Staffing Issues to Blame for High Wait Times in New York and Atlanta Regions

The Office of the Inspector General (OIG) recently released a report detailing their findings on what factors are causing an increase in processing times for hearing offices in the New York and Atlanta Regions.  Wait times at the hearing level have become a significant problem for Social Security Disability claimants.  To put this in perspective, there were over 1.1 million cases awaiting a hearing at the end of Fiscal Year 2016.  Further, the average wait time had ballooned to 540 days on average.  For FY 2016, the 13 offices with the highest average wait time were in either the New York or Atlanta Regions.

The OIG’s report concluded that low morale, issues with telework, claimant representatives, and the quality of the support staff’s work were all common factors in the offices with high average wait times.  Additional factors included administrative law judge performance issues, difficulty with scheduling expert witnesses, and a large number of supplemental hearings/postponements.  Based on their findings, the OIG recommended that the Social Security Administration work with the New York and Atlanta Regional Offices and their hearing offices to address the issues.  The Social Security Administration has agreed with the recommendation.

For our clients, the hearing wait time is a significant challenge that causes a large financial strain on them and their families.  We feel it is a positive step for SSA to agree with the OIG’s recommendation so that they can begin addressing this issue in the New York and Atlanta Regions.

For the full report from the OIG, click the link below.

https://oig.ssa.gov/sites/default/files/audit/full/pdf/A-12-18-50285.pdf

By: Devon Brady of Premier Disability Services, LLC^®

May is Mental Health Awareness Month

Mental Health Awareness Month has been observed in May in the United States since 1949, reaching millions of people through the media, local events, and screenings. It was first started in the United States by the Mental Health America (MHA) organization (then known as the National Association for Mental Health). Each year in mid-March, MHA releases a toolkit of materials to guide preparation for outreach activities during Mental Health Awareness Month. During the month of May, MHA, its affiliates, and other organizations interested in mental health conduct a number of activities which are based on a different theme each year. This year’s theme is Fitness #4Mind4Body.

The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) is similarly promoting mental health awareness with the theme of CureStigma. NAMI reports that “one in 5 Americans is affected by mental health conditions. Stigma is toxic to their mental health because it creates an environment of shame, fear and silence that prevents many people from seeking help and treatment. The perception of mental illness won’t change unless we act to change it.”

There are no specific mental health conditions or symptoms that guarantee a disability approval based upon a mental impairment. The Social Security Administration (SSA) views mental impairments in much the same way as they do physical impairments, meaning that SSA focuses on an individual’s functional capacity to work in spite of his or her limitations, rather than his or her specific impairments or diagnoses.

If you or someone you know is unable to work due to a physical, mental, or combination of impairments, please contact us for a free evaluation of your claim!

MHA: http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/may

NAMI: https://www.nami.org/mentalhealthmonth

SSA’s Mental Health Listings: https://www.ssa.gov/disability/professionals/bluebook/12.00-MentalDisorders-Adult.htm

By: Joyce Trudeau of Premier Disability Services, LLC^®

The “Combined Effects” of Your Impairments

People applying for Social Security disability benefits often have more than one illness or injury that is causing their disability, making them unable to work a full-time job. Impairments that are not limiting enough on their own to qualify you for disability may still help your application when the combined effects of all of your medical conditions are considered together. The law requires the Social Security Administration to consider the “combined effects” of impairments – both physical and mental or emotional – when making a decision about disability. The combined effects of such impairments may be disabling, even though each illness or condition individually may not be. That is why it is important for medical care providers to put all of your symptoms in their medical records.

Sometimes people hesitate to file for disability benefits because what they think their major disability is bad, but not severe. And too often claimants do not tell either Social Security or their doctors about all of their symptoms. This happens for two main reasons. First, many people with chronic illnesses do not realize they also suffer from something else, like depression. Second, because they do not understand the law, they do not realize that a combination of all disabilities and symptoms may add up to winning benefits.

The Blue Book requirements for mental impairments require Social Security to consider how limited your activities of daily living and social functioning are and whether you have problems with concentration or finishing tasks in a timely manner. Physical impairments often affect these areas as well. Social Security must consider the effect of your physical impairments when determining whether you meet the listing requirements for a mental impairment. Likewise, your mental impairments may have effects that increase the severity of your physical impairments. For example, even moderate anxiety and depression can decrease your tolerance for pain. Social Security is required by law to consider the effects of your mental and physical impairments together.

If the combined effects of your various impairments do not equal any specific listing in the Blue Book, you may still be able to prove that your impairments are so severe that they prevent you from working full time. Social Security will assess your physical and mental limitations to come up with your “residual functional capacity,” or “RFC.” Your RFC describes what you are able to do despite the combined effects of all your impairments. The RFC assessment indicates whether your exertional (strength-related) restrictions limit you to sedentary work, light work, or medium work, and also includes any specific non-exertional limitations you have. For example, physically you may not be able to reach overhead, bend or stoop, use hand and foot controls, and be exposed to excessive fumes. Mentally, you may be limited in your ability to work with the general public or with supervisors and coworkers, or you may require extra training and supervision. The more limitations you have, the more likely you will be found unable to work.

If you or someone you know is unable to work due to a medical condition(s), please contact us for a free evaluation of your claim!

By: Joyce Trudeau of Premier Disability Services, LLC^®