Skip to main content

NEW SOCIAL SECURITY COMMISSIONER: NEW HOPE

On January 15, 2024 Martin J. O'Malley was sworn in as the new Commissioner of Social Security. Already, Mr. O'Malley has taken action that indicates understanding of the many problems facing Social Security. He brings fresh vision and hope to this troubled federal agency that has been dealing with increasingly longer wait times, poor customer service and severe work backlogs.

Mr. O'Malley has pledged to secure sufficient funding and staffing so that Social Security can do its job. Shortly after being sworn in, he promised that he would "make the train run on time."

The new commissioner is the first ever to have a social media presence. He seems to have rolled up his sleeves and become personally involved in making Social Security work for all of us.

Mr. O'Malley is former governor of Maryland and prior to that he served two terms as mayor of Baltimore. He has long advocated measuring outputs of government on a real time basis--something new to Social Security to be sure!

Here is what we hope to see from Social Security in the future:  

  • decreased waiting time for disability decisions
  • shorter hold times to speak to Social Security by phone
  • a quicker appeals process
  • better cooperation with attorneys and other  advocates
  • better Social Security funding and staffing to meet these goals

 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

MUST YOU MEET A LISTING FOR SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY?

You hear talk of getting SSDI benefits by "meeting a Listing."  What are the Listings? The Blue Book listings are found in the regulations at 20 CFR 404, Subpart P, Appendix I. The Listings are divided into 12 body systems.  Each severe impairment is listed under its respective body system.  For example, Congestive Heart Failure is listed under Section 4.00 - Cardiovascular System. When you go there, there is a list of severe symptoms, and they are severe.   If you exactly meet or equal the list of very extreme symptoms you will be automatically approved for disability. Here's the problem:  Meeting one of the listings is about as likely as winning the Super Lotto.  It is very, very unlikely that you will do so. Thus, 99 percent of claimants do not and cannot get approved by meeting a listing.  The listings are only for catastrophic, extreme impairments that most claimants simply do not have--or do not have at the severity level demanded by the listings...
Post a Comment
Read more

A DISABILITY DENIAL IS NOT THE END OF YOUR CASE

By Charles W. Forsythe The Forsythe Firm Social Security denies a lot of applications.  It's expected.  But it's not the end. The good news is:  You can probably win your case on appeal and get paid benefits.  It just takes a bit longer. About 8 out of 10 new disability claims will be routinely denied.  So, it's rather unusual to be approved just by filing an application. An appeal sounds like a last resort or tricky legal maneuver.  It's really quite common--almost  normal--in a Social Security disability case. 8 out 10 claims will be appealed at least once, often twice, before they are paid. The process that pays Social Security disability is not the application, it's the appeal process. Many claimants who don't understand the importance of appeals give up after the first denial.  A serious mistake.  You odds get better in appeals. TIME LIMIT ON APPEALS .  All unfavorable Social Security decisions must be appealed within 60 days ....
Post a Comment
Read more

CAN A LAWYER / ADVOCATE HELP YOU IN DISABILITY HEARINGS?

 HOW A LAWYER INCREASES YOU ODDS     There are many things a trained disability advocate or lawyer can do for you in a disability claim.  The biggest reason to have a lawyer or advocate is that you are 3 times as likely to be approved when using one. As with all levels of applying for SSI and SSDI , it is not required that you have attorney representation. However, the hearing before an Administrative Law Judge is your BEST chance of being approved for Social Security benefits. During this stage your chances of being approved are highly improved by having an attorney that is skilled with disability law . Only an experienced lawyer or advocate will understand the difficult and confusing concepts discussed at the hearing.  If you don't have a lawyer you will probably understand very little of what goes on at your hearing. Before your hearing your attorney can prepare you for the questions you will be asked at the hearing. A vocational expert will be a...
Post a Comment
Read more