Social Security Office Help

There is a recent statistic showing that in some local Social Security Offices anywhere from 10% to 15% of the people who walk in for help are turned away without getting service.

The percentage of people who call into local offices without someone answering the telephone are probably even higher.

We are very fortunate in Bloomington, Illinois to have good staff at the local social security office. The waits for walk-in service are not too bad, and I can get almost all my phone calls answered.

It is a different story at other area offices. For instance, I find it difficult to get through on the telephone to Springfield, Champaign, Peru and Peoria, Illinois local offices.

What is your experience with social security help? Any good stories? Horror stories?

 

Tax Help

Tax time is here.

In Peoria, Springfield, Bloomington and Champaign, Illinois there are groups who provide free income tax preparation assistance for individuals who make $30,000 and under per year and couples who make $50,000 and under.

You should check with your local library and they will get you information for times and locations of the groups providing free tax preparation.

Filing your taxes is important because you may be entitled to a refund or the Earned Income Tax Credit may result in you getting more money.

 

Merry Christmas

No gift matches the gift of Life and Light.

Let us celebrate God giving his only Son so that we may all live in peace with Him.

Merry Christmas.

 

Thanksgiving

Hope you enjoy a peaceful and enjoyable few days at Thanksgiving. 

No matter our lot in life it is important to find things we can give thanks for.

May God open our eyes to see all the blessings He has provided.Happy Thanksgiving. 

 

Disabilities Expo

Last night was the Disabilities Expo put on by Access Allies of Bloomington Normal. It was another great event. Thanks, Chris!

The weather did not cooperate but it was good to see the people who came out and to have so many exhibitors who provide important services to the community.

If you were unable to attend be sure to call me, Attorney Dirk May at 309-827-4371, if you have questions about Children’s SSI or Social Security Disability.

Let me know if there are any other fairs in the Central Illinois area. I will be glad to attend and talk with you about Social Security Disability.

 

Social Security Backlogs

Social Security News blog has updated statistics regarding the time it takes a Social Security Disability case to go from application to final decision. The National Average is 532 days.
In November 2007 it was 500 days.

The Peoria, Illinois Hearing office ranks 137th out of 147 Hearing Offices. The average case time is 761 days. That is very sad. The really bad part is that is that the Social Security Budget does not allow for much personnel increase at all. Which means the average is not going to go down dramatically in the near future.

The Peoria, Illinois office covers Peoria, Champaign, Springfield, Decatur, Pontiac and Bloomington, Illinois.

It is hard to tell your clients when they file that they will have to wait over 2 years for a hearing.

Questions about the long wait? Call Attorney Dirk May at 309-827-4371

 

Depression and Social Security Disability

Depression and other mental health conditions are often very disabling.

Social Security recognizes mental conditions alone, and in combination with physical problems, as grounds for finding someone disabled.

The most important approach for depression and other mental conditions is to see a psychiatrist. A primary care doctor can prescribe anti-depressants and diagnose you with depression. However, Social Security gives more weight to a psychiatrist opinions and records.

Many counties in Illinois have mental health providers that will provide services on a sliding scale. This type of treatment is vital to your Social Security Disability case.

Bloomington, Illinois has very good psychiatrists who can help people who are out of work. Champaign, Peoria, Decatur and Springfield, Illinois also have similar programs.

Should you have any questions about seeing a psychiatrist in your area, or what is needed for your Social Security Disability case please feel free to call Attorney Dirk May at 309-827-4371.

 

Congressional Help

I am rethinking the whole idea of using a Congressperson’s assistance in speeding up a Social Security Disability case. 

This is the reason: the judges, office manager and case reviewers often get defensive if they think someone is looking over their shoulder pushing a case.

This usually ends in a way that is less than satisfactory for the claimant (you).

I suppose a one time inquiry will not do any harm, however,  multiple calls from the congressperson’s office probably do not help your case.I have seen Judge’s take a hard line on certain cases, and I am left wondering if this is because a congressional office pushed too hard.

Certainly, you can appeal but that destroys the whole idea of speeding up the case. It will take at least another six months and may result in you having to reapply.

I understand that the whole Social Security Disability process is a mess and takes much too long, but sometimes the so called Congressional shortcuts do not really help out that much and must be used very carefully.

 

What a mess

If you have any contact with the Social Security disability system I am sure you wonder who thought up this crazy system.

You wait for 2 to 3 years to have someone tell you that you are disabled or not. Isn’t there a better way?

I am sure that if we all sat down at our computers and blogged out ideas we could come up with a better system in an afternoon.

Problem is that it would probably cost more money, personnel and effort than any administration is willing to invest.

The dirty little secret is that disabled people have not reached the tipping point to bring in more money and personnel to speed up the process.

The Bush administration has a pilot project going to speed up the process. However, it does not appear that it will make much difference.

There may be some hope with a change in Congress and with a presidential election upcoming but there has been democratic  control before and not much has happened.

There is way too much budgetary pressure from the war, and spending overruns in other areas to expect loads of money dumped into SSA for more administrative law judges and review people.

That does not mean we should give up hope or stop trying to change the system. By all means, we should contact our elected representatives and ask them to look into the disability case backlogs and what ways we can speed up the system(see congressional link). What about a computer system that screens the vital information such as education, age, work history and medical conditions and spits out a triage of cases that meet listing and grid criteria. I am not talking about another computer contractor boondoggle that rips off the taxpayer. But something that uses available information SSA is already compiling and makes faster decisions.

Anyway, in addition to advocacy groups,  I think it is worth it for citizens to contact their government and ask them to work on improving the social security disability adjucation procedures.