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THE MOST EXAMINED PEOPLE ON EARTH

Claimants for Social Security disability may be among the most scrutinized, most reviewed persons on Planet Earth.

I recently came across a blog by an uninformed blogger who said that Social Security needs to find a way to screen out persons who are not eligible to receive disability benefits.  What?

Here are the usual screening steps the typical claimant goes through on his or her way to getting federal disability benefits.
  • an application comprised of about 30 pages of information and questionnaires
  • review of all medical records by a state disability examiner (who denies 75% of claims)
  • frequently an examination by a doctor chosen by Social Security
  • review of the entire medical file by a Social Security staff doctor
  • a hearing before a US administrative law judge (who may order more exams)
  • often, testimony from a medical expert (doctor) called by Social Security
  • evidence from a vocational expert about how impairments affect ability to work
  • applying complex Listings, Medical-Vocational Guidelines, federal regulations, etc. prior to decision
Even if a favorable decision is awarded after all of this, the beneficiary is still subject to further review, even after he starts getting benefits:
  1. The Appeals Council may review the judge's favorable decision sua sponte (on its own motion) and has the power to reverse the judge and deny benefits.
  2.  There will likely be a Continuing Disability Review every 3 years in which the beneficiary has to prove that he is still disabled or face termination of benefits.
  3. Social Security spends billions of dollars on its new top priority--fraud prevention.
With few exceptions that I can think of, the Social Security disability claimant may be the most reviewed individuals in history. They are screened like a patio door.

Disability applicants are poked, prodded, examined, reviewed, investigated, questioned, cross examined and may even have their social media accounts reviewed.  They provide testimony under penalty of perjury and are told that they will be hunted down if they appear to have committed any form of fraud.

The public is generally poorly informed about how difficult it is to get these benefits.  Unfortunately, the media isn't much better informed.  The truth is, Social Security operates on the premise of ensuring that nobody gets benefits who isn't eligible; not on the premise that everyone who is disabled should get benefits.
"Applicants are screened like a patio door."



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