of Social Security Claimants’ Representatives (NOSSCR) published data on allowance rates at the Initial and Reconsideration levels for Fiscal Year 2012.  Based on recent media reports of individuals gaming the system and the ease of which claimants are approved for benefits, you would think these rates would be through the roof. 

In reality, however? 

Initial Level – 33%. 

Reconsideration level – 12%.

These low approval rates demonstrate not only the difficulty associated with the process, but also the fact that only the most severely disabled workers qualify for benefits under the strict medical standard applied by the Social Security Administration.

Other recent reports and studies have made the case that utilization of professional representation at these levels has relatively little impact on the likelihood of an early award, when in many cases an advocate will nearly double your chances at being awarded at one of these first two levels.

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Posted on April 25, 2013 by Tim Carney

Tight Budget Equals Reduced Hours at SSA

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After announcing plans to reduce its workforce by 9,000 employees just a couple months ago, the Social Security Administration has now publicized an additional plan to reduce field office hours as of November 19, 2012.  Starting then, all 1,233 offices will close to the public 30 minutes earlier than they currently do.  Additionally, as of January 2, 2013, the offices will close to the public at noon on Wednesdays.

According to an October 3, 2012 article in the Federal Times, “[t]he changes are aimed at cutting overtime use by allowing field office staff to complete interviews and claims work within regular hours,” however the result is that the public will have less opportunity for face-to-face contact with agency employees.  Essentially, the changes put a fine point on SSA leadership’s recent push to transition from face-to-face interactions between the agency and the public to more reliance on the internet and telephone services.   

While these changes come as no surprise given last week’s Presidential stop-gap spending bill, they represent yet another blow to SSA employees whose base pay has already been frozen for the last two years.  However, the changes also create an additional roadblock for the public.  As it is, SSA employees face the overwhelming challenge of attempting to adjudicate a growing number of claims while also conducting initial interviews and completing intake of new claims.  The shortened hours undoubtedly result in a rising flood of visitors during open hours, leading to additional challenges in processing claims work and ultimately leading to further delays for individuals who are applying for disability benefits. 

While the majority of our clients never have to visit a Social Security field office in order to apply for and be approved for SSDI benefits, it could ultimately result in increased delays in field office processing times.  We are always monitoring turnaround times and processing times and will continue to do so in light of these changes taking place in November.

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Posted on October 5, 2012 by Tim Carney

Congress Investigates Quality of SSA Disability Determinations

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At this point it is no secret that the Social Security Trust Funds will be threatened by insolvency over the next five to ten years. The majority of the strain on the funds has been caused by the dramatically increasing number of individuals applying for and being approved for benefits over the past five years. The issue has been a frequent topic of Congressional hearings and debates and over the past two years, the U.S. Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations conducted several inquiries into the Social Security Administration’s (“SSA”) disability programs, including its process for deciding claims. The results and recommendations stemming from this investigation were released to the public on September 13, 2012 and have received quite a bit of press and media coverage.

While the report identifies a variety of important issues affecting the quality of favorable decisions at all levels of the process, it also highlights the complexity and nuances associated with the decision-making process. For example, the study cites to several case files where individuals were awarded benefits in the face of contradictory evidence indicating a less severe disabling condition and the potential ability to work. However, any experienced Social Security advocate knows that most cases do, in fact, involve inconsistent or contradictory medical evidence. In fact, one of the top reasons that disability applicants choose to hire a professional advocate is to ensure that this contradictory evidence is weighed, analyzed and ultimately considered in a balanced light.

The study also points to an overuse of the medical-vocational grid rules as cause for concern. Social Security’s rules, regulations and standards for determining disability are complex and they often require reliance on the medical-vocational grid rules as part of the decision-making process known as sequential evaluation. In fact, most claimants who reach the hearing level do not fit neatly into a medical listing and it is up to the claimant’s representative to advocate, persuade and negotiate with the judge to ensure the best possible result for the claimant.

The Findings and Recommendations produced by the investigation may not be perfect, but they do highlight many of the most important and challenging issues facing the disability determination process today. The Advocator Group supports any improvements to the process that are ultimately in the best interests of disability claimants who rely on Social Security benefits to make ends meet.

Stay tuned for updates as this situation continues to play itself out over the coming weeks and months…

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Posted on September 27, 2012 by Tim Carney

Social Security advocacy warning: Don’t try this alone

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When you’re sick, do you attempt to treat yourself, or do you head to your doctor’s office? What about if your car breaks down, or if your home needs a repair? Would you do it yourself, or look to the experts?

Chances are you would leave those things to the experts, since you probably have limited experience. So, if you’ve never applied for Social Security Disability Insurance, why would you do it alone?

There are numerous benefits to working with an advocate as you make your way through the twists and turns of the Social Security Administration‘s application process. We’ve talked about these benefits before, and this week we issued a news release to further educate people on the advantages of having an expert on your side.

Take a look below to learn why you should consider consulting an advocate as you apply for the benefits you deserve.

6 Reasons to Get Help When Applying for Social Security Disability Insurance

The Advocator Group explains how an advocate can simplify the disability benefits application process

WAKEFIELD, Mass.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Prescriptions, medical paperwork, legal documents, court hearings, and incoming bills are often challenging realities for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) applicants. What’s often missing is time to focus on your recovery and well-being. On its new blog, The Advocator Group explains, “6 reasons to get help when you apply for disability benefits,” outlining how the guidance of an experienced Social Security advocate can alleviate stress and give you time to focus on you during the SSDI process.

“Becoming disabled brings on a multitude of new experiences for most people, and applying for Social Security benefits is a challenging one to face,” says Brett Albren, President of The Advocator Group. “A lack of experience can make this process extremely difficult to organize and understand, especially when you’ve recently become disabled. Having an experienced advocate on your side helps simplify the process and takes a lot of the burden off of your shoulders.” (more…)

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Posted on December 7, 2011 by Tim Carney

6 reasons to get help when you apply for disability benefits

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An old saying popped into my head when I started writing this post: “The attorney who represents himself in court has a fool for a client.”

I would say the same idea works when you’re applying for disability benefits. If you decide to apply for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) with nobody’s guidance but your own, you’re not doing yourself any favors.

Certainly you can go it alone, and many people do. But time and time again, I’ve seen SSDI claimants get tied up in red tape.

As a result, they might not get all of the money they need and deserve. There are many benefits to having an advocate. Here are the top six:

1. Disability advocates let you focus on your health.

Let someone else manage the application. Applying for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) can take a long time. Some people are awarded benefits in as little as 60 days. But the average applicant could spend a year and a half plodding through the complicated process. Not only is it complex, but the paperwork can be overwhelming. And the application and appeals process? Let’s just say that if you miss a deadline, you could be back to square one. Now let’s look at it from the other side. Suppose you have a Social Security expert advocating for you. They’ll fill out the application. They’ll file it on your behalf. They’ll make sure you meet important deadlines to guarantee your application is processed. And if you’re denied? Your advocate will move forward with your appeal right away. Just take care of yourself while someone else takes care of paperwork.

2. Disability advocates must know everything about Social Security.

Have you ever heard this fact? Anyone who does something for 10,000 hours or more becomes an expert at it. I can tell you that The Advocator Group’s Social Security experts have millions of combined hours of experience working on SSDI applications. How much do you know about the process? Let me take a guess. Absolutely zero. And Googling it doesn’t count. You’ll never know Social Security as well as someone who works with disability benefits all day, everyday. Experts at The Advocator Group know the SSDI process like the back of their hand. We understand Social Security’s lingo, its hours of operation, every law you must comply with, and every little nuance you might encounter during the application and appeal process. Social Security does offer non-legal representatives who are trained to help people navigate the system. But unlike The Advocator Group’s experts, these people are not licensed attorneys. They can’t present your case before the judge at a hearing and cross examine experts during testimony. A representative with Social Security and legal expertise will get you much further than a representative who has never been in court.

(more…)

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Posted on September 23, 2011 by Tim Carney