• 14
  • February
    2012

As has been clear over the past year, the Social Security Disability program is under fire from many quarters, with critics lining up to offer strong condemnations regarding just about everything associated with it.

The size of the program has been questioned. Critics rail against instances of alleged fraud and abuse by claimants. Some congressional members say that it is being besieged by persons without bona-fide disabilities who are simply interested in getting on the public dole because they are either unemployed or simply don't want to work. The motives and performance of administrative law judges have come under question. Some persons want the program scrapped outright because they say it costs too much.

Charles Martin, the president of the National Organization of Social Security Claimants' Representatives, offers a measured and logical response to those digs, with his thoughts aired recently in a media opinion piece.

Martin first of all notes the obvious: Any program as large as SSD cannot be perfect and will have some problems to deal with. Rather than simply condemning a program, though, that serves as a critical lifeline to people who have paid into it and have been adjudged disabled after a lengthy and arduous application process, Martin asks, why not fix the few cracks in the armor and improve it?

The SSD program is too important to become political fodder. Martin decries the false claims that the system is riddled with fraud. Indeed, and as we wrote in a recent post, SSD fraud and abuse have been shown to be extremely rare occurrences.

He rejects, too, the "getting on the dole" claim, citing the fact that increased applications owe largely to emerging trends such as more insured women and aged workers.

Martin points to no obvious good coming from "a witch hunt for the rare but inevitable undeserving claimants or deficient judges."

Work responsibly and in a bipartisan fashion to fix the system rather than simply scorning it for political points, he says.

And as Martin also notes, claimants' representatives play a central and important role helping applicants move through a cumbersome, confusing and sometimes intimidating system.

Persons with questions or concerns regarding any aspect of SSD eligibility or a claim can receive accurate information and diligent representation from an experienced disability attorney.

Source: USA TODAY, "Opposing view: Disability benefits remains a vital lifeline" Charles Martin, Feb. 7, 2012