Why the Social Security Backlog?
Why is the Social Security Administration overwhelmed by questionable claims? Recent lawsuits against insurance companies claim they are partly to blame.
Each year insurance companies require an estimated 2.5 million applicants to apply for Social Security Disability benefits before paying insurance claims. This practice increases insurance company’s profits by decreasing claim reserves or refusing to pay a claim altogether. Many policies also allow benefit payments to be reduced if the claimant receives disability benefits from another source including Social Security Disability benefits or worker’s compensation.
The Arguments
The insurance agencies argue that advising a claimant to apply for Social Security Disability benefits is standard procedure, and their goal is to make sure that claimants receive the benefits in which they are entitled. Plaintiffs said insurers are abusing the system by routing individuals who clearly will not qualify for Social Security Disability benefits through the application process. They argue the Social Security Administration has more stringent disability requirements than many insurance companies which include requiring a disability to last at least 12 months and the applicant be unable to work.
Unfortunately, this has increased the claim process time for individuals whose claims are valid. The wait time to see an Administrative Law Judge has doubled since 2000. The issues will only increase as the population ages and more individuals are unable to work.
What can you do?
Social Security Disability lawyers have specialized knowledge of how the benefits process works and can save you time and effort. Don’t let the insurance companies pressure you. Your disability is stressful enough without having the added burden of filing your claim alone. Get Social Security Disability help today.