New Rule Modernizes How We Award Disability Benefits
Reading Time: 1 MinuteLast Updated: February 24, 2020
The Social Security Disability Insurance and Supplemental Security Income programs protect some of the most vulnerable people in our society. A successful disability program must evolve and support making the right decision as early in the process as possible. To help us do that, we must modernize the rules and standards we use to evaluate how we determine disability benefits. We are moving forward with a rule change that has been in the works for a number of years and serves to update a more than 40-year-old policy that made the inability to communicate in English a factor in awarding disability benefits. The new rule is effective April 27, 2020.
We are required to consider education to determine if your medical condition prevents work. In 2015, our Inspector General recommended that we evaluate the appropriateness of this policy. Research now shows the inability to communicate in English is no longer a good measure of a person’s education level or the ability to engage in work. The new rule also supports the Administration’s longstanding focus of recognizing that individuals with disabilities can remain in the workforce.
To make the right disability decisions, Social Security disability rules must continue to reflect current medicine and evolution of work. We need to update our rules to keep up with society’s changes.
We owe it to the American public to ensure that our disability programs continue to reflect the realities of the modern workplace. Please share this information with your family and friends.
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About the Author
Andrew Saul, Commissioner, Social Security Administration
Commissioner of Social Security Administration (June 17, 2019 - July 9, 2021)
Comments
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Yelobone
All fake
Gerald A.
Good morning, I tried to read the disability new rules article sent to me by “blog.ssa.gov” this morning. I have very poor eyesight and an iPhone 7p to read it on. It was very difficult for me to read and understand. I don’t remember seeing what what these new rules were, it was a waste of my time to struggle through it. I don’t understand a whole lot of what’s going on anymore. As an example, I tried to watch the President’s speech not long ago, I couldn’t hear every word he said and I couldn’t understand much of it. The doctor that gave me the hearing test told me that I had lost half of my hearing ability and I would only hear half of what people were saying to me and would misinterpret what they said.
I believe I have either Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s disease. I can’t write the bills anymore because, even I can’t read what I wrote and I keep making mistakes in the check register. So, I can’t communicate with people, understand, my cognitive impairment is getting worse as time goes by, etc, etc, etc.
I know I need help. I’ve called Social Security, the California equivalent and they both told me they can’t help me, it’s not their responsibility. I’m almost 77 and feel very useless as a human being. As far as my education goes, I went to college for years, have over 120 units, went to UC Santa Cruz and got my Lifetime California Teachers Credential, for whatever that does for me now.. I can’t work anymore, almost bedridden. I receive a Social Security check every month and Pension checks from three different aerospace companies, Northrop-Grumman, Raytheon and Lockheed-Martin.
I feel I worked hard, long and kept improving my education to keep up with the latest technologies for my country. I need help, and all my country can say is “We can’t help you”. I feel I invested enough years working in the Aerospace and Defense industry that I should be considered a Veteran and entitled to their same benefits.
B..P
almost 77 and feel very useless as a human being. As far as my education goes, I went to college for years, have over 120 units, went to UC Santa Cruz and got my Lifetime California Teachers Credential, for whatever that does for me now.. I can’t work anymore, almost bedridden. I receive a Social Security check every month and Pension checks from three different
Really 4 checks a month and you ate complaining??
Kathryn N.
Lockeed also has VIA which reimburse your medical expenses. Most Aeronautical manufacturing companies offer reimbusement if you retired or worked for a peroid of time. Check that out.
Wendell
Department of Aging, there should be a local branch in your city or town. SSA isn’t going to be able to help you get anything except your monthly checks.
Elaine D.
Hi…I am a frustrated almost 73 years old in May. I was born with progressive heari g loss and by 17 years old had the first of several surgeries for otosclerosis which allowed me to work until 63 years old.
Afterwhich the surgeries no longer worked.
My life has been horrible and depressing and my income is not enough for me to sustain a decent life, ex…hearing aids or cochlear,dental which I need desperately, apartments and health co-pays etc.
I have applied for help over and over to get turned down because my income is about me thousand over..but you can have 5,000 in assets. I have nothing and an not socialize or even get aids although last time at I at the ear Dr. He said none would help me anyway because nerves are dead.
I am a ruined lady that cannot even get up out of bed because I am in trouble financially and emotionally
Yours truly,
Elaine DeMarco
Also had to move into an unassisted too. In a nursing g home because of financial crisis
laineyjune2@gmail.com
Jeanne P.
My dealings with social security gas been.less then pleasant. I have heart failure that wasn’t good enough for disability. My terminated me as,a federal ranger for not being fit for duty. It has taken a year and a half to get a decision. SSI gas withheld my money for months over a pay roll issue that couldn’t resolve. The government now taxes federal employees on relocation expenses. I was taxed at more then I earned. That’s hotel, rental car, per diem, transport of vehicles,transport of household goods. My take home pay was $18,000.00 because I became ill,and my taxes were over$60,000.00 it’s insanity. I essentially worked for nothing in 2018 because my health insurance was over $12,000.00.
Mary S.
I am a disabled individual who went to the Department of Rehabilitation Services on Severn Street in Baltimore, Md. I received no help from Alice Crowder, the Director. They offered me one option for working and when I voiced concerns, I was basically told, take it or leave it.
I will soon be homeless and in desperate need of help and or resources
Who can I turn to for help?
Bethsheba E.
Your state or national representative, or your senators should have a staff dedicated to assisting with public/government services.
Dennis J.
First time applicants are automatically disapproved.. If you can’t afford a lawyer your chances of getting aqpproved are slim.
Laurel B.
Not always. Was approved 7 weeks after I applied. My condition but more important was my Drs “statement of medical necessity”. Have known many who fought for years before award.
Trc
Exactly, Laurel.
Trc
Sorry, not true. I was approved, took 1 year. I was introduced to Allsup. Look them up. They did all the work thanks to my health insurance company, Aetna. Week. Allsup. Com
Charlene
Social security and the people that make the decision are a bunch of fakes that won’t help a person of whom actually has a disability. I have been fighting for 4 years for mine. Their doctor’s that they sent me to have no clue what it is like to have pain or even live with a mental illness/ illnesses. Their doctor that did my mental evaluation looked me straight in the face and said I have MDD with psycho active tendency. Not to mention my fibromyalgia and migraines that I have at least 3 times a week. And all the medication that I take. But, can award it to someone that says oh I have a mental illness and see a psychiatrist 3 times and with a snap of their fingers they got approved. I know a lot of people that get it and abuse it. Drugs, gambling, drinking ect. But, I guess government works on lies and criminal behavior so that who they should award. Right?!!
B..P
This why you dont get it the scams lol. Plain and simple maybe you need to be a better actor.
Glen A.
I think this is a stupid decision. The ability to speak English is required for the huge majority of jobs. The inability to speak English keeps people from holding most jobs. Most people who can’t speak English end up working for packing plants.
Lori J.
Where is the actual language of the new rule? Was there any Congressional review? What criteria will be measured? Clearly this is aimed at immigrants, but what about non-verbal individuals?
eab
Lots of people on SSI have highschool diploma’s or G.E.D.’s, however if they developed severe enough problems with anxiety and depression, how can they do even a fast food job, Dollar Tree job, or grocery bagging job if their level of anxiety or deep depression doesn’t allow them to function enough to succeed at those entry level jobs despite being on medication for those problems?