How SSD Will Be Impacted by Recent Changes – and What You Can Do About It
It seems as though we hear news about both real and potential changes to programs such as Social Security and the Social Security Disability Insurance Program (SSDI) every day. With the constant influx of information, it can be hard to separate fact from fiction. And, for those who are filing for SSDI or waiting to receive benefits, these changes can be particularly stressful.
With that in mind, we’d like to outline some of the recent changes, how these changes may impact your claim, what you can do about these changes, and how an SSDI attorney can help.
Current Challenges
Over the last month, the Social Security Administration (SSA) announced plans to reduce its workforce by 7,000 people and close six regional offices, including the White Plains office in the New York Region. Since the SSA was already understaffed, this reduction in staff is expected to slow service delivery and increase the time it takes to process claims. In addition, office closures will force people to either go online or appear at a distant office, especially since the phone system will be limited.
As you might expect, staffing shortages combined with increased workloads will likely lead to longer average wait times to process disability claims at all stages in the process. According to the SSA, the average wait time to get approved for disability benefits is already at an historic high of eight months, due to a backlog of cases and staffing issues.
What You Can Do
Sometimes the best way to get results is to ask questions. When it comes to SSDI, reaching out to your U.S. Senators and Congressmember can be very effective.
- Go to Congress.gov and enter your address in Find Your Members.
- Under each Senator and Congressmember is a Contact This will take you to the individual websites for your Congressmembers. Fill out the Contact Us information with a detail of your issue (e.g., “I have been waiting for Social Security Disability for over 12 months, etc.) and then submit it.
- When you receive a response, send a copy to your SSDI attorneys.
You could also make an appointment to go to your Congressmember’s local office to make a complaint.
How an SSDI Attorney Can Help
One of the best ways to combat these delays is to work with an experienced SSDI attorney who can build the strongest possible case for your claim. This way, when you finally get to present your case, it has a much greater chance of being approved. Unfortunately, about 67% of SSD claims get denied at the initial application level, which makes presenting a robust case critical to success.
It’s also important to receive regular updates about your case from your legal team. As we’ve seen recently, changes to the SSA can impact your rights, so communication regarding updates is vital.
Rely on Our Experience
At The Disability Guys, our experienced legal team has helped tens of thousands of clients receive the benefits they deserve. We’re committed to building the best case possible, as well as supporting clients during every step of the process. In addition, our attorneys and staff are actively involved with various advocacy groups who speak with Congress and the White House regularly. Our goal is to ensure those applying for and receiving disability benefits have a fair and open process.
We also believe you have a right to know what is happening with your case throughout the process. Not only will you receive regular updates from our team, but you’ll also have access to a client portal that provides quick two-way text messaging. In short, we’re committed to providing an “unexpected legal experience” – in the best possible way.
Call us at (866) 205-2415 to schedule a free consultation.
