Over the past six months, I have experienced six (6) separate instances of significant problems arising from SSA personnel losing documents or failing to send out notices with deadlines.
In three of these instances, neither my client nor I received notice of a reconsideration denial. In another case, my client received the denial but did not inform me (my client has significant mental limitations and did not know what to do with the denial notice).
In two of these cases, my client’s case was dismissed and they have to start over with a new application. In the other two cases, we were able to get the appeal filed within the 60 day deadline.
When I called Social Security they claimed that that had mailed the notices (in 2 of the cases) or that my name was not associated with the case as the lawyer (I have a registered mail receipt proving that I mailed my entry of appearance and notice of representation).
In two other cases, I did not receive my fee because someone in the payment center did not see my Form 1695 (request for direct payment of fees). In these cases, my client will see his monthly benefit check reduced by SSA to correct their mistake.
It seems that document mismanagement at the Social Security Administration is getting worse, not better. For those of you who represent claimants, are you seeing the same problems?
I had a client last month whose entire file was “lost” by Social Security! Even crazier is that the application was completed online originally 8 months ago. Every month Social Security would tell my assistant that the case was pending and then one day the claimant wasn’t even in the system!
This is a really good point that you’ve brought up Jonathan, lost documents and sometimes even lost files have become a horrible epidemic at Social Security. I often find myself telling claimants who try to apply on their own just how difficult it is even for a lawyer who does this full time to do, let alone a layman.
I can’t tell you how many cases I have that have ended up in a “black hole” at one of our local offices. I made an appointment to meet with the supervisor of the intrnet department. I have her number now and it has been a big help in getting these cases worked or in some cases found . There are still problems but I can usually get things back on track with a phone call now, rather than a trip to the office .
I receive SSi and SSD now, my experience is that Social Security on several occasions has violated the agreement, what does the law say about them violating the agreement, do I have to life up to the agreement? what does the law say,
thank you
Wolf
when my social security disibility case was up for review a few years ago i recieved a call from my local social security office informing me that they had somehow lost my file with all of my information in there including doctors reports,hospital stays,medications,and doctors that i have been seeing.everything that i needed to prove that i was still disabled was lost due to social security’s stupidity.they are utter morons…needless to say,my disibility was continued because they could not prove that my health had improved and that they were responsible for loseing all of my file records pertaining to my disibility.
This seems to occur more often while submitting appeals online. Although they say that the 3441 information was not completed or submitted at all, the claim is still sent to DARS. On other occasions I have had to submit manually. Thats progress.
I don’t have a lot of experience in this field, but I’m finding the same thing. I have an appeal pending and was sent my client’s file. I know there are communications between me and SSA that are missing. In addition, I have not been sent timely notices of denials. In one instance, a client was awarded SSI but denied SSDI. We appealed the SSDI denial. The SSA had it as an appeal of his SSI case (a case in which he was AWARDED SSI). Why would he appeal a successful claim? I thought it was me, but an somewhat relieved that others are having this problem.
My fathers case hase been completely lost and they refuse to discuss it.
He has kept extremely good documentation, copies and dates of the processes and has offered to supply the SSA with anything possibly missing from his case but he is being told NOTHING matters if they dont have records of it. He is being forced to COMPLETELY RESTART the process from scratch even though his original application was about a year ago.. (he is entitled to backpay if his original application is honored, MAYBE THAT HAS SOMETHNG TO DO WITH THEM LOSING IT?)
How can things be so far along in the process, awaiting a final decision and they suddenly and completely lose peoples entire files and NOT have a way to recover it?
That tells me the social security adminstration is extremely in need of an overhaul. I hear a lot about the problems this place has and I honestly dont know if its going to be around much longer when there seems to be such abuse going on.
So many people like my father were FORCED to put their hard earned money into something their entire lives that they in no way, shape or form benefit from and many end up dying while waiting for.
Leaves me asking myself, “How can these people sleep at night?” “How does that guy that deceids a case is TOO costly for the SSA to pay out, because they have stretched it out for SOO LONG, so he presses the delete button on that file, SLEEP AT NIGHT??” Probably the same way dirty cops do. They justify their actions as the for “The greater good”
How can they continuously get away with this garbage?
IS IT REALLY FOR THE GREATER GOOD? I’d HATE to have their jobs.
Recently, my father’s social security case has been completely lost and the SSA case workers refuse to discuss it.
He has kept extremely good documentation, copies and dates of the processes and has offered to supply the SSA with anything possibly missing from his case but he is being told NOTHING matters if they don’t have records of it in their systems. He is being forced to COMPLETELY RESTART the process from scratch even though his original application was about a year ago.. (he is entitled to backpay if his original application is honored, MAYBE THAT HAS SOMETHNG TO DO WITH THEM LOSING IT?)
How can things be so far along in the process, awaiting a final decision and they suddenly and completely lose peoples entire files and they NOT have a way to recover it?
That tells me the social security adminstration is extremely abusing the processes and is in need of an overhaul. I hear a lot about the problems this place has and I honestly dont know if its going to be around much longer when there seems to be such abuse going on.
So many people like my father were FORCED to put their hard earned money into something their entire lives that they in no way, shape or form benefit from and many end up dying while waiting for. Sick and dying people are being lied to and cheated out of their money.
IT all leaves me asking myself, “How can these people sleep at night?” “How does that guy that decides a case is TOO costly for the SSA to pay out, because the SSA has stretched it out for SOO LONG, so he deletes that file, SLEEP AT NIGHT??” Probably the same way dirty cops do. They justify their actions as the for “The greater good”
How can they continuously get away with this garbage?
Mine is a little different story. I applied for early retirement to start when I reach age 62. I applied in person and had all the required documents. 3 months later with no confirmation letter I made some calls. I have been removed from the computer and told I never applied. I went in person and showed the paperwork they gave me to prove I applied. They claim the paper work is fake.
I just received a denial letter from an administration law judge that contained derogatory statements about my smoking habit and how if I was really disabled I would use the money I spent on ciggerettes to get the alleged vital medical treatment I claim to need instead of smoking so she doubts I’m being honest about how bad my issues are, and her personal opinion on my boyfriend not being credible because hes my boyfriend and would probably say whatever I told him to say. Is this typical for a judge to use thier personal opinion in a denial letter?
The personal opinion you are referencing is known as a credibility determination and it is common. Most denials I read contain conclusions that the judge did not find the claimant fully credible. Credibility determinations are, unfortunately, not likely to be reversed by the Appeals Council. I appear before a judge who will never approve a smoker for the reasons you note. More and more you need overwhelming medical record support to get a favorable decision.
I sent my birth certificate and passport to the Bloomingdale SSA. I sent them these credentials because they needed them for finalizing my benefits. I mailed them out on March 18th next day air. Since then I have called numerous times and I keep getting different answers. I just want my items back to me, If they lost them I do not want to be the one having to go to all the trouble of paying for new ones!
Frank, I know that SSA employees are working from home so document processing takes a lot longer. Hopefully you will get your documents back in a timely manner. I would continue to call to ask for them back.