From Community Legal Services (https://clsphila.org/):
The Social Security Administration just announced that it wants to change its rules for people who get disability benefits, including SSI. Most people would have to prove disability every two years.
Social Security expects to cut off nearly two million people over the next ten years. These are people with severe disabilities who can’t work.
How New Rules will Hurt People with Disabilities
Getting Social Security disability benefits is incredibly burdensome. It can take years to qualify, and the process is time-consuming and stressful. The new rules would force people to start over just two years later.
Social Security makes mistakes. Social Security does not always follow the law for disability reviews, and people get cut off by mistake. The new rules would make these problems worse.
More reviews would clog the Social Security system for everyone. People often wait two years or more for Social Security hearings. The new rules would push more people into the system, creating longer delays for people who need income urgently and cannot work.
There are not enough lawyers to help people. Without a lawyer, most people will not make it successfully through the review process. But many lawyers are not able to handle disability reviews, so people will go without the help they need.
Take Action: Tell Social Security not to create additional burdens for persons with disabilities.
Watch this short video to learn how you can help:
Here are four things you can do to fight these new rules:
- Submit Comments to Social Security. Social Security is collecting comments on the new rules until January 17, 2019. It will have to read and consider every comment. Click hereto submit a comment. Below is some sample language, but remember, your comment will be stronger if you personalize it with your own experiences and message.
Dear Social Security Commissioner Saul:
I am writing about the proposed Social Security rule that would make most people getting disability benefits prove that they have disabilities every two years. I am very worried about the rule. I do not think it should go forward.
It can be very hard to get disability benefits. For some people it takes years, and it is a stressful and time consuming process. More frequent disability reviews will create additional burdens for people with disabilities who cannot work and are struggling with income insecurity.
Even worse, Social Security often makes mistakes when reviewing disability, meaning there is an even greater chance that people who qualify for benefits will be denied and will go without the help they need. And pushing more people into disability reviews will slow down the system for everyone.
The new rule will cut almost two million people off of disability benefits over the next ten years. This rule would hurt people with disabilities. Please do not go forward with the rule.
Sincerely,
- Contact Your Congressperson. Social Security has to follow the law when it issues the new rules. Congress can investigate whether the new rules fit with the law. Ask your Congressional Representative to look into the new rules. Go to http://www.house.gov to find contact information for your Congressperson. Not sure what to say? Here is some sample language you can modify:
Dear Congressperson ___Last Name___,
I am writing about the proposed Social Security rule that would make most people getting disability benefits prove that they have disabilities every two years. Please tell Social Security that it should not go forward with the rule.
It can be very hard to get disability benefits. For some people it takes years, and it is a stressful and time consuming process. More frequent disability reviews will create additional burdens for people with disabilities who cannot work and are struggling with income insecurity.
Even worse, Social Security often makes mistakes when reviewing disability, meaning there is an even greater chance that people who qualify for benefits will be denied and will go without the help they need. And pushing more people into disability reviews will slow down the system for everyone.
The new rule will cut almost two million people off of disability benefits over the next ten years. This rule would hurt people with disabilities. Please work with Social Security to make sure that the rule does not go forward.
Sincerely,
- Join CLS for a call on December 11, 2019 at 10 am. Learn more about how the proposed rule change would affect people with disabilities, and how you can speak out against it. The call will include time to ask questions of Social Security law experts. Register here.
- Spread the Word! Social Security needs to hear from as many people as possible about the new rules. Please forward this email and share our website on social media. Tell Social Security #NoNewBurdens!
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