There is some interesting back-and-forth taking place between President Barack Obama and Congressional Republicans regarding the Social Security Administration’s disability benefits program. BenefitsPro reported that the White House proposed shifting payroll tax dedications from Old Age and Survivors Insurance to Disability Insurance trust “while a longer-term solutions to overall Social Security solvency is developed with the Congress.”
Last month, Republicans in the House proposed a rule to block this transfer. Rep. Sam Johnson, R-Texas, chair of the House Ways and Means subcommittee and co-sponsor of the House rule, said it is unfair to kick “the can down the road five years” to anyone who relies on the program. However, the proposal from the White House said it is looking to keep payment from SSA disability benefits as consistent as possible.
“The Administration will oppose any measures that privatize or weaken the Social Security system and will not accept an approach that slashes benefits for future generations or reduces basic benefits for current beneficiaries,” according to the White House blueprint.
Current reports say that the SSA can afford to pay full benefits until 2033. However, with the backlog, a large number of people in need of help in and slowing in the approval rate, something will need to give in the near future.
Over our 35 years of practice, our office has seen the Social Security disability benefits program treated as a political football at the expenses of the claimants.
Games are played not only by the Congress, but the SSA as well. All of the legislators, executives and judges who administer the program are highly paid for their services. It is their duty to ensure that the disability program is fairly administered. Sadly, politics often gets in the way of fair and compassionate handling of the program, as is the case currently.
The attorneys at the Law Offices of Harold W. Conick and Associates, Ltd. are committed to zealously fighting for it’s clients so that they receive the benefits they deserve.
