Why Do Social Security Disability Claimants Have to Appeal to Get Benefits
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North Dakota Senator Bryan Dorgan questions the high rate of social security disability claims denials. The fact that there is a high win rate at the appeal level suggests that too many claims are denied on the initial application.
Dan Neer, A Bismarck, North Dakota man who suffers from chronic back pain has been battling the Social Security Administration to receive disability benefits. Neer even began to suspect the pain was possibly in his head after having both his initial review and his appeal denied.
However, a painful nerve test was a reminder that his back pain was indeed real. Involved in the test was a needlelike device that probed the area of a nerve to test for damage. Neer also has made numerous visits to his doctor and received multiple surgeries.
Two separate claims to the Social Security Disability, which included appeals denied on the initial claim, were required before he received approval for disability benefits in February of this year. Two years passed after his initial claim before he received approval.
Approximately 48 percent of disability claims receive approval after the initial review in the U.S. Another 17 percent receive approval on the first appeal and following administrative hearing.
North Dakota Senator Byron Dorgan has asked that President Bush and the inspector general's office look into the process. Senator Dorgan believes that if two-thirds of the applicants on appeal are found to be disabled, there must be some problem. He hopes to get the process changed, so that more people can avoid a situation like Neer's. Senator Dorgan hopes that more people can be approved without having to go through the appeals process.