Recently the Washington Post and several other newspapers around the country have run stories about the inefficiencies and long delays that are causing terrible suffering for Social Security disability applicants.
My guest on today's podcast argues that these long delays and poor service within Social Security are not accidental. He contends that Congress, and by extension, the Social Security Administration makes the disability application process as unpleasant, time-consuming and unpredictable as possible to discourage people from filing and to keep approval rates down.
Spencer Bishins is a former Social Security Administration staff attorney, serving as a decision writer and attorney advisor to several disability judges for over ten years. He recently released a book entitled Social Security Disability Revealed: Why it's so hard to access benefits and what you can do about it. You can find this book at Bishinspublishing.com.
In part one of our interview we cover the following topics:
What do Social Security judges really think about the claimants that come before them day after day?
If the system is designed to set you up for failure, is there anything you can do to even the odds?
Were are judges recruited from and how do their past experiences impact their decision making.
And what testimony from you will make the most impact?
If you are applying for benefits, or if you are a lawyer representing disability claimants you know how frustrating the disability claims process can be. You can win but you have to understand SSA's system and play by their rules to come out ahead.
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