Noteboom The Law Firm

CA Furloughs Still Affect Disability Applicants

If you have recently applied for Social Security disability benefits, you have probably noticed a long wait time. You might have expected to wait about five months, as that is the period most people must wait to start receiving benefits, but many people have waited over a year. Some states, such as California, have been hit particularly hard with wait times, yet SSA workers have been furloughed.

Many do not believe that the decision to impose a furlough was the best one, and the government may now be trying to reduce any negative impact it might have had recently. According to Capitol Weekly, the California government has attempted to solve the issue by making the furloughs self-directed.

This means that SSA workers on furlough may choose to work without pay on the days they were supposed to stay home. The pay-off is that they can accrue days off later, perhaps when the economy has recovered a bit and the disability applications are caught up.

The idea might sound promising, but few workers have taken advantage of it. In fact, workers who have been furloughed have spent a lot less time on the job in general than before the new policy was put into place. Additionally, many have questioned how much money the state has saved, as additional workers had to be hired in some areas to handle the influx of disability applications.

The wait time to hear back about applications has of course increased greatly since workers have gone on furlough, frustrating many people who depend on the possibility of receiving their benefits soon just to pay their bills.

Most workers are forced to take off two to three days per week, so it is no wonder that the lesser amount of work days has had an effect on the waiting period. Up to $99 million in disability checks have been delayed in one year alone, mainly due to the decision to furlough workers.

If you or your loved one are suffering from a severe physical or mental disability, you should contact a Social Security Disability lawyer immediately to learn about your rights and determine eligibility. The process of securing Social Security Disability Insurance benefits and/or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) can be difficult and overwhelming. Don't go it alone! The disability lawyers at LaVan & Neidenberg, located in Ft. Lauderdale, FL understand the inner workings of the Social Security Administration and will help you navigate the system. Call us today for a FREE legal consultation - 1-888-234-5758.