Massachusetts Social Security Disability Lawyers Blog

Senate Republicans and Democrats alike are throwing their support behind S. 1845, a measure that would pilfer money set aside for disabled workers in order extend benefits to those who can’t find work.

It’s a horrible idea.

For one thing, it’s predicated on the idea that somehow the Social Security Disability Insurance program has excess money to spare. In 2012, the total disability insurance expenditures topped $135 billion (that includes costs for staff, judges, etc.). That sounds like a lot, until you begin to consider that the trust fund for the program is projected to be exhausted in just two years. Legislators still haven’t offered a concrete plan to address this issue.
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The Social Security Disability (SSD) system is an important safety net that provides income to disabled children and to adults if the individual and family has a limited income or if the individual has earned a sufficient number of work credits and is now too disabled to work. The SSD program has a number of very strict qualifying requirements and is tightly regulated to ensure that only the truly disabled are eligible to receive benefits.

Our Boston disability lawyers know that the Social Security Administration is currently undergoing a number of different changes to the organization and operation of the SSD system. The Wall Street Journal has provided a summary of these changes, which can affect any applicants who are disabled and who are in need of disability benefits.
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Disability is something that can happen to anyone, and those who are disabled face many challenges. For many, the biggest challenge is not being able to work and provide income for their families. However, the Huffington Post has recently provided a list of some of the other issues that affect the lives of those who are disabled. The article, written by an author who has been disabled for the past 20 years, highlights six instances of discrimination that disabled individuals face on a daily basis.

Our disability benefits attorneys can help those who are severely disabled to apply for benefits through the Social Security Administration so they have the income that they need to make ends meet. Even with adequate financial support, however, the disabled will continue to face many challenges in a society that does not yet fully understand and embrace acceptance of everyone without discrimination.
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The Social Security Administration has made it very difficult for applicants to qualify for disability benefits through either the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program or through Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). Although these programs both are paid for by taxpayers and are supposed to provide necessary financial support to the disabled, the denial rate for applicants is greater than 50 percent.

Boston disability lawyers know that those who are denied benefits have four stages of appeals that they can pursue so their claims can be reconsidered. One of these stages of appeal is to have a case heard by an administrative law judge (ALJ). The ALJ presides over a benefits hearing in which the disabled applicant can make an argument for why he is entitled to benefits and in which an SSA representative can make an argument for why the benefits claim should not be approved. Appeals at this level are sometimes successful, but there is no guarantee of this success and many people are still denied.

Despite the high denial rate, however, the Social Security Administration is now making plans to crack down on administrative law judges as some argue that their alleged “generosity” towards granting benefits has resulted in the disability benefits program expanding too much and heading towards insolvency. The SSI trust fund could be bankrupt as soon as 2016, resulting in a need to make major changes including potentially cutting the benefits of the disabled so that the benefits can be paid for with new income coming in. Some believe that making changes to the way the SSA oversees administrative law judges could help to solve this problem.
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Many young people are concerned that Social Security benefits will be exhausted by the time they become eligible to claim them. However, the reality is that Social Security provides more than just retirement income. The Social Security Disability (SSD) system provides income to children, young adults and others below retirement age who become disabled and who are no longer able to work as a result of their medical condition.

Boston disability lawyers know that as many as one out of every four 20 year olds currently in the workforce today will become disabled before they reach the age of 65. Severe illnesses and injuries that cause disability can prevent a young person from being able to have a job over the course of his life. Very few people have private disability insurance coverage, and the Social Security Disability system can make it possible for these young people to support themselves and their families after becoming disabled. Because SSD provides such an essential benefit for young Americans, it is especially important for individuals of all ages to know how the laws related to SSD benefits are changing as well as to be aware of any proposed changes to the SSD program.
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