Devoted to the Insurance industry and all thing related

What a sad state of affairs when the U.S. can’t even process disability claims in a reasonable amount of time.  Why you ask is this happening.  According to Social Security Administration (SSA) Commissioner Michael Astrue in an article from National Underwriter “tight budgets are hurting government efforts to speed up reviews of government disability benefits claims.”

Astrue claims that the SSA needs an astonishing “150 more administrative law judges and a total of more than 750 new staff members to speed up efforts to serve the 700,000 Americans who are awaiting hearings on Social Security and Supplemental Security Income disability program claims.”

Sounds like money is being spent elsewhere instead of on U.S. citizens who need money to survive after becoming disabled.  I wonder where all that money is going?  

 

This truly is a despicable situation and should be a top priority of the government.  Astrue mentioned “in Boston, an SSA pilot program that tries to automate and accelerate the disability benefits determination program for applicants with clear-cut disabilities has succeeded at deciding 97% of the cases within the required 21-day time limit.”  

“Clear-cut” I’m assuming means people with sever injuries that leave little gray area.  At least there is a program in place that could be a potential replacement of the current much maligned disability system.