The Disabled Process

We’ve asserted that the entire process must be re-examined. The Charlotte Observer reached a similar conclusion in this article, published on Sunday September 2, 2007. The article discusses the decrease in staff and lack of accountability. We believe that only when the former is resolved will the latter be possible. Accountability is a real issue but, in the current climate, Administrative Law Judges can not be held accountable for the lack of resources they work with. SSA must have adequate resources. The priority here is Congress and the inability to pass a realistic budget. Combine that with a process reexamination and the disability process has a chance for recovery.

This process is disabled

No reason for sick, hurt to suffer waiting for benefits
If you are sick or hurt, and can't work, don't expect prompt help obtaining Social Security benefits -- or even a prompt answer about whether you qualify -- if you live in the Charlotte area. Instead, expect to wait and wait and wait.

How bad is it? An Observer investigation found that waits at the local office where federal disability claims are heard rank among the longest nationwide, 125 out of 141 offices. Some citizens have to wait as long as three years.

That's a disgraceful record for a public program that serves as a critical safety net for workers who become injured or mentally ill. Their needs rate a higher priority.

The federal disability benefits process itself is unacceptably cumbersome, and ought to be streamlined. And for a large portion of North Carolina, it's especially flawed.

Why? One thing reporter Fred Kelly found is that administrative law judges who decide appeals of claims in the Charlotte office don't issue nearly enough rulings to keep pace with incoming cases.

Local judges would not comment on their case loads, saying they are prohibited. But a spokesman for the Association of Administrative Law Judges said a significant amount of the Charlotte judges' time had been diverted to other duties, such as hearing Medicare cases and serving as mentor to new judges. In addition, the local office has only 3.7 support staff members per judge, compared to 4.2 per judge nationally.

If those things are true, change is needed. The Charlotte office serves the most populous region in North Carolina. Why would it be short staffed? The Social Security Administration should beef up resources to match population and need -- and follow up to see that speed and efficiency improve significantly as a result.

One obvious problem: There's apparently no oversight of judges' work. Disability judges face no annual performance reviews and can be removed only for misconduct or corruption.

Here's what it means when there are unacceptably long waits for benefits: Many North Carolinians who are sick, injured or mentally ill lose their homes, fall into bankruptcy or go without medicine awaiting disability payments. Some die before their cases are heard.

That shouldn't happen. Social Security should investigate, find out why and fix it. If it doesn't, the region's representatives in Congress should ask for an inquiry.