Clinton Calls on Bush to Address Delays in SS Disability Insurance Benefit Determinations

[The Straight Story]

(shortened title to fit)
Senator Clinton Calls on President Bush to Address Delays in Social Security Disability Insurance Benefit Determinations

Washington, DC – Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton today sent the following letter to President Bush urging him to address delays in benefit determinations affecting hundreds of thousands of applicants for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI):


December 10, 2007

The Honorable George W. Bush
President of the United States
The White House
Washington, D.C. 20500

Dear Mr. President:

Over the last several years, I have called for adequate funding for the Social Security Administration and the critical work they perform, including eligibility determinations for the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program. Currently it can take as long as four years for an applicant for disability benefits to have his or her application approved. In fact, wait times for those seeking an appeal from their initial benefit determination have shot up from 250 days in 2000 to more than 500 days in 2007. Since 2000, SSDI backlogs have soared, from more than 300,000 to more than 750,000 cases awaiting an appeals hearing. Backlogs for initial claims are greater than 575,000 cases. During these extended waiting periods, many of these disabled applicants have no earnings, placing significant financial strain on them and their families.

Recent news reports regarding these backlogs and unacceptably long wait times for applicants only reinforce the grave need to address this problem. The heartbreaking stories of individuals losing their homes, falling into bankruptcy and even dying before receiving a benefit determination should compel us to action. Unfortunately, your recent veto of $275 million in additional funding for the SSA as part of the Labor-HHS appropriations bill signals an unacceptable willingness on the part of your Administration to let this problem continue to grow. Even your current Social Security Commissioner acknowledges that increasing the number of judges to hear these appeals to 1,200 would require at least $100 million beyond your FY 2008 budget request.

These families and their grave needs should not be held hostage by continued veto threats. Last week, I joined a number of my colleagues in a letter to Senate appropriators urging them to include an increase in funding equal to the one included in the bill you vetoed. I urge you to reconsider your veto threat and make it immediately clear that you support the needed funding increase for SSA and will sign into law the appropriations legislation that Congress is currently drafting. These delays are an unconscionable burden on too many American families, and I hope you will act in their interest to clear the backlog in the SSDI program.

Sincerely,

Hillary Rodham Clinton

http://clinton.senate.gov/news/statements/details.cfm?id=288658&&

[Hydra]

1. That would be us

2 years and no hearing until sept 2008.

We decided they do this to get as many people who qualify to die first. Having to survive on the charity of others for 2-4 years is an almost certain death sentence.

[The Straight Story]

2. Well said Hydra (nt)

[shadowknows69]

3. Welcome to my world

They seem to reject you pretty promptly. I got mine a few weeks after applying.

[Hydra]

4. 8 months for first denial

then 6 more of the second. I was relieved when I was told I could contest her case in front of a person, until I heard when I could do that.

:mad:

[book_worm]

5. I work at a hospital and it's a disgrace.

How are people supposed to live? especially if they have nobody to help them.

[fed-up]

6. we're cold and hungry....and very depressed nt