Social Security Disability Reform
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Author:
n/a -
Send To:
US Government
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Sponsored By:
Social Security Disability Coalition -
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Money is taken out of your paychecks every week for Social Security, and SSD and as of January 2003 the US government GAO has designated Social Security Disability a HIGH risk area for 2003. You could face homelessness, bankruptcy and even death trying to get your benefits when you need them the most. Anyone could suddenly find themselves in a situation where they need to access this fund such as an accident, catastrophic illness, a victim of a crime, military personnel, veterans and now we have the threat of terrorist attacks these are unfortunate realities of life. Millions of people across the country become disabled unexpectedly - 12,000 per week in this country apply for long-term disability benefits. What happens if your work disability insurance runs out, if you dont have it, or worse yet become unemployed? You will then need to turn to the most mismanaged system in the country the Social Security Disability System. What you will find is that the current system is set up to kill you so they dont have to pay you. Billions of dollars are being spent in foreign lands and on pork barrel programs, and we want the government to focus on and fix this growing problem here at home now. Here are just a few of the major issues we would like to see addressed:
We are concerned about what transpires from the first point of contact, the filing for benefits, and the final outcome or status. Disability benefits determinations should be based solely on the physical or mental disability of the applicant. Neither age, education or any other factors should ever be considered when evaluating whether or not a person is disabled. Discrimination of this form is highly illegal in this country, yet this is a standard practice when deciding Social Security Disability determinations and should be considered a violation of our Constitution. This practice should be addressed and eliminated immediately. Many people who apply for disability dont look sick - you cant tell if a person has cancer, heart disease, diabetes or any other debilitating diseases just by looking at them. We did not chose this fate it was forced upon us! Yet we are treated as disposable people and often viewed as lazy or frauds. The extraordinary time it takes to process a claim from the original filing date should be eliminated. Why should we have to become homeless, bankrupt, starve, lose our healthcare coverage, suffer untold stress on top of our illnesses, and even die trying to get our benefits? We are now being told that because of the backlog that these are the only circumstances that anyone will even look at our paperwork now no matter how sick we are. Why should we have to file for welfare, food stamps and Medicaid after we have lost everything due to this backlog - another horrendous process - because of the inadequacies in the Social Security Disability offices and then have to pay Social Services back from our measly benefit checks? Nobody else who files for public assistance has to do that why are disabled people being discriminated against?
If we provide sufficient medical documents when we originally file for benefits why should we ever be denied at the initial stage, have to hire lawyers, wait years for hearings, go before administrative law judges and be treated like criminals on trial? Too much weight at the initial time of filing, is put on the independent medical examiners opinion who only sees you for a few minutes and has no clue how a patients medical problems affect their lives after only a brief visit with them. An even worse problem is the poor review of cases by DDS caseworkers which causes too many unjustified delays and denials. Decisions should be based more on the treating physicians opinions, and medical records. The listing of diseases that qualify a person for disability should be expanded and updated more frequently to include newly discovered crippling diseases such as the many autoimmune disorders that are ravaging our citizens.
We have contributed our hard earned money to this system hoping we would never need it until we were ready to retire. Where is the money going that has been robbed from our paychecks every week? Disease and tragedy does not discriminate based upon age, race, sex or any other factor. The disabled citizens of this nation have been forced to tackle a very daunting system . We challenge you to do the same and expose and correct this problem on a national level. The Social Security Administration, a Federal program, administered by the states will admit that our elected officials have the power to reform the system. Why should we have to become homeless, bankrupt, starve, lose our healthcare coverage, suffer untold stress on top of our illnesses and even die trying to get our benefits? We the undersigned say to all members of the US Government:
For everyone of us that starves, becomes homeless or loses our healthcare during this process we blame you!
For everyone of us who files for bankruptcy during this process we blame you!
For the unfathomable stress and suffering we have inflicted upon us during this process we blame you!
For everyone of us who becomes more ill or worse yet dies during this process we blame you!
We want to know why our elected officials seem to be ignoring this crisis and doing nothing to reform it? We want to know what, if anything is being done to correct this critical issue that affects millions of sick and dying Americans. Please start taking care of the US citizens living in this country whom elected you into office. It is your duty as elected officials to serve all those that voted you into that office and even those of us who didn't. When the next election comes around we will not forget those who have forgotten us. The government may be trying to rob millions of disabled people from their money, and also neglect us, but remember we millions of citizens still have, and will use our right to vote. A country is only as strong as the citizens who live in it. On behalf of the Social Security Disability Coalition we ask, disabled and healthy Americans alike, that you please do something to fix this serious problem now!
We are concerned about what transpires from the first point of contact, the filing for benefits, and the final outcome or status. Disability benefits determinations should be based solely on the physical or mental disability of the applicant. Neither age, education or any other factors should ever be considered when evaluating whether or not a person is disabled. Discrimination of this form is highly illegal in this country, yet this is a standard practice when deciding Social Security Disability determinations and should be considered a violation of our Constitution. This practice should be addressed and eliminated immediately. Many people who apply for disability dont look sick - you cant tell if a person has cancer, heart disease, diabetes or any other debilitating diseases just by looking at them. We did not chose this fate it was forced upon us! Yet we are treated as disposable people and often viewed as lazy or frauds. The extraordinary time it takes to process a claim from the original filing date should be eliminated. Why should we have to become homeless, bankrupt, starve, lose our healthcare coverage, suffer untold stress on top of our illnesses, and even die trying to get our benefits? We are now being told that because of the backlog that these are the only circumstances that anyone will even look at our paperwork now no matter how sick we are. Why should we have to file for welfare, food stamps and Medicaid after we have lost everything due to this backlog - another horrendous process - because of the inadequacies in the Social Security Disability offices and then have to pay Social Services back from our measly benefit checks? Nobody else who files for public assistance has to do that why are disabled people being discriminated against?
If we provide sufficient medical documents when we originally file for benefits why should we ever be denied at the initial stage, have to hire lawyers, wait years for hearings, go before administrative law judges and be treated like criminals on trial? Too much weight at the initial time of filing, is put on the independent medical examiners opinion who only sees you for a few minutes and has no clue how a patients medical problems affect their lives after only a brief visit with them. An even worse problem is the poor review of cases by DDS caseworkers which causes too many unjustified delays and denials. Decisions should be based more on the treating physicians opinions, and medical records. The listing of diseases that qualify a person for disability should be expanded and updated more frequently to include newly discovered crippling diseases such as the many autoimmune disorders that are ravaging our citizens.
We have contributed our hard earned money to this system hoping we would never need it until we were ready to retire. Where is the money going that has been robbed from our paychecks every week? Disease and tragedy does not discriminate based upon age, race, sex or any other factor. The disabled citizens of this nation have been forced to tackle a very daunting system . We challenge you to do the same and expose and correct this problem on a national level. The Social Security Administration, a Federal program, administered by the states will admit that our elected officials have the power to reform the system. Why should we have to become homeless, bankrupt, starve, lose our healthcare coverage, suffer untold stress on top of our illnesses and even die trying to get our benefits? We the undersigned say to all members of the US Government:
For everyone of us that starves, becomes homeless or loses our healthcare during this process we blame you!
For everyone of us who files for bankruptcy during this process we blame you!
For the unfathomable stress and suffering we have inflicted upon us during this process we blame you!
For everyone of us who becomes more ill or worse yet dies during this process we blame you!
We want to know why our elected officials seem to be ignoring this crisis and doing nothing to reform it? We want to know what, if anything is being done to correct this critical issue that affects millions of sick and dying Americans. Please start taking care of the US citizens living in this country whom elected you into office. It is your duty as elected officials to serve all those that voted you into that office and even those of us who didn't. When the next election comes around we will not forget those who have forgotten us. The government may be trying to rob millions of disabled people from their money, and also neglect us, but remember we millions of citizens still have, and will use our right to vote. A country is only as strong as the citizens who live in it. On behalf of the Social Security Disability Coalition we ask, disabled and healthy Americans alike, that you please do something to fix this serious problem now!
8147 Signatures
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Linda Fullerton
- State
- NY
- Zip Code
- 14626
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Arnold Van Wie
- State
- New York
- Zip Code
- 14626-2427
- Comments
- We desperately need reform; citizens are routinely losing everything they have ever worked for and people are dying, because they are not receiving the money from this corrupt, degenerate, system.
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Gregory Paul
- State
- New York
- Zip Code
- 14607
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aaron
- State
- new york
- Zip Code
- 14608
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Andrew J. Asproulis
- State
- NY
- Zip Code
- 14522
- Comments
- The SS System is an inefficient bureaucracy wasteing billions of dollars for operations. It could be saved for future generations if operated under private enterprise. Like other departments of the US Gov't., an overhaul is definitely needed. For example the US Immigration and Naturalization Service is a good analogy as we have learned from the 9/11 attacks.
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kevin mcfarland
- State
- ny
- Zip Code
- 14450
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Karen M. Daniels
- State
- New York
- Zip Code
- 14606
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harold puterbaugh
- State
- new jersey
- Zip Code
- 08244
- Comments
- I'm disabled and I vote
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Stephanie L. Varnado
- State
- Tennessee
- Zip Code
- 37210
- Comments
- Co-Founder Social Security Disability Coalition
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Ann Marie Buckland
- State
- New York
- Zip Code
- 14585
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Gail Brimm
- State
- Tennessee
- Zip Code
- 37412
- Comments
- Ihave been trying to get my disability for about six months
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Paul C. Clark
- State
- Arizona
- Zip Code
- 85328
- Comments
- My credit is ruined because the SSA lost my Claim For nearly a year and never paid me a penny untill my claim was settled nearly two and one half years after my accident
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Gary R Bidwell
- State
- California
- Zip Code
- 94110
- Comments
- This works for me.
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Alice P Bidwell
- State
- California
- Zip Code
- 94110
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Carolyn Taliaferro
- State
- NJ
- Zip Code
- 07305
- Comments
- The Social Security Disability process needs revamping.The operation is layered in red tape;and harms many more people than its helps.Medicare needs to have a prescription component with the increase in drug costs. If this were a private corporation bankruptcy would be looming at the door.
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Carol L. Ferguson
- State
- Indiana
- Zip Code
- 46227
- Comments
- System is incomprehensible and has few checks and balances.
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michael j ryan
- State
- n.y.
- Zip Code
- 14424
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K.Y.Kronk
- State
- TX.
- Zip Code
- 77035
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Dirk Malavase
- State
- NY
- Zip Code
- 14469
- Comments
- I doubt there will be SS funds if I need them in the future, if things continue as they are. I'm horrified reading how wrong the system is, change it!
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Patty Waite
- State
- New York
- Zip Code
- 14609
- Comments
- All that anyone is asking is for is some Assistance to live so they are not homeless and can pay for the illnesses that have put them out of work. They have been diagnosed with an illness that has been proven, why the fight now, to get the money that they have paid for in all the working years that the person has paid into the system?
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Derek Lynch
- State
- NY
- Zip Code
- 14607
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Silandara Bartlett
- State
- New York
- Zip Code
- 14620
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Judith Thompson
- State
- New Hampshire
- Zip Code
- 03301
- Comments
- I remember when I went through this stressful ordeal back in 1994. But I am so grateful that this benefit is available to those of us who are terminally or chronically ill.
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Laura Kochuten
- State
- Washington
- Zip Code
- 98257
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JackieKaspersin
- State
- NY
- Zip Code
- 14616
- Comments
- Many of the programs available to assist our citizens need comprehensive revamping. I agree with the comments that we need to fix our own inadequacies before we fund the problems of the world - if we don't pay more attention to management we won't have anything left to help anyone!
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yvonne kravitz
- State
- ny
- Zip Code
- 11777
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Denise Jacobson
- State
- Wisconsin
- Zip Code
- 53140
- Comments
- We can give money to people who immigrate to the USA and to other countries but our own country can't even help our own people out. Something needs to be done here and fast.
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Paula King
- State
- MI
- Zip Code
- 48236
- Comments
- The system needs revamped.The people who deserve the aide the most are turned down.
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Edith Johnson
- State
- Colorado
- Zip Code
- 81144
- Comments
- Please help us.
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steven
- State
- new york
- Zip Code
- 14612
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Sereatha Griffith
- State
- North Carolina
- Zip Code
- 27704
- Comments
- After years of being sick and working, pushing on, I had to apply for benefits. It was a major trauma financially in addition to the physical trauma of being ill. I think that there can be a better way to treat people that have paid into ss for years, when they become ill and cannot work to support their families. We certainly go to great lengths in this country to take care of people who do not live here. Is it too much to ask the government to take care of their own, in a timely manner? We are not asked "when" we want to pay into social security, they do not ask our PERMISSION to withhold money from us...why do we have to wait so long when we are ill? Does our dignity not suffer enough when we walk slow in the store, and cannot drive any longer due to illness??
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Chris Staffieri
- State
- NY
- Zip Code
- 14534
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Michelle
- State
- Florida
- Zip Code
- 33774
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Bernette Warfield
- State
- Florida
- Zip Code
- 33774
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John Keller
- State
- New York
- Zip Code
- 13501
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Deborah Magone-Fragale
- State
- New York
- Zip Code
- 14612
- Comments
- The system is corrupt, our money is being embezzled, and it starts at the very top. Be sure to vote for regime change in 2004! They've already emptied the treasury and our income is next!
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SUSAN M.BABCOCK
- State
- NEW YORK
- Zip Code
- 13212
- Comments
- I HAVE ALWAYS PAID MY TAXES,NOW I NEED HELP AND I AM TOLD TO GO GET WELFARE FOR MY DAUGHTER AND I,HOW IS THIS RIGHT.HOW CAN WE TAKE CARE OF OTHER COUNTRIES,BUT NOT THE PEOPLE HERE IN THE USA!WE GET TREATED UNFAIRLY FOR BEING ILL.I WAS TOLD,BY MY CONGRESS MAN'S AIDE,HE WAS NOT A LAWYER,HE COULD NOT HELP!WHY DO THEY HAVE JOBS?WHAT ARE THEY GETTING PAID FOR!
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Tony Wensel
- State
- NY
- Zip Code
- 14620
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Joe Bart
- State
- ny
- Zip Code
- 14602
- Comments
- I hope this gets straightened out
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Mary Gardemann
- State
- calif
- Zip Code
- 92308
- Comments
- Yes the medicare system should be changed, so that if you recieve ssd, you should also recieve medicare, not wait for 2 yrs before it becomes effective
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LInda Weaver
- State
- PA
- Zip Code
- 18704
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Joyce Nystrom
- State
- Indiana
- Zip Code
- 46342
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scott jones
- State
- NEW YORK
- Zip Code
- 13212
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Kerri Sweeney
- State
- 86 Clinton St Apt 17 NY NY
- Zip Code
- 10002
- Comments
- You shoud be ashamed for holding back SS funds for people who are disabled!
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Marion Skydancer
- State
- NC
- Zip Code
- 28734
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Patricia Battle
- State
- NC
- Zip Code
- 27610
- Comments
- We need this. Thank you.
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katrina harper
- State
- ny
- Zip Code
- 14468
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MARK LEGOTT
- State
- NEW YORK
- Zip Code
- 13148
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Mary Nagle
- State
- Michigan
- Zip Code
- 48023
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Melissa M. Engolia
- State
- Louisiana
- Zip Code
- 70458
- Comments
- I had filed for Social Security Disability and it was a complet nightmare. They judge was only concer about my knee and not for Fibromyalgia. I was told that I didn't need a lawyer and that 70% were over turned on there own. If I knew what I was getting into I would advise everyone that is what they concider to young to have the problems to seek out a lawyer and do not listen to anyone. I left the judges room so upset and crying, it shouldn't be like that. I have had this documented for about 4 years now and doctors seem to think I might have had it since I was sixteen. I am 31 now and I have given statments time and time again. Something needs to be changed and it should be changed now. Thank you for your time.
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8147
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