U.S. Payment of Disability Claims Faulted

WASHINGTON — Social Security, which pays an average $1 billion in benefits every business day, is doing an excellent job for retirees but rates a failing grade for disability claims, investigators said Sunday.

Because the Social Security Administration is so slow in processing claims from the disabled, “some qualified claimants are forced onto public assistance; others attempt suicide; others lose their homes or property and still others are forced to go without medical treatment,” the staff of the House Ways and Means Committee said.

One House member told the committee about a constituent who fell 30 feet and was crushed by a ton of steel.

“Initial medical reports are clear on the severity of his injuries and that he will be unable to work for a long time,” the lawmaker’s staff wrote. But his claim for benefits was delayed while Social Security sought more medical reports.

Another office reported: “One constituent is awaiting a donor heart for a transplant. She cannot even drive to the grocery store, yet is now awaiting a hearing . . . to determine if she is disabled.”

The report concluded that on average, Social Security takes three months to process an initial claim for disability benefits. If the claim is denied at the first level, an appeal can take a year before the first check arrives.

Appeals judges reverse two of every three denials.

If the 4.3 million people on the disability rolls are being ill-served, the situation is quite the opposite for the 35.5 million drawing retirement checks.

“An applicant for retirement benefits can expect to receive his or her first check within a few weeks,” the report found. “In more than 99% of the cases, a retiree’s check will be for the right amount.”