Social Security offices have been closed for most of the pandemic. What advocates say was already a cumbersome system to seek disability or poverty benefits has become more complicated.
They also raised alarm that the agency “lacks comprehensive policies and procedures” to track and return original documents it required be sent through the mail through most of the pandemic, until it set up drop boxes. Among field offices, 1 in 5 lack a drop box and still require documents to be mailed.
They struggle with degenerative back injuries from years of manual labor, mental health issues and chronic illness. Many have long suffered from patchy health care. Tycer helps them through the initial application, but she’s more essential once they have been turned down and are trying again. It can take years to win a case on appeal, and that’s when Tycer is paid — at most a few thousand dollars from her client’s retroactive benefits.
She was informed this fall that the case had been transferred to an office of teleworking employees based in Jamaica, N.Y., where she has left multiple unreturned voice mails seeking a bar code to file Clouse’s updated medical records. “I don’t have a problem with the individuals in the field office,” Tycer said. “But I feel like they’re using the pandemic as an excuse to not get back into the office. It must be very comfortable for them not being at their desks.”
More than 31,000 similar medical reviews of applications and initial appeals were awaiting a decision in August, the most recent month for which data is available, from Tennessee Disability Determination Services. That represented a 28 percent jump from before the pandemic, according to an analysis of federal data by Stacy Cloyd of the National Organization of Social Security Claimants’ Representatives.
Norge Siste Nytt, Norge Overskrifter
Similar News:Du kan også lese nyheter som ligner på denne som vi har samlet inn fra andre nyhetskilder.
Viral TikTok school threat rumors: Students arrested nationwide as officials track down social media postsLocal reports suggest rumors on TikTok and other social media apps that went viral Thursday led to several student arrests nationwide.
Les mer »
‘Matrix Resurrections’: Early Reactions to the Film Hit Social MediaA host of critics, bloggers and entertainment journalists are posting their thoughts on the fourth film in the 'Matrix' franchise.
Les mer »
Democrats' social spending bill falters ahead of holiday deadlineDemocrats' hopes of getting President Biden's social safety net and climate plan through the Senate by Christmas are waning amid intraparty division.
Les mer »
DeSantis shares stage with activist who posted QAnon-related conspiracy theories on social media“Children being smuggled through underground tunnels for the enjoyment of demons”: This week DeSantis again spotlighted someone who appears to embrace conspiracy theories
Les mer »
Biden acknowledges his big social-spending bill won't get Senate's OK this yearPresident Joe Biden is conceding that he and his fellow Democrats need more time to deliver on his big social-spending and climate package. “My team and I are having ongoing discussions with Senator Manchin; that work will continue next week,” Biden said.
Les mer »