Why is it so difficult to get disability in this country? (USA)

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   peeplesposted 8 years ago

   Why is it so difficult to get disability in this country? (USA)
   
   Even if your doctors say you are disabled the disability board brings in their own doctors who see you once and claim you are great. Why should someone have to fight for 2-4 years to get disability, struggling financially in the process, often losing everything they have while waiting for disability to decide later that you do actually need it?

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2. 83

   ronbergeronposted 8 years ago

   As with many things, enough people abused the system that the system had to be be made much more stringent to minimize further abuse. The end result is less abuse (but the abuse is still present) and more hardship for the people who have legitimate claims.

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      peeplesposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      I agree, but people with doctors who vouch for their disability should be approved on the first try. If the doctor commits fraud start punishing the docs, not the people needing help.

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   Kevin Goodwinposted 8 years ago

   I am in the same situation The only ting tat I heard could speed up the process is to hire a lawyer.

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      peeplesposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      And the lawyer takes the money that is needed so badly after such a long wait.

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   dashingscorpioposted 8 years ago

   So many people want to shrink government expenses without knowing what that really entails. They lump disability, welfare, Medicare, and social security as entitlements that need to be slashed or overhauled.
   Empathy and compassion are fading in our society.

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      peeplesposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      I agree. I understand being cautious to eliminate fraud, but the system is so flawed it is ridiculous!

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   Ericdierkerposted 8 years ago

   It is really quite fascinating if you are not caught up in it. Imagine a justice system where you are guilty until proven innocent. Well you are able until proven disabled. But here is the rub: It will take you two years to prove you are disabled. Why? ALJ's are administrative law judges. Either by design or incompetence there are not enough. Your case is initially denied, basically by computer generated rejection. In order to change that denial you must get a scheduled appointment with an ALJ. A disability ALJ in our federal system hears thousands of such matters a year. Over the past few decades they have become behind in their schedule.
   Now just imagine if you can a world in which the government could fix such a problem. That would be a make believe world.
   Congressmen and the Office of the Inspector General like to spend millions of dollars a year talking about it. Here is a fun report to read: http://oig.ssa.gov/audits-and-investiga … 2-11-01138  If you have the stomach for such atrocities.
   The doctors "denying" you have very little to do with the delay. Imagine a man with something like Polio who is basically confined to a wheelchair. Clearly he is disabled. Now read about a man who spent twelve years as President of the United States. FDR. Clearly he was not disabled. Perhaps if he would have gotten a disability check sooner the world would be a far different place. Obviously I jest there to make the point that perhaps the wait actually serves some societal purpose or by serendipity plays a larger role.
   I do not make light of the situation as in my life I have known two people who actually committed suicide while in despair over the wait. This is a very serious problem and if the public awareness and perception can be raised and pressure applied perhaps we could double the amount of ALJ's and make adjustments to correct the broken system.

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      peeplesposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      Wheelchair example is exactly my point. Why not remove the docs provided by disability board docs, and go with the docs who have worked with the patient the longest and know that individuals limits? Waiting years makes no sense to me.

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      Ericdierkerposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      Doctors do not cause the delay. Most get rejected at first without even seeing a gov. dr.

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   Kylyssaposted 8 years ago

   I think the system is set up to make sure most people either die or become unable to file or appeal instead of paying it out. I've known a number of people who died from their illness waiting to be approved. I've also spoken with a large number of homeless people who could not make the appointments necessary for the process and thus they could not successfully file.

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      peeplesposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      Someone in a facebook group I am in for ppl with Lupus died waiting recently. She was even on Chemo, had lost all of her hair and was on her 3rd appeal. It's a sad situation. Homeless ppl is a good point. There has to be reform that can be done.

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      Kylyssaposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      The appointments must be purposely hard to get to. I drove a man 250 miles to a required doctor evaluation appointment when the city we live in has multiple hospitals, thousands of doctors and a medical mile downtown that employs over 50,000 people.

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   Larry Wallposted 8 years ago

   You have to prove your disability. That means seeing doctors that you do not know. Without my glasses, I am legally blind and have had numerous health problems over the last 15 years. However, I did not quit my job. I was fired. It was allegedly a case of the company going in a new direction. I think some people did not like my speech impediment--it is not that bad to listen to.
   
   I consulted a lawyer and I applied. The lawyer did not think my case was strong enough so I withdrew. Some cases that are turned down should be allowed. Others that are allowed may not be valid. A lot of people come up with questionable ailments. If all the cases were approved, the country would be broke. Some deserving cases lose out and those can be appealed.

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      peeplesposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      I get having to prove it, but if 2 reputable doctors (not family) who have been seeing a patient long term are willing to put in writing someone is 100% unable to work, then the state doc says you're fine, it's a slap in the face for those who can't.

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      Larry Wallposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      I do not want to appear callous, but there is a difference between unable to work and should not work. Unfortunately, the doctors the government sends you to do not like to cross that line.

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