Support Growing For Grassroots SSDI/SSI - Reform Initiative For The Chronically

[Guest guest]

Support Growing For Grassroots SSDI/SSI - Reform Initiative For The

Chronically Disabled, USA

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=70092

A little more than two months ago, I initiated a grassroots movement

designed to change the way social security works for victims of MS

and other chronically disabling illnesses. In addressing the current

difficulties in qualifying for permanent disability benefits, I am

proposing that temporary disability benefits be granted during times

when they're actually needed. Along with the Accelerated Cure

Project and the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation, several other

organizations and individuals, have begun to garner support for this

important effort. As of May 1, 2007, this proposal has been endorsed

by more than 1,600 individuals including chronic illness patients,

physicians, employees of hospitals and pharmaceutical companies,

television actors, chronic illness advocacy organizations and

innumerable concerned citizens.

When you read the endorsements, it becomes apparent that there is a

common thread; the desire among those afflicted with MS and other

serious chronic disorders to continue to work and contribute to

society as they're able -- while gaining the recognition of our

lawmakers that the unpredictable nature of chronic illness needs to

be more adequately addressed.

Last week, I asked the Social Security Administration to document

disability benefits approval rates comparing MS patients with the

entire applicant population. While the initial allowance rate for MS

patients who applied for SSDI and/or SSI in 2006 was higher than the

percentage for all impairments combined (48.1% and 34.9%,

respectively), over half of the more than 13,000 MS patients were

denied upon initial application.

These staggering statistics have brought this critical issue to the

attention of the mainstream media. On May 1, 2007, the New York

Times published an editorial entitled, " The Temporarily Able-

Bodied. " The editorial states that our nation's social security

disability programs are " unacceptable and inhumane. " It goes on to

say... " Processing delays, mounting since 2000, have left more than

one million applicants languishing without help, some for years. "

Here are a few additional excerpts worth noting...

" The most acute bottlenecks are at the appeals level, where the

average processing time is now 515 days -- compared with 274 days in

2000. Such delays are especially pernicious because slightly more

than one-quarter of all approved claims are awarded after an appeal

hearing, and nearly two-thirds of people who appeal will ultimately

prevail. Without the benefits they are entitled to, far too many

applicants get sicker and experience severe economic hardship,

including foreclosures and even homelessness. Some applicants die

before their appeals are heard. "

" Disability claims have risen to 2.5 million in 2006 from 1.3

million in 2000, driven in part by the aging of the population. "

" When it comes to helping disabled workers -- as with so many other

duties of government -- recent congresses have not been willing to

pay for service that is prompt, professional and compassionate. "

Even though the Social Security Administration recognizes MS as a

potentially qualifying disability, the current guidelines that

direct case workers how to recognize the often-hidden effects of the

disease haven't been revised in decades. As a result, many

individuals who should have been approved in a timely manner have

had to endure lengthy and often-costly appeals and court hearings

before they eventually gain approval, if at all.

To help overcome these burdens, the National Multiple Sclerosis

Society recently published an article in their newsletter, InsideMS,

entitled " Loosening the SSDI Knots. "

This article summarizes the Society's many recent efforts to revise

and expedite approval guidelines and to educate SSA field offices on

how to better recognize hidden disabilities. Anyone who is in the

process of, or contemplating an application for permanent disability

status will find the article quite educational and useful. Here's

the link

Here's the link http://www.nationalmssociety.org/site/PageServer?

pagename=HOM_LIB_imsapr07_looseningssdi

Yet, streamlining the process for disability benefits approval

represents only part of the problem, since permanent disability

status in its current form offers inadequate incentives for chronic

illness patients who are in remission to return to the work force

and re-contribute to the ongoing solvency of the program. Many

people on permanent disability would welcome the opportunity to

return to work if they knew they wouldn't have to go through the

several-year approval process all over again the next time they got

seriously ill. While expedited reinstatement of benefits is

available within the first five years of resuming employment, an

individual who suffers a debilitating relapse after the five-year

period must reapply for benefits. For those with totally

unpredictable chronic disorders, such as MS, that five-year

limitation is unfairly restrictive.

I am analyzing data provided by the SSA relevant to those on

permanent disability who participate in the Ticket to Work Program.

If that program, as limited as it may be, shows that there are

savings of federal expenditures in benefits payouts, and reduces

federally sponsored health care costs, then a strong case can be

made that " temporary " disability benefits are not only sorely

needed, but result in long-term savings and fiscal responsibility.

And that is the focus of this reform initiative.

If the concept of temporary, as-needed disability benefits seems too

much of a radical idea to be considered, consider this.

As reported in the Washington Post on April 17, 2007, the Office of

Personnel Management recently sent proposals to Congress that would

authorize federal agencies to rehire retired employees, and allow

them to retain their pension and draw a full salary. Is it not far

more radical that these former federal employees would be allowed to

work up to half as many hours as they did before they retired

without having their pension income reduced by one cent?

So, while our lawmakers continue to consider and pass legislation

that ensures their own financial well-being and security, we, who

have paid into a social security system that was supposed to be

there for us if and when we needed it, find ourselves forgotten and

often abandoned.

The beauty of this country is that we, as American citizens, have

the ability to band together and effect necessary and positive

change.

I'll end this article with insight from one of the individuals who

voiced support for this reform last month.

" The measure of any civilization is how it cares for their needy and

infirm; it's time for Congress to step up to the plate and reflect

the great heart of this country's people. "

You can read hundreds of moving comments like this, and add your

own, by clicking on the link http://www.petitionthem.com/default.asp?

sect=detail & pet=3685

Please add your voice of support today!