Proposed Appeals Process Changes for Social Security and SSI Recipients by Oct. 25 - Take Action!

Take Action:
http://capwiz.com/thearc/mail/oneclick_compose/?alertid=8120401

BACKGROUND:

The Social Security Administration (SSA) published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on the appeals process for determining disability in the Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) programs.

 While some of the proposed rules are good, the overall outcome could be a process that is less about truth-seeking and more adversarial; decisions could be based on technicalities rather than on complete evidentiary records. For people with disabilities and their representatives who apply for disability benefits under the Title II Old Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance and SSI programs, the proposed regulations would:

Make significant changes in requirements for submitting evidence to support claims. New time limits provide fewer opportunities to submit evidence late even if a claimant and his/her representative received the evidence late;

Require them to state all the issues in their appeal at the time the appeal is filed and failure to do so could bar a claimant from raising the issues later;

Require them to submit all evidence available to them, even if it is considered unfavorable; and

Eliminate opportunities to address issues such as late evidence that is difficult to obtain, correction of errors within SSA, and abuse of discretion by Administrative Law Judges.

 To read a copy of the proposed regulations, visit
http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/pdf/05-14845.pdf. 

STATUS:

The NPRM was published on July 27 and public comments are due on October
25. The Arc and United Cerebral Palsy, through the Consortium for
Citizens with Disabilities, will submit detailed comments to SSA
addressing these and numerous other issues.

ACTION NEEDED:

Click the Take Action link above to read and send a sample comment letter
addressing these issues. Feel free to edit the comment letter by adding
personal information or stories about the impact the appeals process has
on you and your family's lives. You can submit your comment letter
directly to the SSA using this Action Center.

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