With Congress unable to come up with a solution to avoid sequestration last week, mandatory budget cuts began that will affect Social Security and Medicare programs and their employees.
According to CNBC News, the sequestration means that the Social Security Administration (SSA) will have to begin furloughing workers, which could lead to a delay in the processing of Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) claims, as a “smaller staff would mean offices would be closed early or permanently, resulting in longer wait times for service.”
The SSA is required to cut 8 percent of its $11.5 billion budget. Thankfully, these cuts will not affect SSDI payment amounts, as it will only concern operations. SSA acting commissioner Carolyn W. Colvin told agency workers last week that it would have to freeze employee overtime, cut hiring and travel, and not replace retiring workers to make up for the budget cuts.
Hopefully, our elected officials will meet over the upcoming weeks and hash out a plan to avoid further budget cuts and delays.
Qualifying for SSDI
To qualify for SSDI benefits, the SSA requires applicants to show that they cannot do work that they use to do because of their medical conditions. Applicants also have to show that their disabilities have lasted for longer than a year or could result in death.
If you have an injury or disability that has left you unable to work and you have questions about applying for benefits, contact a Tulsa Social Security Disability attorney. We offer free evaluations of your case, and you may reach us by phone at (918) 265-1404. Contact us today.
Troutman & Troutman, P.C. – Tulsa Social Security Disability lawyers
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