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All Just just about ClaimsDon't Always Believe What They Tell You at the Societal Safety Office
by:
Tim Moore
I have a dear friend who used to activity for the Department of Societal Services - I used to activity there too, once upon a time as a health care
caseworker, afdc caseworker, and food stamp caseworker. Well, she just filed for title II benefits today. For those who aren't aware, title II benefits are benefits for the disabled (leave it to the federal government to do even as word
a fuzzy proposition).
My friend called me up after her phone interview and was a combination of all the following: indignant, irritated, and incredulous. Want to cognize why? Here's my recreation of the oral communication we had this afternoon (I'm no script writer, but I think I can recall most of the salient points).
Me: So, you did the application?
MyFriend: Yes, and I can't believe several of the things that woman said.
Me: What do you mean? Was she rude?
MyFriend: No, she was really nice.
Me: That's good. Take it from me. That's not always the case.
MyFriend: She was really good and helpful. But if I hadn't talked to you just about filing for benefits, I would-be have actually believed all the stuff she said.
Me: Like what?
MyFriend: Oh, god, you should have detected
her. Everything she same
to me, she was acting like I was going to get it for sure. And I would-be probably get an answer in a few weeks, and she even as started talking just about what would-be happen once
I got approved, several five month thing---
Me: ---The five month waiting period.
MyFriend: Yeah, she talked just about that and she unbroken
locution I wouldn't have a problem at all. Which is not even as close to what you and I discussed.
Me: Yep, I've detected
this before. The problem is, these folk who take applications don't Activity ON THEM. All they do is take the application and send it to DDS wherever
the decision is made. Most of these field office folk don't even as have a clue how a case gets decided.
MyFriend: I remember you telling me that before. But why she did say all this stuff, like I won't have to worry and I'll get it for sure.
Me: Because for one, they are clueless. Second, they want to do you feel good. I'm sure with all the handicap apps they take, they got a lot of crying and anger, and the easiest way to deal with that is to give out this spiell that has nothing to do with reality. I mean, hey, you MAY get authorized
on your initial application, but, statistically, the amount say you probably
won't. And how the euphemism
is a claims rep going to cognize if you wish or won't get approved? They don't activity on your case. They don't order your medical records. They don't see them. But the real problem with them giving out these rosy predictions is that folk utterly
take them at their word. And I've talked to a lot of folk who just blindly assumed that their claim was going to get approved, just like that.
MyFriend: I cognize it. And that's how I would-be have felt if we hadn't talked so more just about me filing for benefits. I just would-be have believed that, with my condition, I should have nothing to worry about.
Me: And peradventure it wish turn out to be the case that you actually don't have thing
to worry about. You could be one of the fifteen per centum (in several states) that gets authorized
on the initial application. But, if I were applying, I would-be want to be told what my chances, statistically, actually are. So I could at least prepare. Mentally and emotionally, peradventure even as financially.
MyFriend: Yeah, if we hadn't talked, I would-be have just believed everything she said. In fact, I unbroken
correcting her. Everytime she same
"when you get approved", I same
to her "you mean 'if' I get approved, right?". I think finally I just same
to her "How do you cognize I'll get approved?"
Me: What did she say?
MyFriend: She same
it plumbed like I had a good case.
Me: I think you do have a good case. Your cane is prescribed and it sounds like your docs wish fill out medical source statements for you. The thing is, though, the claims rep has no way to cognize what wish happen with your medical decision. And chances are, she doesn't even as cognize what happens in a medical evaluation. The claims reps don't actually cognize squat just about the system. They just take the application and pass it on to DDS wherever
it gets worked on by an examiner.
MyFriend: Well, I'm just going to assume that I'll get denied. And if I actually get approved, that'll be a good surprise.
Me: That's my advice. Assume the worst. Then, if the worst doesn't happen, it'll feel like a bonus.
And that's essentially how the oral communication went. And the moral of the story is: don't believe everything that the societal safety office tells you. And here's several extra advice: always check behind them and ne'er
assume that they actually did what they were supposed to do. I cognize for a fact that they are short-staffed and have a TON of activity in these field offices. But if you're filing a claim for benefits, those are not your concerns. Your only concern is what gets done ON YOUR CASE. And since SSA benefits essentially red-tape government officials creations, you're just better off not trusting them and following behind them every step of the way.
Just just about the author:
The author of this article is Timothy Moore, who, in addition to being a former food stamp caseworker, health care
welfare worker
and AFDC caseworker, is a former handicap claims examiner. He publishes information at Social Safety Handicap Tips and Secrets which features a helpful and informative Social Safety Handicap faq
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