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Social Security Disability

Social Security Disability – A Look at Reconsideration

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Social Security Disability

IF I OWN MY OWN BUSINESS AND HAVE A DISABLING CONDITION THAT PREVENTS ME FROM TECHNICALLY "DOING WORK" WITHIN MY BUSINESS, AM I ELIGIBLE FOR RECEIVING SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY BENEFITS?

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Fewer jobs mean more Social Security Disability Claims

Posted on Dec 27, 2009

Are you one of the millions of Americans turning to the Social Security Disability program to get help during these tough economic times? All of the new SSD applications flooding in this year as a result of the struggling economy are crippling the SSA, which is working harder than ever to keep claims applications and appeals moving forward.

Right now approximately 12 million Americans receive disability benefits, which cost the nation about $161 million for fiscal year 2009. Of course, the cost will continue to rise as more and more Americans turn to the SSA disability program to keep going during these tough times.

According to the Social Security Administration, new disability benefit claims rose by almost 17 percent across the country, to a total of about 3 million claims for fiscal year 2009. For fiscal year 2010, SSA is expecting claims to rise another 10 percent, to 3.3 million.

Despite the high bar set for claims applicants (about two-thirds of all initial claims are rejected), people keep trying. Some cases are obvious and are approved with little fuss, but others may need to go through an appeals process so the administration can review the case in more detail.

Since only about 14 percent of those seeking an appeal get their original denial overturned, claimants pushing for reconsideration can appear before judge, when new information can be introduced. However, each step requires many more months of waiting, time that many claimants just don’t have.