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Ohio Furloughs Mean Delays for Social Security Disability Claims

Furloughs have affected those waiting for approval of their Social Security disability benefits in a few states, particularly California. Now the issue appears to be spreading to other states, such as Ohio, where more than 600 employees of the Ohio Bureau of Disability Determination have been on furlough since last summer.

According to Cleveland Live, the furloughs are reported to have slowed down an estimated 14,000 disability claims (or, $3 million in benefits), forcing qualified Ohio residents to wait for the financial assistance to which they are entitled.

Michael Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security, recently said Ohio's furloughing of Federal employees is actually costing the state money, in addition to prolonging wait times for disability benefits.

At a time when demand for disability benefits is at an all-time high, having fewer workers process applications can lead to significant delays and is likely to inconvenience many people who are in need.

If you have been awaiting your disability decision for months, or even years, and you have questions regarding your payments, contact a lawyer today.

Fort Lauderdale, Florida disability lawyers, LaVan & Neidenberg, represent over 5000 disability claimants. Our disability attorneys have experience with cross examining agency-appointed medical and vocational experts and take time when speaking with you about your disability claim. Call us today at 1-888-234-5758 for a FREE legal consultation. There is NO OBLIGATION to hire our firm and there are NO FEES unless one of our trained disability lawyers wins your case.