The Huffington Post recently had an interesting article defending the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program from allegations that it is easy to abuse.
The article, by Kathy Ruffing, reported that the Social Security Administration (SSA) has very strict standards when it comes to people being able to collect benefits, and that the agency has many safeguards in place to prevent fraud and abuse.
According to the Post, SSDI’s most potent defense against fraud is actually its eligibility rules. As we have noted in past blogs, to collect benefits, a person must have a work history and credits, and a condition that can potentially be examined through medical documentation. Because of this, only about four in every 10 SSDI applications are ultimately granted. Of those that are denied, about 29 percent are for medical reasons, while 34 percent are for technical issues.
Additionally, the SSA monitors state determination agencies and administrative law judges. According to the Post, these reviews typically find that ALJs and agencies are correct (following SSA guidelines) in 97 percent of benefit decisions.
Moreover, although many people say that it is easy to receive an overpayment through the SSA, it is actually very rare. The agency reports that improper overpayments from delays or errors constituted less than 1 percent of benefits paid from 2011-13.
The Post article also goes on to mention continuing disability reviews (CDRs), which are used to ensure that benefits are not handed out too long to recipients or people who may have recovered from a disability. It also notes how the Office of Inspector General (OIG) has investigated fraud attempts and sought cooperation with state and local authorities to look into instances of potential fraud.
To read the Post article, you can click on the source link below.
Talk to Our Tulsa Disability Attorneys About How We Can Help You Obtain Benefits
If you need help applying for SSDI or working through an appeal, talk to our Tulsa disability attorneys. We can review your case and determine how you can move forward with a claim, so that it is successful.
For more information about the SSDI process, you can visit our FAQ page.
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