Archive for the ‘social security’ Category
Social Security and SSI benefits up 5.8 Percent
Good News! In January, recipients of monthly Social Security Disability and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) saw a 5.8 percent increase in benefits, the largest increase since 1982. Benefits are automatically modified each year to match the increases in cost of living expenses, known as the Cost-of-Living Adjustment. However, backlogged Social Security and SSI cases continue to be a problem in Indiana and other states. According to an article in the Fort Wayne Sentinel, more than 18,800 Hoosiers were waiting for disability determination hearings a of Oct. 31, 2008. The Social Security Administration (SSA) issued a news release in October announcing it hired 190 new Administrative Law Judges, opened a National Hearing Center and eliminated virtually its entire aged case backlog of more than 135,000 cases waiting more than 900 days for a hearing decision.
The National Hearing Center, located in Falls Church, VA., “allows the SSA to capitalize on new technologies such as electronic disability folders and video teleconferencing,” according to Michael J. Asture, commissioner of Social Security. The SSA also implemented two programs, Quick Disability Determination and Compassionate Allowances, for expediting the process.
William Jarrett, spokesperson for the SSA, said Indianapolis is one of the cities given the tools to have backlogged cases heard this way. “You can feel confident that the cases are being heard at the National Hearing Center. We are in the process of expanding video hearing capacity in Indianapolis to allow more Administrative law Judges from the National Hearing Center, and other regions, to assist the Indianapolis hearing office its increasing workloads,” added Jarrett.
For more inforamtion about Social Security and SSI benefits and changes, visit www.ssa.gov or call 1.800.772.1213. Individuals with hearing impairments can call 1.800.325.0778, Monday through Friday, 7 am to 7 pm.
