Being unable to work due to a disability is hard enough already. You then have to navigate a complicated application process to qualify for Social Security Disability benefits. Unfortunately, there are plans in the making by federal authorities that would make that process even harder for many.
Appeal judges may no longer be impartial
Many people see their initial claim for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) turned down. Sometimes it is for administrative reasons, such as you completed the form incorrectly. Sometimes, the Social Security Administration (SSA) decides you fail to meet the requirements to qualify for benefits.
Currently, when you file an appeal, your case is heard by an impartial Administrative Law Judge. If the new proposals become reality, those ALJs would be replaced by partisan attorneys who may decide claims based on their ideologies, instead.
Increased continuing disability reviews
Once you get the SSDI claim approved, that is not the end. The SSA may review your case later to check that your disability still applies and still prevents you from working. They would make these reviews more frequent under the new plans, leading to what one senator called “harassment of people with disabilities.”
The new laws will undoubtedly result in more people not receiving the benefit payments they need to survive. While an SSDI attorney cannot change government policy, they can help you fight for the benefits you need. They understand the intricacies of the relevant laws and the conditions that the SSA applies. Their experience can help you shorten your claims process and obtain faster access to the benefits you so dearly need.