Comments

1. Michele

   November 2, 2015 3:00PM

   People should not have to hire an attorney to qualify for SSI. It is common knowledge you will be turned down the first time you apply. It takes over a year to finally receive an SSI payment once the process is started.
   People act like those receiving SSI are lazy and living the easy life. They live in poverty! They do not receive enough money to afford rent and basic needs.
   I am 58 years old. My husband was unemployed for two years. He worked for a year at half his prior wage. He died suddenly in the middle of my fight with breast cancer. I couldn’t work. I have worked since I was 15 years old. My medical insurance wants me to go on SSI. I can’t afford to. I have been looking for a job for 2 years. I have a degree and twenty years experience in my field. Age discrimination does exists. Cognitive skills slow as you age. It takes longer to learn a new skill. Our maturity and work ethic offset this.
   I am homeless. There is a three month waiting list for a homeless shelter. I am not on Welfare and I do not have a young child. There is no help for me in the state I live in. I have lived with two different family members in different locations of the state. This doesn’t help when searching for employment. There is a huge demographic hole in the state system. Do not take away the Federal safety net that is SSI. Improve it! Make the process user friendly and pay enough to cover basic living expenses. Thank you.

2. william S.

   November 2, 2015 2:46PM

   It would same a large amount of money to give everyone in AMERICA that was born here $70,000.00 per year and collapse all HEALTH EDUCATION, health insurance housing etc. AND WELFARE PROGRAMS .I know I could take care my needs with $70,000.oo PER YEAR AND IT WOULD SAVE MONEY ! social security is a racket ! apply deny appeal ect. IF ANY BUSINESS DID THIS THEY WOULD BE HAULED INTO COURT ? BUT WHEN THE GOVERNMENT DOES IT ,DOES THAT MAKE IT LEGAL ? ,READ THE R.I.C.O. STATUTES?

   • william S.

     November 2, 2015 2:47PM

     save*

3. Bill T.

   November 2, 2015 2:43PM

   I find it remarkable that so many address others comments and fail to give constructive idea’s to improve the system we now have. Many attest to knowing people who collect benefits and yet do nothing to report the fraud. Investigation into fraud is a time consuming labor intensive adventure and the system was never designed for the number of fraud occurrence that we all know are currently taking place. Private insurance investigators make their living doing this all the time. It’s either hire private investigator or increase the number of government investigator we currently have. You have to spend money to save money!

4. Susan C.

   November 2, 2015 2:30PM

   I am 62 and have been unable to work since I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and Sjogrens. I am in tremendous pain and on narcotics to help relieve this pain but it is not effective even 50%. I am a CPA and have worked from age 16- 60. Fortunately, my husband has insurance benefits through work because The SS Admin said I was not eligible for 2 years. The amount I receive couldn’t possibly allow me to rent an apartment, eat or pay utility bills.
   What bothers me most are those who do not need to be on SSDI because they ARE capable of working, they are simply collecting cash (under the table). The next thing is collecting social security for those born in the late 1920’s if they still are with us. My parents are 91, are incredibly wealthy and have been paid every penny + interest back for all they put into the system.
   One of the worst situations is actually applying for disability. I have heard nightmares of being denied multiple times and then seeking an attorney who receives a fee to help. I wasn’t denied perhaps because I was 60. In order to receive SSDI, you cannot have worked for the prior 3 months. So, how do you afford to eat during that time? Even after you apply, there is still a considerable time difference for when you receive the benefits. You must see the SS doctors and psychologists and the reports have to be reviewed and then some “person” subjectively decides whether you “deserve” the benefits. The medical doctor I saw had never heard of Fibromyalgia!!!!! She showed up unkempt and unprofessional. I complained to the SS office and whatever they did (probably nothing) I don’t know. So, in other words, the reports that were sent by your personal doctor were ineffective yet the doctor hired by SS, was also ineffective. What does the incapable doctor says or reports to the SS …. is that credible????
   There are people who have never worked because they CANNOT. Disabled emotionally or physically or both. Who are you (SS) to determine whether this is true or not when a myriad of other doctors deemed it to be true?
   Who determines what is severe? Perhaps SSDI should pay those who can work a few hours a week…. you could calculate what they would be paid in disability payments less how much they made. If you work at all, you collect nothing but the person above said you shouldn’t be able collect any because you can work. Do you honestly believe I can exist on working 4 hours a week? Get real here.
   It is not the fault of people collecting SS who are still able to work causing the funds to diminish. The government is in DEBT. They are taking funds out of one department and sticking it another. In order to fix the government, you have to fix how decisions are made and who is making them. In every single department, there is abuse. Unfortunately this is a fact of life. In my opinion, the SS doctor I saw was another example of abuse. Why would they hire someone who had no idea about the disabling disease Fibromyalgia is? Because she doesn’t cost a lot to hire?
   There are so many things which are wrong in our government and to correct one would affect every other.
   There will be no cost of living increase for 2016. Who decided this? Have they been to the grocery store lately? Have they looked at the cost of RX and doctors and tests? I’d love to question this person…..he/she probably makes several hundred thousand dollars a year.

   • Tom M.

     November 3, 2015 1:37PM

     There still is a lot of discussion in the medical community over whether Fibro is a real disease. Find a doctor who does believe in it and know about its treatment. If not able to find, look for a good allergist. Fibro is often caused by food allergies. My wife suffered for many years and we tried excluding all kinds of foods, until we discovered she was gluten allergic. Fortunately now there are many gluten free food now, so she can almost live a normal life. But not so, not so many years ago. Fortunately I had earlier worked for one of the men who created the field of allergy medicine. He had an extreme case where a woman was allergic to the fluoride in toothpaste and the water.

5. Walt

   November 2, 2015 2:29PM

   Most of the comments above seem to miss the intention of SSA in the coming forum. They wish to replace obsolete and difficult to implement fairly, rules for deciding disability for individuals who are not severely disabled enough to meet or equal our listings of impairments (unable to do any work) or have an impairment that has no or minimal work limitations. I don’t think that they are looking for feedback whether to keep the disability (SSI or SSA) program or radically change its aims.

6. tammy

   November 2, 2015 2:20PM

   Greetings,
   I appreciate this opportunity to address a grievance which I have with the current Social Security Disability program. I am aware that this data may be posted publically, and I am fine with that. I just wish to get this information out to as many people as I can, in hopes it will save someone else the aggravation and struggle that I have had to endure, my entire life.

   I am an adult disabled child who receives absolutely NO benefits from the Social Security Administration – solely based on the “Rules and Points” system (a system which has been used as the basis to legally discriminate against me).

   My name is Tammy and I am a 43 year old Mother of three children. I live in Texas and have been married for the past 24 years. In 1990, I met my Husband and we married after we graduated High School and he returned home from the Military.

   I am also a Disabled Person; I have Cerebral Palsy which is expected to last my entire lifetime and there is no hope of a cure.

   Here is what you may not know about me, I DO NOT, NOR HAVE I EVER, RECEIVED ONE PENNY OF SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY MONEY IN MY ENTIRE LIFETIME!
   Furthermore, the Social Security System refuses to acknowledge that I am disabled. Personnel at the Social Security Administration are completely stuck on their rules and incapable of showing any compassion or understanding for my situation.

   My issue with the Social Security Administration System has to do with a particular “Rule” and the “Point System” that the Social Security uses to determine if someone is disabled and eligible for benefits.

   To properly understand my issue, I will have to give you some background information on me and the Social Security Administration rules / point system (which have been used to openly discriminate against real disabled persons like me).
   Background information on me;

   I (Tamara) have Cerebral Palsy, which was discovered when I was an infant just six months old. Doctors say it is possible that I have been disabled since birth, signs of Cerebral Palsy first appeared (and documented) when I was six months old. Basically, a blood vessel popped in my brain at birth, leaving me with permanent Cerebral Palsy. My condition will never improve and it is expected to last the rest of my natural life.

   I grew up in Houston, Texas where I was placed in a special school for Children with Cerebral Palsy. My parents tried to get Social Security Disability for me when I was young, only to be told that my father made too much money. (he worked at a radio shack for minimum wage and my mother did not work).
   To date, I have never received one cent of Social Security Disability money and I grew up without the aid of Social Security benefits in my life. There have been opportunities / programs which may have helped me growing up, but without the financial aid of Social Security benefits, the opportunities passed me by. The Social Security Administration completely failed me when I needed them the most. This would have been the time that surgeries and therapy could have helped the most, but surgery and therapy are expensive and without Social Security Benefits, there was no help for me.

   Now I am 43 years old and I am still not receiving any benefits. Furthermore, I cannot find any attorneys, or legal help in fighting the Social Security System “Rules and points system” because most attorneys want an easy money win and they could care less about one more disabled woman.
   Background information on the Social Security Rules;
   (These Rules and Point System information come directly from the Social Security Administration Systems website)

   Here is what the Social Security System says about anyone who became disabled as a Child or before age 18, 22. Please keep in mind that this is directly from the Social Security Website and not my interpretation.
   A child under age 18 may be disabled, but we don’t need to consider the child’s disability when deciding if he or she qualifies for benefits as your dependent. The child’s benefits normally stop at age 18 unless he or she is a full-time student in an elementary or high school (benefits can continue until age 19) or is disabled.
   For a child with a disability to receive benefits on your record after age 18, the following rules apply:
   •The disabling impairment must have started before age 22, and;
   •He or she must meet the definition of disability for adults.
   Adults Disabled Before Age 22
   An adult disabled before age 22 may be eligible for child’s benefits if a parent is deceased or starts receiving retirement or disability benefits. We consider this a “child’s” benefit because it is paid on a parent’s Social Security earnings record.
   The “adult child”—including an adopted child, or, in some cases, a stepchild, grandchild, or step grandchild—must be unmarried, age 18 or older, and have a disability that started before age 22.
   It is not necessary that the adult child ever worked. Benefits are paid based on the parent’s earnings record.

   ============================================================================

   Everything looks great, right? Well, WRONG!!! Here is where the Social Security Administration “Rules” are discriminatory and punitive towards Disabled people. The following information is directly from the Social Security Website and not my interpretation.
   From the Social Security Administration Website, it states……..
   What happens if the adult child gets married?
   If he or she receives benefits as an adult disabled since childhood, the benefits generally end if he or she gets married. However, some marriages (for example, to another adult disabled child) are considered protected.

   The rules vary depending on the situation. Contact a Social Security representative at 1-800-772-1213 (If you are deaf or hard of hearing, call TTY number 1-800-325-0778) to find out if the benefits can continue.
   Little did I know that the Social Security Administration has a “Rule” that if you marry someone, and you are an “Adult Disabled Child” (persons who are over 18 and disabled can draw off their parents Social Security Benefits, unless they get married) then you lose any benefits you may have been eligible for. Literally, the Social Security Administration would rather someone live in sin, because if you get married then you lose your benefits automatically.
   My issue with this discriminatory punitive “Rule” is how does getting married make me any less disabled? How does getting married somehow cure my Disability and make me an able bodied productive member of society?

   The Social Security Administration will argue that being married provides support, but actually it is just the opposite. What the Social Security Administration fails to grasp is the fact that my Disability is a huge factor in my ability to live a normal life; it has nothing to do with “Support”.

   Speaking as a Disabled person, the absolute last thing that I want is to feel is that I have to be dependent on anyone. A Disabled person strives to be independent and treated like a normal productive member of society. What the Social Security Administration fails to realize, is that I am discriminated against when trying to find or keep a job.

   The fact that I am a married disabled person does not make me any less susceptible to discrimination, nor does it magically cure my disability. Being married does not guarantee any kind of “Support” and how many people do you know that can actually make a living on one income anyway? This “Rule” discriminates against legitimately Disabled People who choose to get married and this “Rule” needs to be eliminated permanently.

   Here is the endless loop I have been stuck in my whole life. These outdated and hurtful “Rules” have caused an environment of discrimination against married disabled people;

   Because I am physically disabled, no one will hire me to work. I cannot earn any “Points” with Social Security if I am not working. If I am not working, not earning points and not earning a pay check, then how can I be expected to earn a living? Now, that Husbandly “Support” that we talked about earlier is the Social Security Administrations defense statement. If my husband does not make that much money, HOW CAN IT SUPPORT TWO PEOPLE? Furthermore, I am still disabled, even if I am married. If I can’t find a job because no one will hire me due to my disability, then how are we supposed to make ends meet? This is the gap in the system that needs to be looked into and eliminated!

   Technically, the “Points” system should not apply to me, since I am an “Adult Disabled Child”, but remember the “Rule” of “What happens if my child gets married?” The fact that I am married should have no bearing on my Disability or any benefits that I am entitled to as a Disabled Person!

   My average break between jobs is usually measured in years, with absolutely no assistance from any Governmental Entity. When I finally find a job, I usually get fired shortly thereafter, because I cannot keep up with productivity or I am not fast enough, due to my Disability. If I cannot get hired because Employers see that I am disabled, then how am I supposed to support my family, pay bills, buy groceries, live a normal life?

   Without enough points to qualify for Social Security Disability, I go year after year with no hope, no future. In 2010-2011, I was able to find two jobs. I worked in an office which fired me because I could not type fast enough. The second job I was a Day care worker. They fired me because I could only pick up the kids with one hand. I made literally $6000 dollars working both jobs. From 2011 to Present, I have only been able to find temporary summertime work with absolutely no hope of ever finding a Career or living a normal life.

   My disability Claims over the Years;
   Originally, I applied for benefits in 1992 in San Marcos, Tx. The Doctor that Social Security sent me to see said I was fine and nothing was wrong with me. Based on that assessment, Social Security denied my claim. The Doctor never even asked about my obvious physical impairment and seemed to be more worried if I would appeal his decision.

   I re applied for Social Security Disability on 12-5-11. On 12-6-11 I received a phone call from Social Security stating “you made too much money for the quarter and did not get enough points to qualify”. They told me I can only make $1000 a month, in order to qualify and the Legislature is the one responsible for writing the law.

   The Social Security Administration representative told me, she “does not care if I have a physical disability because they have the Rules on income and points that are a pre qualifier and if you cannot pass the pre qualifier “Rules and Points”, Social Security could care less if you have a Disability or not”.

   Furthermore, the Social Security Administration states the Legislature is responsible for writing these rules that prohibit someone with a legitimate physical disability from obtaining benefits. This is personally very frustrating because I see Alcoholics, Drug addicts, mentally ill persons obtaining Social Security Disability benefits, but someone like me who is obviously physically disabled, is denied benefits and discriminated against because I am married. Alcoholics, Drug addicts, mentally Ill Persons are all allowed to get married and continues to receive benefits, so why is this act of discrimination being allowed to continue?

   I have an abscess in my Brain tissue, literally a hole in my brain, no use of my left hand, I walk with a limp and the entire left side of my body is smaller than the right side. I also have severe learning disability and what are simple tasks for some people, I cannot do. Social security defines me as being disabled, but they use the “Rules and Points system” to deny me access to any disability benefits, in an obvious act of discrimination. I cannot afford to see specialist Doctors to help me with my Disability related problems and the older I get, the more problems that surface which are linked to my Disability.

   We are a good honest hard working, Tax Paying family. We are also a one income family, we all 5 of us, survive on my Husbands income, he makes $53k a year. I have had no way of helping my family make it through all the rough times when most people rely on a two pay check income, we have had to struggle on one income.

   Sometimes we have to make decisions on whether we are paying the electric bill, phone bill, house payment or food this month. I am in a situation that has placed me in an endless loop with no positive outcome whatsoever. I am at the end of my rope with all of this and do not know who can help me with my situation. I have already lost out on a lifetime of benefits which could have helped me during the times I needed it the most.

   The State programs go by income and they say that $53k a year is too much money to qualify for any help, so I am literally stuck in a never ending loop. The Social Security Systems “Rules and Laws” as they are written by the Legislature and enforced by agents of the Social Security Administration have literally dumped me (a disabled mother of 3) into an endless loop with no way out.

   My mother started receiving Social Security at the beginning of this year 2014. While she was at the Social Security Office completing the paperwork, the Clerk asked her if she had any Children that are disabled. My Mom said yes, my Daughter is disabled. The Social Security Administration Clerk actually said to my mother “well, from the way it looks, she is qualified to receive benefits too”. My Mom was so excited; she told me what she was told. I checked into it and found out the same old “Married Rule” was not going to allow me to have any benefits yet again.

   In January 2014, I thought that I finally had some help with this battle. I ran my case information through a disability attorney service and I received a letter from the Office of Attorney Jim Adler. The Attorneys Office called and gathered information on my case and had me sign an agreement. I was so happy that I would finally have my day to tell the world about the injustices I have suffered. Well, I waited for the Case to proceed and was looking forward to my day in Court. I was let down once again when in April, I received a letter from the Office of Attorney Jim Adler stating that they were dropping me as a client and no longer represent me. The letter stated that Social Security told them that I was not qualified for benefits, so they dropped me.

   On 5/2014, I received a letter from the Social Security Administration which states that my application for SSDI benefits had been denied. Some of the information in the letter was wrong and inaccurate, apparently in January the Law Office that formerly represented me had attempted to file for SSDI in my name and it took the Social Security Administration almost 6 Months to process my claim. I have received packages in the mail from China that travelled faster than the Social Security Administration application process works. So, it appears that I am back to square one with this whole process, just like so many times before. I am so tired of trying to explain my situation to people that do not care about me or my cause.

   I cannot find gainful employment because I am disabled. I cannot get enough points to qualify for Social Security Disability because no one will hire me. This whole experience has left me with the impression that no one in Government really cares.
   I pray that no one ever be in the position that I am stuck in with the Social Security Administration. Any dreams that I may have had of a Career in my life, have long since vanished along with all of my hope. I am 43 years old now and will never know what it is like to be employed in a career field. No hope of a retirement or even being able to provide for my family if something happened, all because I got married.
   I would like to see the “Rules and Points system” that Govern the Social Security Administration changed to accommodate people who are physically disabled and married, regardless of points or pre qualifiers rules or laws. If you have a Genuine Physical Disability and you choose to get married, then you should be qualified for receiving Disability Benefits. Getting married does not make you any less Disabled, it is just an excuse the Social Security Administration uses to legally discriminate and punish disabled people.
   It is obvious the Rules and Laws in place now actually discriminate against married people. It is hard enough for someone who is physically disabled to live a normal life. The Rules and Laws of the Social Security Administration compound the stress of being a disabled person, in a normal person’s world, therefore I beg for your help in changing these discriminatory Laws that Govern the Point system and Rules.
   Any help is greatly appreciated, thanks.

   • ellen

     November 3, 2015 3:01AM

     Very good points made and we’ll written. God bless.

   • Johnny

     November 3, 2015 1:12PM

     If I read this right, you don’t qualify for SSD because you don’t have enough work credits. You can’t get any benefits from SSI because your husband makes too much money. But you continue to refer to yourself as a disabled adult child. That term usually refers to an adult child that is disabled and still lives at home, is taken care of by their parents, and is in early adulthood. Or an adult that is completely disabled, can not do any work whatsoever, and continues to live at home under the care of their parents. When they asked your mother if she had any children, they were most likely referring to children under 18, living at home. Children of SSD recipients can receive a small monthly benefit until age 18. The fact that you live with your husband, and your family is self sufficient, is why you don’t qualify for SSI. The reason that you get denied because you got married is because your husband makes too much money for you to receive SSI, and not enough work credits for SSD.
     I feel for your situation. It sucks to be stuck in a black hole like that. But you do have to realize that $53,000 a year is a decent amount of income, even with a family of 5. I was earning $35,000 a year with a family of 5, and making it work. My wife is disabled, and at the time she was receiving SSI in the amount of $130 a month. My income was under the limit, so she was able to receive a small amount of SSI and Medicaid. If you are unable to work, you do deserve to receive some type of help from SS, but I don’t understand why your denial of benefits keeps you from living a normal life. And no, getting married does not make you any less disabled, but marrying someone that makes a decent living disqualifies you from receiving SSI. That was a program set up for the poor. I am very sorry for your situation, truly I am. I hope things get better for you, and will pray for you.

   • Tom M.

     November 3, 2015 1:16PM

     Please understand the rationale of Social Security. It is supposed to provide a pension for elderly, and further to provide an early financial support for disabled workers. And the key word is workers. Your state should provide some of the services you need. And the ACA should allow you to have either medicaid or very low cost medical insurance. Infortunately, you life in Texas, and they have opted out of almost everything. So much of your blame should fall legitimately on Texas, not on the federal government. And you should blame the pious folk on here who continue the outlandish tale that you are not disabled, you do not need or deserve any assistance, and that it would cost too much if you did.

7. Darlene M.

   November 2, 2015 2:06PM

   At eight years old I woke up paralyzed from the waist down. When school started in the fall I was able to walk but my mother still had to take me for physical therapy for a few more months. I worked until I was about 40 when I started falling, my ability to walk continued to worsen and as a result I became depressed to the point of considering suicide. Fortunately, by then I had two children and a husband I had to consider. I applied and was able to file for “disability retirement” through Federal Civil Service in 1994. One of the conditions was that if I was able to work a year I’d considered able to work again. I thought this was a great option. Eventually I decided to go back to school to get a degree that would help me find better employment. A year after I found out about Vocational Rehabilitation, they were able to pay for tuition and books. Then I was assessed at a wheelchair seating clinic and prescribed a scooter and handicapped hand controls and lift for my scooter which would allow me to continue walking for as long as I was able. I earned a bachelor’s degree in social work and was hired as a counselor for kids with disabilities. A couple years later I earned my master’s degree and was hired to run my own program called High School High Tech. My job was to help kids in high school stay in school, encourage them to go to work and/or go on to earn a degree. I even worked with students in a Department of Juvenile Justice facility. Approximately 90%-95% boys in that facility had some type of disability. I found as a counselor the majority of my clients were on social security and when SS attempted to get those kids off SS they were unable to do so. Parents with kids with ADHD, ADD, etc., even those with CP, wheelchair users, etc. wanted SS because it added to their income. Many of those kids were discouraged by teachers as well. I had a young lady that was graduating with a regular diploma after the school approved three waivers – because the student failed three courses. I took her aside and told her that they were not doing her a favor nor any future employer. I encouraged her to take classes during the summer to earn her GED which she did. She was employed on a military facility with benefits soon after she had her daughter. I have no recommendations because the people you would rely on to do what I was doing are not going to set higher standards these kids need. Kids with disabilities do not have to be in special classes and given a “special diploma” which is useless. The High School/High Tech program can be found online and if I remember correctly at the Workforce website. Just key in High School/High Tech.

   I am now 63 yrs old and have applied for SSI/SSDI and am waiting for a determination. I am still on Disability Retirement because in spite of my work history I was not able to work a full year due to my disability becoming worse each year. Age has only added additional medical problems which should qualify me as eligible. I hope this helps you all come up with some ideas to help change the program for the better. You might also check out how accessible businesses are in complying with the ADA.

   Darlene

8. LIL

   November 2, 2015 2:06PM

   I think people who are “truly” disbled should get help; however, I know too many people who are on the take that are not really disabled. My thoughts are: if you can go out and work full time for a charity, or clean houses for money or do other work for money “quote under the table” then you are not disabled. You just do not want to work. There are too many people who want an easy way out. We need to revamp the whole system and then someone to follow up on those who are receiving it to comfirm that they are really disabled. Let people know that they will be checked up on regularly but not know when it will happen.

   • Louise S.

     November 3, 2015 8:59AM

     You should report them for fraud.

   • Tom M.

     November 3, 2015 1:02PM

     And most people on disability have to undergo a medical review every three years.
     This is also why you should report the employers who pay under the table. If there is no Social Security paid, there is no record. So the employers are facilitating a possible fraud. If they are found, they may be required to repay all the benefits received, and also a penalty.

9. Robert

   November 2, 2015 1:33PM

   People with mental disabilities should be treated for their illness 1st. to see if it can be treated and people on disability simply because they are too fat to work should be put on a diet and monitored before drawing disability. This administration has made it too easy to cheat the system and some do such as people who had a job but were laid off due to the economy and are unable to find work, now apply for disability and some of them get it, never to look for work again !

   • Gerard

     November 2, 2015 2:52PM

     I am disabled 81 yrs old and I agree you cannot yell when a person is legally disabled. When I go to the market and try to find an elec cart cant because it looks like all are being used by fat people and I sometimes have to wait up to a half hour for a cart. I see people park in handicap and run into the store. There is no way to really know if the person in the handicap car is the person who owns the placard or plate is even there. If the SSDI people knew how to do their jobs not so many people would have to hire expensive attorneys. We should not have stop all medications to prove that we are disabled. Jerry

     • Alex E.

       March 18, 2016 5:40PM

       Attorney fees are limited to $6,000 or 25% of retroactive benefits, whichever is less. The attorney fee cap hasn’t been raised since the early 2000s.

       Frankly, I think a great deal of disability attorneys would agree with you that SSA needs to learn how to do their job and award more cases earlier, as they clearly aren’t in it for the money. There are far more profitable fields of law requiring far less effort.

10. Amy F.

    November 2, 2015 1:04PM

    Nurse practitioners and physician’s assistants need to be given the same weight as medical doctors. More and more people can only see nurse practitioners and physician’s assistants and those that do are often lower income with Medicaid. Social Security needs to keep current with the medical reality of our times. They cannot disregard evidence from the practitioners that most of their applicants are able to see and have more time with the applicants than the consultative examiners and state agency physicians. It’s making it easier for ALJs to deny poorer applicants who cannot afford to see MDs.

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