Social Security Administration to Review Social Security Appeals

Sometimes, life isn’t fair. Ironically, out of thousands of people filing for disability benefits, those who deserve benefits are often denied, while others are enjoying benefits they actually don’t deserve. This is the major reason why the Social Security Administration (SSA) intends to launch a review targeting Social Security appeals.

According to a report, the Administrative Conference of the United States will be conducting a Social Security Disability review. Recommendations for overhauling the disability appeals process is said to be released next year.

The Social Disability Insurance Program was established way back in 1950. This year, the program is expected to pay out $103 billion disability benefits to over 10 million people. However, according to reports, the program is facing financial uncertainties and is expected to drain its resources by 2017.

Now, the federal government is seeking a way on how to prevent the presumption from happening. If the proposed review has been implemented, it will somehow lessen the burden of the government. It will also take out the issue of fraud from the recipient’s list thus giving deserving beneficiaries their benefits.

One of the main points of the Conference’s report will be the role of the administrative law judges who are tasked to resolve disability appeals. Critics claim that there are inconsistencies in terms of the resolution of the appeals amongst administrative judges. Reports said that some of them decide on claims in less than a minute, while others take some time and even days or longer.

By next week, the SSA is planning to avoid informing those who apply for disability benefits of which judge they’ve been assigned for their case. This is to avoid bargains that may occur between the applicant and its lawyer and the presiding judge.

The study will also focus on the federal court’s overturning on many of the Social Security judges’ decisions when they deny the benefits.

The Social Security Appeals review will be a wise move from the administration. It would not only benefit the deserving recipients but will also be a significant help for the recessing economy of a state. The Conference report will be due on August and the final recommendations will be released on November 2012.

Academy Award Winner Patty Duke Applied for Retirement Benefits on Her 65th Birthday

The Academy Award-winning actress Patty Duke has finally applied for her Social Security retirement benefits and Medicare benefits on her 65th birthday.

Duke has been famous since her childhood days for being a talented actress. She is known for playing a role in an eponymous sitcom for three years before progressing into more mature roles. She was also elected as the president of the Screen Actors Guild from 1985 to 1988.

In 1982, Duke was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, since then, she has devoted much of her time advocating and educating the public about mental health issues. In 1996, she was recognized and was ranked at the 40th place of TV Guide’s Top 50 Greatest Stars of All Time.

For three years, she has also volunteered her time promoting the online services of the Social Security Administration (SSA) in several public service announcements and media interviews.

Finally, on her 65th birthday, Duke and her husband applied for their Social Security benefits and Medicare benefits at home and in their pajamas through the online services provided by the Administration at www.socialsecurity.gov.

Duke, in the new online video shows a vision of what would be her situation years from now with her husband. After her acting career, definitely she and her husband would just enjoy every single moments with each other while receiving their SSA Claims.

In a press release from the SSA’s official website, the Administration’s Commissioner, Michael J. Astrue said that all of them at the agency are wishing Duke a very happy birthday. “She’s a Hollywood legend and an American treasure who reaches a very important milestone today. True to form, she is the one giving us the birthday present by showing her fellow baby boomers the easiest way to apply for benefits,” he added.

According to senior actress, she just applied for the social security’s retirement benefits and not retiring from being a spokesperson of the Administration. Up to present, she still keeps on promoting the SSA’s online services.

Coordinating VA Disability Benefits and Social Security Benefits

Helping disabled persons is part of a government’s major programs. Qualified individuals are entitled to receive certain amount of benefits based on his or her eligibility and needs, and as mandated by the law.

Veterans are absolutely entitled to receive both VA disability benefits and Social Security benefits once they reach the maximum age limit of 65. Under the law, the maximum limit of benefits that possible recipients can get is the combination of the VA disability benefits and Social Security benefits. However, they cannot get all the assistance offered by the two benefits. Therefore, they must first know how to coordinate the two before being entitled for both benefits.

Here are the tips in coordinating the two benefits:

• Choose where you want to apply first; either VA disability benefits or social security benefits.

• Wait for the decision regarding your first claim.

• Apply for the second benefit after the first one has been awarded to you. Be sure that you have written on your application form that you are currently receiving benefits from the other administration. This is for the purpose of computing the benefits to be awarded by the second administration to you since there is a limit regarding the matter that was set under the law.

• Again, wait for the decision regarding your second claim.

• Don’t forget to secure copies of your medical records from the Veterans Affairs since it is one of the requirements to be presented in the Social Security Administration when applying for the Social Security benefits.

• Don’t ever try to make any falsification on your application and other pertinent documents to collect more benefits than you deserve. Once you are caught lying by any or both of those two administrations, you will not only pay back the money you collected but you could also be prosecuted.

Now, you can enjoy both VA disability benefits and Social Security benefits. It might not be at its best limit but at least you’re enjoying both benefits. It’s so much worth for your long earned money.

For further details about the maximum limit of disability benefits, kindly visit the official website of Veterans Affairs at http://www.va.gov/ and Social Security Administration at http://ssa.gov/

What Do SSA Claim Scammers Often Say?

With about seven million individuals receiving monthly benefits from the Social Security Administration, a total amount of more than $33 billion is being release annually. No wonder SSA scammers try to sneak a recipient’s SSA claims to the best they can.

Oftentimes, scammers will offer help to a recipient in filing SSA claims or sometimes will disguise themselves as social security representatives.

Below are the three key phrases that SSA claim scammers will often tell you:

• “This is for your SSA Records Updating Purposes” – it is the most common tactic that scammer use to get your Social Security details. Through phone call, letter or e-mail, scammers pretending to be a social security administration employee can easily get your social security number, birth date, account number and any information they need to steal your money. Keep in mind that legal SSA representatives will never reach recipients through e-mails.

• “We will give you bigger check but you must pay the filing fee first” – scammers offer great opportunities like getting you a bigger check and others. They will be more than willing to offer help in exchange for a filing fee. The Social Security Administration does not charge filing fees and if ever you think you deserve a higher benefit, you may file for an appeal by yourself at no cost.

• “Your tax refund is coming” – scammers urge you to file a new income tax return saying that you can get refunds for your lack of increase in SSA claims for a couple of years. There is really no refund. Their purpose here is only to get your social security personal details.

Filing for SSA claims may require a lot of efforts. Admittedly, the social security administration is allowing recipients, particularly the elderly and disabled to hire someone or sometimes a disability lawyer to help them but you must be sure that you’ve got the right person. It’s very important that you should know how to determine SSA scammers.