GETTING DISABILITY APPROVED BECOMES HARDER IN OCTOBER 2019

It's difficult to get Social Security disability benefits.

Starting in October, it will be harder, and it will take longer.

This fall, Alabama joins the 49 other states in having to endure the process called Reconsideration.  When Social Security rejects your application, you won't be able to file an immediate appeal, as you can now.  You will have to endure six useless months of "Reconsideration."

So, what happens at "Reconsideration"?  Nothing much.  The same state agency that denied your application will spend several months reviewing their decision.  Then, they will make the same decision again, another denial--but after several months of bureaucratic red tape and foot dragging.  

So, starting this October, it isn't enough to be denied once.  You must be denied twice before you can file an appeal.

Is there any realistic chance that "Reconsideration" will correct Social Security's mistake and clear you to get benefits?  Not much. In the 40 states that currently have the "Reconsideration" process, it approves less than 5 percent (5 out of 100) claims being "reconsidered."

It's a big, useless waste of time.  I think it's designed to stall and make the already snail-like claims process take even longer. Claimants die waiting on the Social Security process.  More will die now.

The real danger is that every claimant has an expiration date upon which he or she loses disability insurance coverage.  It's called "Date Last Insured" or DLI.  If your DLI slips up on you while you are being "reconsidered," and then you fail to win your appeal, you will find it difficult or impossible to file a new claim.

Not only that, but the poor claimant who is eating dry dog food and sleeping in somebody's back yard just gets his day in court delayed for no good reason.  Instead of taking 2 years to get a hearing, it will soon take two and one-half years. 

I would normally suggest that my readers contact their member of Congress.  But frankly, I don't think it will do any good.  Congress obviously knows about this and most members have openly supported the additional delay.  Congress gets their pay right on time.  Nobody is delaying their pay for an additional 6 months.

If you are waiting on Social Security for your financial survival, it is desperate times.  We will help you all we can. But the politicians and bureaucrats keep doing all in their power to keep you from getting your benefits.