Asheville Attorney David Gantt Calls Social Security Disability Delays A National Disgrace

From an op ed piece in the Asheville Citizen-Times:

Americans who become disabled prior to retirement are forced to wait a disgraceful amount of time to receive the benefits they are entitled to. These taxpaying citizens deserve a vastly different and more just system of determining their disability. Most of these people have paid into the system for their entire lives through paycheck deductions to support the system that now betrays their trust.

The current system requires disabled citizens to wait an average of 512 days for a final decision by an administrative law judge as to whether they meet Social Security disability standards. Many others, including a large number of my clients, wait even longer for their day in court, losing homes, declaring bankruptcy and losing trust in the system to decide their case in a fair and timely manner. ...

This vicious and harsh attack on Americans who are least able to defend themselves must stop. The current Congress is finally taking steps to reduce this nightmare for disabled Americans. All of us should support increased funding and measures to make sure that the disabled citizens of our country receive the dignity and justice they deserve in resolving their disability applications. No one should be permitted to be kicked so hard for so long when they are physically and/or mentally unable to work.

IRS To Send Rebate Info To Claimants

It is anticipated that Social Security benefits recipients will receive rebates from the federal government this year only if they file tax returns. Normally, most Social Security benefits recipients do not have to file tax returns. Commerce Clearing House is reporting that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) will be sending notices to recipients of Social Security benefits in late March warning of the need to file a tax return in order to receive the rebate check.

144 New ALJs

Attempting to manage the tremendous backlog of pending disability cases, the Social Security Administration has hired 144 new ALJs. We have reports that the following people with NC ties have been hired:

• Michelle De Shazo, from Greensboro ODAR
• Ralph Dodds, from Raleigh ODAR
• Chriss Messina, from Greensboro ODAR
• John Prince, from Raleigh ODAR
• Hank Wansker

Updated Budget News

It appears Congress is starting to get the message that additional funding for the Social Security System is needed. For the first time in 15 years, Congress appropriated funding to the SSA for FY 2008 above the President's budget. The President's Budget for FY 2009, submitted to Congress just last month, provides for a 6% increase over the 2008 budget. As Social Security faces an avalanche of disability and retirement claims in the coming years, in addition to the debilitating backlog of cases already pending, it is imperative these funds be approved in the current amounts. Please contact your Congressmen and women to show your support for this funding today.

2008 Substantial Gainful Activity Thresholds

• Non-Blind: $940/mo.
• Blind: $1,570/mo.