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

IS IT HARD TO GET SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY IN TENNESSEE?

  How hard is it to get Social Security disability (SSDI) in Tennessee? It can be very difficult.  In the beginning stages of the process, it seems like the agency is out to deny as many claims as possible.  Later--in the appeals process--it takes more technical and legal skill to move through the labyrinth of obstacles. What's the usual reason for an SSDI denial? If you look at all the denial letters, the most comm on reason given is:  You are not disabled according to our rules. The 2 main explanation for finding claimants not disabled are: 1.  You are able to perform some of your past relevant work. 2.  You can't perform any of your past work but you are able to do other work. Those are the two "catch all" reasons Social Security gives for nearly all of their denials.  Both of these reasons fall into the category of a medical denial .  The claimant's condition is not deemed severe enough to prevent all work. There are other reasons for d...
Post a Comment
Read more

WHAT YOU WILL BE ASKED AT A DISABILITY HEARING

Most Social Security disability claims will be denied twice:  First at the end of the Application process, and again after the "Reconsideration" process.  The third stop will be a hearing before a federal Administrative Law Judge (ALJ). It is here at the hearing level that most SSDI claims are paid.  So, what do you need to know about your Social Security disability hearing?     First, the judge will follow the rules established by the Social Security Administration.  His or her job is to determine whether you meet the particular laws and rules to receive disability payments.  So, it is a legal proceeding where you must prove certain things in order to get paid. Among the things you must prove:  Your insured status with Social Security:  You have worked recently enough and paid into the Social Security trust fund to gain the required "work credits" to support your claim.  You have a severe medical or mental impairment supported by adequa...
Post a Comment
Read more

CAN YOU WIN YOUR DISABILITY APPEAL WITHOUT A LAWYER?

The Social Security Administration does not require you to have a lawyer to file an appeal or to appear at a hearing.  However, most people heading for a disability hearing will hire a lawyer or advocate to help them.   Studies have shown that you are about twice as likely to win with a lawyer.  A recent study found that claimants with no lawyer win about 30 percent of the time while claimants with a lawyer or advocate win 60 percent of the time.   " He just cooked his own goose." These statistics cover only one aspect of a disability appear--your odds of winning. The other important aspects are time and convenience. If you prepare and adjudicate your own disability appeal, expect to spend 12 to 24 months working on the case.  You will be collecting, reading and submitting hundreds or thousands of pages of medical records.  These records are complex and often difficult to understand.  And you must know how each medical record helps (or hurts) your dis...
Post a Comment
Read more