Fact Sheet: Social Security and the CARES Act 

SSA organized another conference call this morning to update the advocacy community on steps they are taking to maximize American’s financial security while keeping their workforce safe during the coronavirus pandemic. We heard from the Office of Hearing Operations and the Office of Public Service & Operations Support about SSA’s plan to continue its mission-critical work of providing income security. All offices are continuing to take and adjudicate claims. They are prioritizing dire-need claims as they are identified. SSA is implementing policy and procedural changes intended to avoid reducing or suspending benefits during this health crisis.

SSA is coding every claim taken during this period so that they know they have been impacted. During this period, they will adjudicate claims without requiring evidence and then will go back after the crisis to collect that evidence. They are working to eliminate wet signatures, instead using heightened authentication procedures over the telephone.They are identifying workloads and breaking them down granularly to adapt them to a remote-work environment.

They said that the biggest challenge is in the Office of Hearings Operations. In-person hearings have been discontinued. More offices are closing to staff every hour due to the spread of the virus. In-office staff are limited. Phone hearings are limited to between 8:30 am and 2 pm in each respective time zone, although the end-time is flexible if a hearing is in progress. When staff reaches out to representatives of claimants whose hearings are schedule outside of that window, they will ask that they be rescheduled within the window in an effort to prevent postponements.

SSA clarified that, as of now, ALJs cannot conduct hearings from home telephonically, but reiterated that they are working with the IT team to implement equipment for ALJs working remotely that will be clear and secure. In the meantime, they are balancing workloads so that ALJs who are working from home are editing and filing decisions. Other staff working remotely can schedule hearings, exhibit case files, write decisions and screen cases for on the record decisions. SSA is working to assign the hearing workload to those judges who are able to come in to the office.

SSA indicated that they have instituted alternative authentication procedures for three-way calls when the 1696 cannot be processed in a timely manner. They are directing staff to document that they authenticated the individual telephonically and follow up with wet signatures after the fact. SSA also is stopping action on overpayments and CDR cessations. They are putting waivers and appeals into workloads they can continue to process without wet signatures.

In response to a question from NADR Government Relations Liaison Phil Litteral, SSA clarified that ALJs are not authorized to require representatives and claimants to be in the same location for a telephonic hearing. SSA needs to provide that flexibility for claimants. They also indicated that new guidance will be in place shortly to provide clarity to DDS offices regarding missed filing deadlines, failure to attend a consultative and other issues. DDS offices need to abide by social distancing guidelines and claimants should not be penalized for failing to appear for a consultative exam. In these cases, they will provide guidance that the ALJ should go forward with the hearing and put the case in post-hearing status until the required evidence can be provided. They said they will continue to suspend workloads that would cause a reduction, suspension or termination of benefits and instead will focus on income security. They will assess their stewardship obligations when this crisis over.

 

 

 

Based on recent reports from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the NADR Board of Directors has unanimously made the difficult decision to cancel the 20th Anniversary Conference and Celebration that was scheduled to take place in Puerto Rico, April 4-8.

We recognize all of the hard work that our presenters have put into preparing their sessions, however, our members, their families and the communities they serve are our top priority. Based on evaluation of evolving circumstances, it is clear that a large gathering in a location where health resources may be limited would be an unacceptable risk.

This decision was not taken lightly and we recognize that this is an inconvenience. We will be issuing refunds to all registered attendees. Please allow 60 days for the refund check to arrive. We will be cancelling all the group excursions on behalf of the attendees and they will be refunded at 100%. The resort offers full refunds as long as they are notified within 7 days. You can call 1-787-888-6000 to cancel your room reservation. In the coming days, we will be providing more information to registered attendees regarding CEU options.

Here is an excerpt from the discussion of the rule:

Not allowing the parties to a hearing to
opt out of or object to appearing by VTC

Comment: Multiple commenters stated that claimants should continue to have the option to opt out of or object to appearing by VTC in favor of appearing in person. Some commenters noted that when we revised our rule related to VTC hearings in the past, we specifically declined to require claimants to appear by VTC. The commenters maintained that our current policy works well and should not be changed.

Response: We acknowledge the commenters’ near-universal preference for our current policy, which allows a party to a hearing before an ALJ to opt out of appearing by VTC. In response to this expressed preference, in the final rule we retained the regulatory provision allowing a party to a hearing before an ALJ to opt out of appearing by VTC, as it currently appears in §§ 404.936(d) and 416.1436(d). The AC will continue to follow all the rules that apply to ALJs when they remove a case.6 However, we maintain our position, which we stated in the NPRM, that an individual’s decision to decline appearing by VTC can adversely affect the efficiency of our hearing process, and may result in a longer wait time for the individual’s in-person hearing.

While we are retaining the opt out provision, we note that VTC technology is expected to help us reduce imbalances in the wait time among hearing offices. As well, the use of VTC technology allows us to shift cases in which the claimant did not object to appearing by VTC from overburdened hearing offices to hearing offices with fewer requests for hearing pending per ALJ. We anticipate that the effect of these process improvements will be to improve the balance across the country and decrease the total number of cases pending at the ALJ hearing level, thereby providing claimants with more timely hearing decisions and benefit payments to individuals whom we find entitled to disability benefits.

And, from the Ways and Means Committee:

Neal, Larson, and Davis Statement on Final Social Security Administration Rule Regarding In-Person Appeals Hearings
Dec 17, 2019 Press Release
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard E. Neal, (D-MA), Social Security Subcommittee Chairman John Larson (D-CT), and Worker & Family Support Subcommittee Chairman Danny K. Davis (D-IL) issued the following statement after the Social Security Administration (SSA) posted its final rule regarding the manner for the appearance of parties and witnesses at appeals hearings when an initial application for Social Security benefits is denied:

“We are relieved to see that the Social Security Administration listened to the public’s outcry and to our February letter and preserved the constitutional right to due process for millions of Americans who earned Social Security protection through a lifetime of work. Video hearings before SSA Administrative Law Judges are inferior to in-person hearings – they are less fair and less efficient, and they potentially limit judges’ abilities to accurately assess the impact an individual’s impairments have on his or her ability to work. Individuals who request a hearing before an ALJ currently wait two to three years, or longer, from the time they first file their application to the time they receive a hearing decision. It is simply wrong to deny them the opportunity for a face-to-face hearing, when so much is on the line and they have endured so many months without income and in ill health. Fortunately, this final rule ensures that workers will be guaranteed a chance to make their case as fully and effectively as possible.”

Thanks to Jeanne L. Morin, Public Policy Advisors, and our whole Advocacy team for their work on this and other important issues. You do a great job for us!

At the NADR Networking Event in Providence, one suggestion by members was to provide a paper version that they could use at their desk to quickly jot down issues as they arise, and enter them in the online reporting form later.

We now have the paper version available for download. Print as many copies as you wish and keep them handy. Just don't forget to login and transfer the information to the online form when you can. 

Hopefully, this will make it easier for you to report problems you or your clients encounter and will help our communication efforts with SSA!

To download the form, click HERE. 

Did you know that NADR offers the only prep course for this exam? Click HERE to learn more!

See the following details from the CPS website:

Announcement of the 2019 Examination

This year the examination will be on May 22, 2019. The application period runs from February 1, 2019 through March 2, 2019. The application is available on the application process page during the application period.

Examination Site and Time

Ft. Worth, Texas - Start Time 10 AM CST (Please arrive at least 45 minutes early to sign in.)
Will Rogers Memorial Center
3400 Burnett-Tandy Drive
Fort Worth, TX 76107

Read more: https://secure.cpshr.us/ssa/Examination.asp

EDPNAs must complete continuing education each year as directed by SSA. CPS has just announced the 2019 criteria (below) and they have made a significant change! Now all courses must be completed AND submitted to CPS by 9/30. In previous years, the deadline was 9/30 to take the course, but 10/31 to submit the attestation. Hopefully this will help simplify the process. As always, attending the NADR conference in San Antonio will take care of all of these requirements and this year, we will have a favorite presenting the Ethics Course; Professor Robert Rains! For more about the conference, click HERE.

Read more from the CPS website below: 

Deadline Change:

When & How to Report Confirmation of Completing the Continuing Education Requirement

In the first quarter of each calendar year, we will announce on our website the courses you must take. You may use courses completed during the fourth quarter of the previous calendar year (October - December) to satisfy the 2019 CE requirements, however we cannot guarantee the acceptability of these courses until after the continuing education requirements have been announced as stated above. You will have until September 30 of each year to complete and submit the completed course(s) for review and approval. Send confirmation to us through our email address or mailing address or secure online portal no later than September 30 of each year. You must wait until you take all the courses before you send confirmation to us. You must provide the following information:

• Title of course
• Description of the course(s)
• Date the course(s) was completed
• The organization that provided the course

2019 Course Requirements

In order to meet the continuing education requirement, EDPNAs must complete the four (4) course requirements below. You will have until September 30 of each year to complete and submit the completed course(s) for review and approval. Send confirmation to us through our email address or mailing address or secure online portal no later than September 30 of each year.

An accredited college or university, a state bar association, an organization accredited by a state bar, a government agency, or a professional organization (such as the American Bar Association, the National Organization of Social Security Claimants' Representatives, and the National Association of Disability Representatives) must provide the course(s). We will not accept course(s) or training:

Please take a few minutes to complete the optional end of course survey.

Please take a few minutes to complete the optional end of course survey.

Please take a few minutes to complete the optional end of course survey.

Please take a few minutes to complete the optional end of course survey.

Disability claimants often ask representatives why they have to have worked at least 5 out of the last 10 years to be "insured" for Social Security Disability (SSDI) benefits. When you work, you pay premiums (through FICA) to the Social Security trust fund. If you stop working, those premiums aren't paid any longer. SSA uses your "quarters of coverage" to calculate your "Date Last Insured" which sometimes can be five years after you stopped working. You must prove that you became disabled prior to this date. The Social Security Disability Insurance program was created to be social insurance; not welfare.

This article explains why some get SSDI all wrong:

https://www.salon.com/2018/12/11/how-social-insurance-became-welfare-and-entitlements-and-what-we-lost-in-that-process/

https://www.forbes.com/sites/teresaghilarducci/2018/10/19/social-security-does-not-add-to-the-federal-deficit/#2b2c9ca20815

“For nearly a decade, the Compassionate Allowance list has helped us identify and fast-track cases where individuals have diseases that are most likely to be approved for disability benefits,” said Acting Commissioner Berryhill. “Social Security is committed to ensuring Americans with qualifying disabilities quickly receive the benefits they need.”

The Compassionate Allowances program identifies claims where the applicant’s disease or condition clearly meets Social Security’s statutory standard for disability. Due to the severe nature of many of these conditions, these claims are often allowed based on medical confirmation of the diagnosis alone. To date, over 500,000 people with serious disabilities have been approved through this fast-track policy-compliant disability process. The list has grown to a total of 233 conditions, including diseases such as pancreatic cancer, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and acute leukemia.

The agency incorporates leading technology to easily identify potential Compassionate Allowances and make quick decisions. For disability cases not covered by this program, Social Security’s Health IT brings the speed and efficiency of electronic medical records to the disability determination process. When a person applies for disability benefits, Social Security must obtain medical records in order to make an accurate determination. It may take weeks for health care organizations to provide records for the applicant’s case. With electronic records transmission, Social Security is able to quickly obtain a claimant’s medical information, review it, and make a determination faster than ever before.

For more information about the program, including a list of all Compassionate Allowances conditions, please visit www.socialsecurity.gov/compassionateallowances.

10 Marketing Tips for ANYONE (yes, that means you)

By Michael Liner

Published in the NADR Newsletter, 1st Quarter, 2018

As always, it was a treat to see everyone and present at the NADR Conference in St. Louis. Special thanks to my co-panelists who were so giving of their time and knowledge, Tyson Mutrux and Gary Burger. So the conference was several weeks ago, and we are all now back to the daily grind of being disability representatives. What are you doing to change the outlook for your practice in years ahead? Here are some ideas for you—but remember, start with ONE until it becomes routine and then implement another. 

The Board of Trustees of SSA's OASI and DI Trust Funds have issued their 2018 Trustees Report. It projects that the DI Trust Fund reserves will be depleted in 2032 - four years later than it projected in 2017.  And the trend is expected to continue. If Congress takes no action before 2032, the Trustees project that thereafter the DI trust fund will be able to pay about 96 percent of scheduled benefits. 

Let your federal elected officials know that, by acting now to provide modest increases in revenue, Congress can assure that Social Security will be able to pay full benefits to retirees, survivors and disability beneficiaries throughout this century and beyond. 

Choose one of the following options to take action: 

1. Text "actnow" to 52886. 

or

2. Click HERE

          

You may have seen announcements from NADR and wondered, what are CEUs? CEUs are Continuing Education Units that are required for various designations. NADR offers two types of CEUs:

EDPNA CEUs

Continuing education is required annually for all EDPNAs (Eligible Direct Pay NonAttorneys). SSA requires that EDPNAs view courses provided, read material provided and complete one Ethics course in order to maintain fee withholding. NADR always includes an Ethics course at our conferences that meets the EDPNA criteria and records the course so that EDPNAs can purchase and complete the Ethics portion of the requirement. If you need to complete the Ethics CEU for EDPNA status, you can purchase the course HERE for $120. The other portions can be found on the CPS website, HERE.

ADR CEUs

NADR offers a designation to attorney and EDPNA members called Accredited Disability Representative (ADR). One of the requirements of the course, is that prior to renewal, ADRs complete six hours of continuing education. The EDPNA CEUs go towards this requirement but are only counted as four hours. To fulfill the ADR CEU requirement, ADRs can either attend the NADR conference or purchase the Advanced Representative course (found HERE for $100), which includes sessions recorded at our 2018 Conference designed for veteran representatives; Sedentary Unskilled Jobs and Medical Expert Cross Examination.

Please see information below, taken from the CPS website:

Announcement of the 2018 Examination

This year the examination will be on May 30, 2018. The application period runs from February 9, 2018 through March 13, 2018. The application is available on the application process page during the application period.

Examination Site and Time

Atlanta, GA - Start Time 10 AM EDT (Please arrive at least 45 minutes early to sign in.)

Detailed exam site information will be provided when available.

The examination is open book. The following reference materials will be available at the site for the examination:

1. The 20 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Chapter III (parts 400-499)(Revised as of April 1, 2017)

Reminders

• We cannot permit you to bring personal items into the testing center, such as purses, briefcases, backpacks, calculators, written notes, cell phones, smart watches, internet-capable devices, picture-taking devices, or any other electronic devices. If you bring personal items, you will be asked to leave it in a specified area away from your desk. CPS HR and SSA are not responsible for the security of any personal belongings brought to the examination. You will have three (3) hours to complete the examination.
• You are required to bring non-expired government issued photo identification to the examination site; do not bring anything else to the testing center.
• When making travel arrangements, please take into account the time needed to administer the exam and additional time to complete all activities related to it, past the three hours allotted.

For more details about the application or the exam, go to the CPS website, HERE.

We only need to raise $300 to purchase the remaining supplies. If you would like to help us in this endeavor, even if you will not be able to join us in St.Louis, please click HERE.

Thank you for supporting the goals of NADR and the St. Louis Homeless Community!

Are you planning on making the trip to St. Louis to attend our 2018 Conference "Grand Slam"? If so, we want you to be aware of all of the opportunities we have built into the agenda that will allow you to take full advantage of being surrounded by other representatives from all over the nation. We understand that sometimes a conversation in the hall can be just as much as a game changer as something that was presented in a session. We hear stories every year about how an attendee used just one small idea they learned from a fellow member at the conference to win a case that would have been denied otherwise, essentially paying the cost of their conference attendance and travel. It is this reason, that we not only work to bring knockout sessions that that give you tools to put into practice, but we also offer ample time to get to know and share ideas with other attendees!

There is no reason to be intimidated at NADR! You are stepping into a community of professionals who support and build each other up. If you are attending for the first time, let our staff know and they will make sure that you are introduced to several other attendees the first evening of the conference! With the fun activities we have planned, it's impossible not to feel welcome!

Sunday 3/11 kicks off the whole conference and is known as "Networking Day". We have planned two different group tours that you can go on to learn more about our beautiful host city, and connect with other NADRites. One of the options is a walking tour that includes a stop at the Old Courthouse, location of the Dred Scott trial, a trip to the Gateway Arch, and a one hour riverboat cruise.  This tour will be guided by NADR member and St. Louis local, Mary Dale Walters. The other tour option is the Cardinal's Nation tour which includes a private tour of Busch Stadium with peeks inside the radio booth, premiere clubs and a walk onto the track around the field. After the tour visit the Cardinal's Hall of Fame and enjoy a Budweiser at Ballpark Village where fans gather for pregame parties before every home game. This tour will be led by NADR member and St. Louis local, Melissa Smith. Both of these tours will begin around Noon and the cost is $30.  Click HERE to learn more about the tour options and buy tickets!

Also Sunday, we are hosting a service project  at the hotel. Thanks to the NADR teamwork, members have raised funds and purchased enough products to build over 400 hygiene kits to benefit St. Louis charitable organizations including the St. Patrick Center, Covenant House, The Eagle’s Nest and Gateway 180. Representatives from these organizations will be on hand to speak to us and then you will have the opportunity to go through the assembly line as many times as you wish, personally creating kits for these needy individuals. There will be plenty of tables and seating as well, so networking with other attendees will occur naturally. The service project begins at 5:00pm and will end at 6:30pm. Thank you to all of our members who have contributed to this project!

After the service project, we are hosting a special happy hour event at Start Bar, designed for "emerging professionals" who are new to our profession. This is a great chance for new representatives to develop a support group among other reps who may be going through the same challenges  or have already gone through them and can offer advice. The NADR Board of Directors will be present to meet you and answer any questions you may have about NADR or representation. This happy hour will be a cash bar and will run from 6:30-8:00. We will meet in the lobby at 6:15 and walk over together. 

Last but not least, on "Networking Day" we will hold our annual NADR Meet & Greet at 8:00 in the hotel. This year's theme is "Home Team Mixer" and we ask that attendees where their favorite team jersey or other fan gear to get the conversation started! This event will also include a cash bar and lots of mingling! 

After all of those chances to get to know others on Sunday, you will feel right at home by the time the academic portion of the  conference kicks off Monday morning! But we don't stop there! Not only do we allow several networking breaks during the sessions, but we will also hold our annual President's Reception on Monday evening beginning at 7:00pm. This event is included in your registration and you do not want to miss it! This year, it will be held at our hotel's rooftop restaurant, Three-Sixty! We will dance the night away while overlooking Busch Stadium and the Arch! Heavy hors oeuvres will be served and we will have an open bar until 9:30pm. NADR night owls will stick around after 9:30 for our "after party" which always provides for entertaining stories the following day! 

On Tuesday at 4:00pm, we offer a session that is focused on meeting with and talking to others from your region while also visiting with our exhibitors. All of our sponsors will have raffle tickets to give you if you visit their table. You decide which exhibitors you want to visit and which ones you don't. If you visit all tables, your raffle chances are better. The beautiful thing about this event is that it provides a non-intimidating way for you to learn more about the goods and services our exhibitors can provide you and it also spurs conversation with other attendees from your region on products that they have found useful. There will be a cash bar available and the raffle will begin at 5:20pm.  

Tuesday night, a large group of us will go to Start Bar (same location as the emerging professionals happy hour) where we will have the Mezzanine level all to ourselves which includes couches, old school gaming consoles, buckets of beer and stocked minibars. Also included in the cost of the ticket is pizza, appetizers, one drink ticket from the bar, unlimited games and a koozie! The ticket for this group event is $50 and must be purchased before 3/1. Click HERE (scroll to page 3) to learn more about this optional event and to buy your ticket. Act soon, we are limited to 60 people! 

This doesn't even mention the group breakfasts on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday that are also included in your registration! NADR is known for making the most of your time away from your office. We want you to truly feel like you are on Team NADR! See you in St. Louis!

Using the state of California as an example, this article talks about how SSDI has changed through the years.  Changes include applications, wait times, and average age of recipients.

Get in touch with NADR - call 800-747-6131

http://www.ocregister.com/2017/11/27/how-services-and-funding-for-social-security-disability-insurance-are-changing/

#SocialSecurity #SSDIBenefits #SocialSecurityDisabilityInsurance #Disabled

CNBC details tips on the best way to apply for Social Security Disability benefits and pitfalls that could increase your wait time or the chances of being denied.

https://www.cnbc.com/2016/02/01/steps-to-successfully-apply-for-social-security-disability.html

#SocialSecurity #SSDIBenefits #SocialSecurityDisabilityInsurance #Disabled

When the average person thinks of “Social Security,” they think of the monthly check they will receive once they reach retirement age. However, the federal government has actually set up several different funds through Social Security to make sure citizens of all types of needs and ages have sufficient financial means.

Retirement Benefits

Seventy-one percent of Social Security recipients are retirees who are at least 62 and have enough work credits to be eligible. A recipient must have recorded at least 40 work credits. (Four work credits are available each year you work.) People who have enough work credits have paid into the system through their taxes for an average of 10 years of work.

Only partial benefits are paid out at 62. A person must be the age of 70 to receive their maximum benefit. This amount is based on the average of your earnings in the 35 years in which you worked the most. However, there is a cap on how much you can receive.

Spouses of a living retired worker can also collect retirement benefits if the spouse is at least 62 years old, has a child who is under age 16, or a child who is disabled. If the spouses are divorced, he or she can still retirement benefits if the marriage lasted at least 10 years and they have been divorced more than 2 years. Remarriage automatically disqualifies him or her from the spouses benefit.

Disability Benefits

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is set aside for people who have been working but become disabled and unable to work. These workers have contributed to the Disability Insurance Trust Fund through taxes during the working years. If a person becomes disabled at an age younger than 24, he or she is required to have worked at least one and half years during the prior three years in order to collect SSDI.

For people over age 24, there must be a medical condition that is severe. The disability needs to be on the “impairment list” written by Social Security. The person must be unable to do any of their previous jobs or another job he is qualified for. The disability must be expected to last at least one year.

The worker’s spouse and children can also collect disability benefits if the breadwinner becomes disabled. A spouse is eligible if he or she is at least 62, has a child under age 16 or a disabled child, or is divorced but was married to the worker for 10 years. Dependent children of disabled workers are also eligible if they are under 18, under 19 and still in high school, or are adults who were disabled before age 22.

Supplemental Security Income Benefits

Supplemental Security Income is also a program that supports disabled workers. However, this program is for people with disabilities who have either never worked or have not earned the 40 work credits to make them eligible for SSDI. This program is strictly need-based, according to income and assets, and is funded by general fund taxes instead of from the Social Security trust fund. 

For a person to meet the SSI income requirements they have less than $2,000 in assets. For a couple, the limit is $3,000 in assets. A person must also have a very limited income. Most people who qualify for this fund are also eligible to receive Medicaid and food stamps. The amount an eligible person will receive is dependent on where they live and the amount of regular, monthly income they have. In 2017, the monthly benefit was $735 per month for individuals and $1,103 for couples. 

Survivor Benefits

Social Security also provides a “death benefit” in a one-time payment of $255 to the spouse and children of a deceased worker. Continual survivor benefits are available in the following situations:

·       The spouse is at least 60 years old.

·       The spouse is disabled and at least age 50.

·       The spouse has a child younger than 16 or a disabled child.

Spouses receive either their widow/er payment (which may be 100% of the spouse’s amount if the survivor waits to claim it at full retirement age) or their own SSI payment - whichever is higher. A parent of a deceased worker can also be eligible for benefits from a deceased child if they are at least 62 and were dependent on their child for more than 50% of their income.

Children of a deceased worker can also collect Social Security, including dependent step children. They must be under 18, under 19 and still in high school, or an adult who became disabled before 22.

#SocialSecurity #SSDIBenefits #SocialSecurityDisabilityInsurance #Disabled

“What are the Different Types of Social Security Benefits,” Legal Zoom

https://www.legalzoom.com/articles/what-are-the-different-types-of-social-security-benefits

“What Is the Difference Between Social Security Disability (SSDI) and SSI?” Disability Secrets

https://www.disabilitysecrets.com/page5-13.html

The Social Security Administration operates several incentive programs to actually encourage recipients of SSDI benefits to reenter the workforce – without losing the totality of their benefits.   These incentives include continued cash benefits, continued Medicare or Medicaid coverage, and help with education, training and rehabilitation to enter a new field of employment. .

https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/phoenix/contributed/2015/09/10/social-security-disability-helps-people-who-work/71657378/

#SocialSecurity #SSDIBenefits #SocialSecurityDisabilityInsurance #Disabled

Rebecca has Crohn’s disease and a severe injury to her spine and has been declared unable to work by her doctors.  However, she was turned down in the initial stages of applying for Social Security Disability Insurance and is now one of the 1.1 million claimants waiting for a hearing.   She has waited for nearly two years – after paying into the system for nearly 20 years.

http://www.ocregister.com/2017/11/27/is-social-security-cheating-the-disabled-the-wait-time-to-get-a-hearing-is-nearly-2-years-2/

#SocialSecurity #SSDIBenefits #SocialSecurityDisabilityInsurance #Disabled

Get in touch with NADR: 800-747-6131

Many SSDI claimants make mistakes that can actually increase their chances of being denied or increase their wait time.   This articled details seven mistakes that people make which lower their chances of receiving benefits. 

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/114911.php

#SocialSecurity #SSDIBenefits #SocialSecurityDisabilityInsurance #Disabled

Get in touch with NADR: 800-747-6131