| Does your government really care if you are | | | | the administration currently sitting in |
| disabled? That's a question that is becoming | | | | office. So, do they care? Do they really care |
| more and worthy of the public's | | | | about those |
| consideration.Recently, I was on the phone | | | | |
| with a disability claimant who needs to have | | | | who are least able to assist themselves?I |
| his reconsideration filed and I asked him if | | | | would have to say no. They do not.I will |
| he had been seen by any doctors recently. He | | | | leave you with this anecdote: about 2 years |
| gave the all too common answer: "No, I | | | | ago I tried to assist one particular claimant |
| haven't been able to go. My insurance ran out | | | | whose situation was quite miserable. He had |
| a long time ago".This is a very common | | | | no access to medical care and his living |
| situation. And I've heard it so much that | | | | conditions were beyond the pale. To try to |
| I've become somewhat desensitived to it. | | | | help him, I contacted the following agencies |
| But...if you really think about it, these | | | | in his city (not my own area of operation): |
| situations (which ARE extremely common) are | | | | the salvation army, catholic social |
| horrendous.Let me put on my examiner | | | | ministries, and urban ministries.Want to know |
| caseworker hat for a moment. The disability | | | | what I was told? They were out of funds. THIS |
| system is set up so that the prospect of | | | | WAS IN FEBRUARY OF THAT YEAR.So, what does |
| being approved for disability weighs entirely | | | | that say about the federal administration's |
| on a claimants medical records. And not just | | | | notions of faith-based charities taking up |
| on medical records, but on recent records | | | | the slack from the |
| (aside from closed periods).Well, ding ding | | | | |
| ding (wake up bureaucrats, politicians, and | | | | government cutting back: that it is |
| red-tape functionaries), if the process for | | | | essentially useless and disingenuous |
| eventually---we hope---getting approved for | | | | rhetoric.In addition to being a former |
| disability benefits can take up to 3 | | | | disability examiner, I used to be a food |
| | | | stamp caseworker, medicaid caseworker, and an |
| years (I'm not pulling that number out of a | | | | afdc worker, and I can tell you unequivocally |
| rabbit hat either----just call any attorney | | | | that private charities |
| or non attorney practicing in the raleigh | | | | |
| north carolina area and they will sullenly | | | | will never be able to fill any gap left |
| confirm this | | | | behind by the feds, but that's another |
| | | | conversation.Now, why this article? Because |
| information), then how can a claimant be | | | | there are changes in the works that while |
| expected to have decent medical record | | | | masquerading as reform of the social security |
| documentation by the time they get to a | | | | disability system...will actually make the |
| hearing (a destination most cases will arrive | | | | system more hostile to disabled benefit |
| at)?Answer: an unacceptably large percentage | | | | applicants.Chew on this as a parting thought. |
| of claimants won't (I typically tell people | | | | The people who are trying to "reform" social |
| to seek out a county health department, free | | | | security disability are the same people who |
| clinic, or even go the ER, if need be---but's | | | | tried to (or are trying to, as the case may |
| let be honest, that doesn't take the place of | | | | be):1. bust the federal employees unions (and |
| records generated via an ongoing treating | | | | have to some extent succeeded),2. altered |
| physician relationship).Now, before I go on | | | | regulations regarding overtime compensation |
| any further, I acknowledge the notion that | | | | in a way that was clearly hostile to |
| the disability system is not responsible in | | | | workers,3. are trying to limit the ability of |
| any way, shape, or form for facilitating a | | | | mesothelioma victims to seek compensation |
| claimant's access to medical care while a | | | | (the sick part part about this is that |
| case is pending in order to substantiate a | | | | mesothelioma has an incubation period of up |
| claim (i.e. ensure that records are in place | | | | to 40 years following exposure to asbestos |
| to support allegations of disability). | | | | fibers and the diagnosis itself is a literal |
| | | | death sentence----no one survives, even |
| But, even for those claimants who had | | | | following a pneumonectomy).And these are just |
| mainstream employer-provided health | | | | a few things.So, to address the question we |
| insurance, COBRA only lasts 18 months.So, | | | | began with: does your government really care |
| when the process can last 2 or 3 years, where | | | | if you become disabled and need immediate |
| does that leave claimants? In a bad way, | | | | benefit assistance to avoid falling into a |
| without a doubt. Not only are they put in the | | | | financial abyss? Perhaps to some |
| position of finding it difficult to document | | | | extent...but, unfortunately, I would have to |
| their impairments----to add insult to injury | | | | say, not particularly much.The author of this |
| their conditions will sometimes worsen as a | | | | article is Timothy Moore, who, in addition to |
| result of having inadquate access to medical | | | | being a former food stamp caseworker, |
| care.Now, back to the headline of this post. | | | | medicaid caseworker and AFDC caseworker, is a |
| THESE HUGE WAIT TIMES came into effect under | | | | former disability claims examiner. |