Social Security Administration To Close Field Offices Early

Starting Monday, Nov. 19, all 1,233 Social Security Administration (SSA) field offices will trim office hours by 30 minutes, according to Federal Times, a newspaper for senior U.S. government managers.
By: Allsup
 
Oct. 10, 2012 - PRLog -- Belleville, Ill.—Oct. 10, 2012—Starting Monday, Nov. 19, all 1,233 Social Security Administration (SSA) field offices will trim office hours by 30 minutes, according to Federal Times, a newspaper for senior U.S. government managers. The reduction in Social Security office hours highlights the importance of seeking Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) representation for people with disabilities, according to Allsup, a nationwide provider of Social Security disability representation and Medicare plan selection services.

The announcement comes more than a year after the Social Security announced that field offices would be closing to the public at 3:30 p.m., or 30 minutes earlier than previous hours. This additional reduction of 30 minutes now means field offices will be open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

“The typical Social Security disability application requires pages of detailed information on employment history, personal information, medical records and treatment history,” said Mike Stein, Allsup assistant vice president of claims. “Applicants already dealing with an injury, chronic condition or terminal illness can quickly become overwhelmed. A Social Security disability representative like Allsup can provide vital assistance to complete forms, retrieve medical evidence, develop your claim and ensure a complete application or appeal is filed. Allsup completes these services for customers so they usually don’t have to leave their home or visit a Social Security office.”

An experienced and proven representative like Allsup can save time, effort and energy, Stein added. “Similar to your tax advisor, your SSDI representative should be an expert on this program,” he said. “The SSA has an elaborate policy manual that it follows to evaluate disability applications. Allsup has expert claimant representatives who have hundreds of years of combined experience in handling Social Security disability claims, including many representatives who previously worked for Social Security offices and state Disability Determinations Services.”

SSDI is a federally mandated disability insurance program overseen by the SSA that operates separately from the retirement and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) programs. SSDI provides monthly benefits to individuals who are under full retirement age (age 65 or older) and who can no longer work because of a severe disability that is expected to last for more than 12 months or is terminal. Individuals must have paid FICA taxes to be eligible.

More Reasons to Secure SSDI Representation
With a Social Security disability representative, those applying or appealing their disability claim have an advocate who is driven to help them get the benefits they paid for while they were working. Below, Allsup outlines some of the most common reasons to seek representation.
Learn if they are likely to qualify for SSDI benefits. Unlike the Social Security retirement program, Social Security disability benefits aren’t approved automatically based on age. The SSA uses multiple criteria to determine if someone qualifies for disability benefits. Allsup offers a checklist of items and free evaluation services to help individuals find out quickly if they may qualify for SSDI. Call (800) 678-3276 for a free Social Security disability evaluation.

Get through the SSDI process more quickly. People who use Allsup’s representation services are more likely to receive their benefits at the initial application level. Allsup’s success rate for initial claims is 52 percent compared with the SSA national average of 34 percent. Receiving benefits at the application level can save significant time because the person’s claim avoids appeals through the next levels, which can take months for a decision.

Hand off the work. Letting someone else put their claim together can save people with disabilities the time and energy they need for other concerns, including treating their medical conditions. Allsup representatives complete paperwork, collect medical records, submit records and documents, and regularly interact with the SSA on their behalf, among other activities.

Avoid common mistakes in the SSDI process, including underestimating or exaggerating their disabilities. Pride can sometimes lead people to minimize how their disability affects their lives, but the opposite also happens. Allsup can provide an objective evaluation of how someone’s disability affects their daily activities.

Get their questions answered. Allsup provides a customer hotline, a website with comprehensive Social Security Disability Insurance information and a live-chat feature, as well as email access for asking questions. Call (800) 678-3276 or click here to send your questions.  
“Applying for Social Security disability is a challenging process, but finding a representative does not have to be a challenge,” Stein said. “The most important thing to look for is a representative who has the experience and the track record that proves he or she understands SSDI.”

For more information about eligibility for Social Security disability benefits, contact Allsup’s Disability Evaluation Center at (800) 678-3276.
ABOUT ALLSUP
Allsup is a nationwide provider of Social Security disability, Medicare and Medicare Secondary Payer compliance services for individuals, employers and insurance carriers. Founded in 1984, Allsup employs more than 800 professionals who deliver specialized services supporting people with disabilities and seniors so they may lead lives that are as financially secure and as healthy as possible. The company is based in Belleville, Ill., near St. Louis. For more information, go to http://www.Allsup.com or visit Allsup on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/Allsupinc.
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Source:Allsup
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Tags:Ssdi, Social Security, Disability Insurance
Industry:Health, Government
Location:Belleville - Illinois - United States
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