Federal Government Finds Ways to Save Disability Benefits from Insolvency

Today, the number of social security claimants has reached 3,226,790, which means that each day in the United States, there are 33 new people applicants signing up for Disability Living Allowance. 

It could be recalled that the social security disability benefit was created decades ago to help people who are unable to work due to disabling health conditions. Since then, the multi-billion program had prevented many Americans from financially struggling and sliding into total poverty.

However, in the past few months, the program itself seems to be inflicting further damage to the country’s slumping economy. Recently, more and more Americans qualified for disability benefits than land in a job despite the fact that the program is getting broke due to budget deficiency. In fact, from 1992 up to now, the total number of people relying on disability benefits had tripled.

Now, the current administration and the congressional Republicans are considering reforms to save the program from insolvency.

In a report released by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) and the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), it was revealed that they are weighing whether or not to consider narrowing the health eligibility standards for receiving benefits. Actually, guidelines for those suffering from mental disorders and simple muscle pain were last updated in 1985. Tighter criteria would definitely limit application, thereby reducing the costs.

In a separate analysis released by the CBO, the government could save up to $22 million by 2022 from reducing benefits across the board by 15 percent. It means that the disability benefits for any beneficiary older than 62 will be reduced. Also, it is considering a raise in additional tax revenue, particularly for SSDI.

Another risky option discussed by federal officials is increasing the share of social security tax revenues pointed toward the disability program. It was despite the fact that the expense would come from a portion of the trust fund for retirees that was already foreseen to reach bankruptcy by 2035.

On the other hand, disability advocates like the American Association of People with Disabilities and the National Organization of Social Security Claimants Representatives declare their disapproval at any efforts that may limit either the number of people eligible for disability or the sum of disability benefits.

Also, a Los Angeles social security disability firm agrees that the program has become a substitute for unemployment since there are a lot of eligible people with severe health problems who still count on it for daily sustenance. The government should instead focus in cracking down frauds before considering any option that may harm the disabled community, said several disability advocates.

Advocates for People with Permanent Disability Fight over Hotel Pool Access

In a recent effort, advocates of permanent disability rights group have recently unveiled plans to boycott some of the nation’s leading hotels due to their delaying tactics over the enforcement of federal guidelines that require the installation of permanent wheelchair lifts that would allow disabled guests to access the swimming pools.

Said guidelines had been actually set forth in 2010, but last January, the U.S. Department of Justice made a few revisions requiring hotels to install pool lifts that are permanently installed right next to a pool until  March 15. However, said due date was subsequently moved to May 21 and eventually until January 31, 2013. 

The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) believed that hotel owners had a lot of time to install the amended permanent pool lifts to give easier access to disabled guests but failed to do so.

Aside from the AAPD, other permanent disability group advocates like the National Council on Independent Living, ADAPT and the National Disability Rights Network (NRDN) is calling supporters to avoid booking meetings, conventions, or leisure stays at hotels that are not observing the provided guidelines.

The main targets of the boycott include hotels that are represented among the executive leadership of the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA), one of the world’s largest lobbying associations. Several large hoteliers named are Kimpton Hotels and Restaurants, Fitzpatrick Hotel Group, and the Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group.

On the other hand, the trade association has claimed that installing permanent lifts would impose undue cost upon smaller hotels. Allegedly, the equipment costs between $2500 and $6,500 per pool. Said estimated amount is just for the equipment alone. Maintenance, education of employees and higher insurance premiums are not yet included to the amount. The AHLA also affirmed that a permanent pool lift could increase the risk of injury due to misuse by children in unattended pools.

Disability group advocates said that it would be already insulting for the coalition if the hotel owners ask for further extensions of the due date. Meanwhile, hotel owners claimed that they still remained willing to work with the disability rights coalition to come up with an effective solution which would benefit them both.

Therefore, a Los Angeles permanent disability lawyer said that although things are obviously getting more complicated these days, he believes that both parties will overcome said misunderstanding once they meet halfway.

Rep. Allen West Calls Social Security Disability as ‘Modern Slavery’

In his statement on Sunday, Florida Repubican Rep. Allen West said that the Social Security Disability Insurance is a form of modern slavery.

According to West in his interview with the Fox News, as of June 2009, some 2.4 million jobs in private sectors have been created. However, the country has a total of 3.1 million people leaning to social disability. In addition, as noted just last month, some 85,000 in fact turn to Social Security disability as compared to 80,000 jobs created.

West believes that the current administration is only creating a sense of economic dependence, which is a form of modern slavery.

As of this moment, the total number of workers receiving disability benefits has reached more than 8.7 million. In fact, the number exceeded the total number of population of New York City by more than 500,000.

It can be recalled that on West’s indictments a couple of weeks ago, he used the same term “slave” when he described President Barack Obama’s desire of making Americans to be his slave and to become economically dependent on him.

West explained that self-esteem comes from doing admirable things. Sitting at home while waiting for the SSDI check from the government won’t bring out a person’s self esteem. Hence, as a result, people would simply rely on the economy and be a slave forever, according to reports.

Furthermore, West also expressed his displeasure on the economic vision laid out by the current republican presidential candidate, Mitt Romney. It had been actually voiced out by other conservatives in the past few weeks.

Based on West’s statements, which mainly tackle the growing issue of rapidly increasing number of Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) dependents, he believes that Americans should probably seek for someone with an exceptionality and distinctiveness to rule over the country towards better economy.

Meanwhile, a Los Angeles social security disability lawyer, although closely monitoring every details of the story, remains discreetly believing that Americans have their ways to determine which one would save them from the economic upset.

DOJ Pointed Out another Man Involved in LIRR Disability Benefit Scheme

Last Friday, the Department of Justice pointed out another man who was allegedly involved in the disability benefit scheme that puts the Long Island Railroad (LIRR) into controversy.

Allegedly, several workers from the LIRR claimed to be disabled upon early retirement so they could collect more disability benefits. 

The former LIRR director of shop equipment, engineering, and environmental compliance, Donald Alevas was arrested for his alleged participation in the said disability benefit fraud.

Alevas is the 22nd person to be charged in the said scheme. Other involved are two doctors and an office manager who allegedly worked together to falsify diagnostic results of the retiring LIRR workers and make them disabled. Also, two facilitators were also identified as liaisons or third parties between the participating doctors and the 18 retirees whom one was likewise charged as facilitator.

He was subsequently released upon paying his bail and without even entering a plea before the federal court in Manhattan, according to reports.

Prosecutors believe that there could possibly be as many as 1,500 LIRR retirees suspected of fraudulent acts to get disability benefits.

Consequently, an existing immunity deal was recently provided and that the same has been extended until Sept. 14. The deal is set to give LIRR retirees a chance to admit to lying and keep their LIRR pension and some disability benefits that they have already received in the past in exchange of surrendering any of their future payments.

Fortunately for those who had signed up to the amnesty deal by July 6, they are permitted to keep all of their past benefits while those that intend to wait the final deadline of October 15, half of the benefits they have received in the past will be forfeited. 

A Los Angeles social security claim lawyer is quite disappointed that a lot of disability frauds are surpassing the government’s tight filtration of applicants despite the growing number of truly qualified disabled people.

A Million People Prefer to View Their Accounts through the SSA’s Online Service

In a recent press release, Social Security Administration (SSA) commissioner, Michael J. Astrue, announced that in less than a couple of months time, a million people have already accessed the agency’s online service to view their social security accounts statement.

Commissioner Astrue previously declared that the agency’s Social Security Statement is a huge success since it achieved its thrust of providing Americans with an easy access to their social security statements. Account holders can now obtain an estimation of their possible benefits in the future. Astrue further suggested that all policy holders should check their statements via online each year.

The online statement facility was developed by the agency to provide estimates for retirement, long-term, and permanent disability, as well as survivor benefits. For young wage earners, it likewise provides accurate information regarding their earnings. Therefore, they may be able to know whether their earnings are posted to their social security statement on time. Way back in snail mail days, seeing young wage earners’ earning details was far possible. 

The implementation of the agency’s online statement on its database was made effective last May 1. This popular electronic service of the agency has promoted ease and convenience for wage earners.

In a statement released by the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI), most users are giving the online statement an excellent score of 89. In fact, this new online service is already becoming competitive with the other top-rated virtual services offered by the agency such as the retirement estimator and online application for retirement. The ACSI is responsible in tracking trends in customers’ satisfaction and in giving significant progress insights for private and government agencies.

Although the online service is easily accessible to anyone, users must be 8-years of age and must have a social security number, a valid e-mail address, and a U.S. mailing address, reminded by the SSA in its official press release page.

For better guides on the different kinds of social security benefits, a Los Angeles disability lawyer can provide some important reminders, specifically applicable to new applicants.