Disability Hearing Lawyers, Your Weapon Against Long Run Disability Hearing

“Aid long delayed”, the title of the news article reported in (The Columbus Dispatch) Dispatch.com, Sunday, July 20, 2008, written by authors, Alan Johnson, Catherine Candisky and Jonathan Riskind, related the story of a certain Gerald E. Cartee which up until now, has not receive his Social Security disability benefits. This story has bearings on the Social Security Disability Hearing growing complications.

Gerald E. Cartee, 57, of Worthington who worked as a medical records clerk until he became seriously ill about three years ago, has applied for Social Security disability benefits in July 2005. He has been wearing out of his application for benefits after Social Security Administration bureaucrats held to only update, and not resolve his case. He lamented and said, quoting, "You don't get anything out of them if you write or talk to them. It's like you're just another number."

Initially, the SSA held Cartee as not disabled, and that he can still work at his old job. He appealed the original determination, but the problem was that due to huge Social Security disability backlogs, Cartee along with thousands of other Ohioans benefit application are affected ending with holding back their benefit pursuits.

The author also laid related cases similar to Cartee that has now experiencing longer waits in their Social Security Disability Hearing and pursuits.

I share the same sentiments with Cartee and several others similarly situated and express concerns in their cloudy situations. As a lawyer practicing Social Security Law, I have handled like cases several times. Some of these cases where then pending and most are finally resolved.

All I can say on the aspect of long run Disability Hearing especially addressed to those who may have SS disability pursuit, is that, with the system that we have now, you cannot help but follow the rules thus laid and make good on your application. You can ask for representation and assistance of an adeptly qualified SS Disability Hearing Lawyers in these concerns to help you build viable and credible claims. They are your weapon for achieving what you desired and entitled under Social Security.

Social Security, Medicare and Cherry Blossoms

It’s too early to say with definiteness that the greatest government insurance system in the world is on the brink of falling down. But I’m going to say it anyway – yes, the greatest government insurance system in the world is on the brink of falling down.

And the issue is just too hot to handle. So says the article from Los Angeles Times.

Apparently, the problem is that the program, which helps millions of elderly and disabled Americans, is unsustainable in the future. The program was reported to be facing “double jeopardy from rapidly rising healthcare costs and an aging society.”

The trustees released a report, which shows that Medicare spending will surpass Social Security in 2028 and grow to almost double the cost of the pension program in 2082.

Medicare’s problem was said to be “part of the larger dilemma of rising healthcare costs.” The article stated some proposals to prevent them.
1. Better coordination of care for the chronically ill
2. Pay doctors and hospitals for quality instead of sheer volume of services
3. Reduction of prescription drug costs
4. Emphasizing preventive healthcare

Somewhere else, some groups are blaming medical-related suits, thus blaming the lawyers, for the rising costs of healthcare. Now, that is unfair.

Medical malpractice suits arise not because there are lawyers, but because there are doctors who are careless and negligent. If doctors do their job well, there will be no suits. If they can’t do their job well, lawyers will come and do their own job that is, suing the doctors.

In medical malpractice suits, lawyers are just doing their job. Just as much as doctors are doing theirs. Arguably, the blaming game against lawyers must stop there. It isn’t us who should be blamed.

Anyway, the Congress is on its way in producing a Medicare bill that intends to forestall a cut in payments to doctors. Some are optimistic that it would help solve Medicare and other Social Security problems.

In the meanwhile, there is a growing sense of frustration in the country today. To borrow the words of another frustrated Health and Human Services Secretary Michael Levitt, “American’s sensitivity to entitlement warnings has become numbered by a repeated cycle of alarms and inaction.”

Here comes the good part, “We noted today in Washington that the cherry blossoms are out. That’s the way spring is in Washington. We see the cherry blossoms and hear Medicare warnings. The cherry blossoms go away, and nothing happens with Medicare.”

Life after Disability through SSI benefits

What exactly is SSI Disability? What is its purpose?

SSI stands for Supplemental Security Income. It falls under Title 16 of the Social Security Act.

SSI is a program financed through general revenues and paid based on financial need. SSI disability benefits are payable to adults and children who have become disabled and with limited resources provided that they meet the living requirements under the program.

To be eligible to receive SSI, a disabled individual must have countable assets not exceeding two thousand dollars. Countable assets include the home other than the home in which a claimant lives and cars other than the car a claimant uses as his primary mode of transportation.

To my mind, SSI is more advantageous than the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) because unlike SSDI, SSI is based solely on financial need. It does not consider whether one has work to entitle him or her for SSDI.

Moreover, there are people who have never worked all their lives because of incapacity or illness. These people may have been disqualified under the SSDI but may qualify for SSI benefits.

SSI benefits have been the refuge of people who are in financial crisis.

On one end however, I cannot help but think if SSI is the real solution. Will it not promote self-insufficiency? Will it not cause people to rely solely on this program rather than finding other source of living?

Well, I do not know, either. All I know is in this difficult times people need all available assistance to ease their financial burden.