The Derby City Chapter of the National Spinal Cord Injury Association Network- Serving Kentuckiana.
Message From the President
Dear Members & Friends-
We do not yet have a speaker lined up, although we hope to have one scheduled at meeting time. If no speaker is available, a video will be shown. Pizza and soft drinks will be provided.
In December we will have our annual Christmas Party. See calendar for details.
- David Allgood
From the Internet –ed
Disability INSIDER, LLC RELEASED VIDEO GUIDE THAT MAKES APPLYING FOR SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY BENEFITS EASIER
Disability Insider, LLC announced the release of its new product, Social Security Disability Video Guide—Adult Initial Application. This 79 minute video on DVD revolutionizes applying for Social Security disability benefits by showing adult applicants how to apply, and how to properly complete complex application forms. Designed by Social Security disability experts with over 40 years combined experience in the program; it takes the guess work out of applying for benefits.
With Social Security reform in the news these days, little attention has been paid to Social Security’s disability programs. The Social Security Administration administers two main types of programs for the disabled. In 2004, the Title II program (SSDI), for disabled workers and their dependents, paid 68.4 billion in cash benefits. Over 2.6 million people filed for Social Security disability in 2004, and that number is growing yearly as aging baby boomers increasingly become disabled due to medical conditions.
The Social Security disability application process is complicated by Social Security’s strict definition of disability, difficult application forms, and for some, a
long and complicated appeals process. Many applicants who are denied at the initial level are ultimately allowed on appeal. An applicant may choose either an attorney or another qualified individual to represent them during their application process, though if an individual is awarded benefits, this representation can cost them up to $5300 in past due benefit payments.
Keith R. Holden, M.D., a physician who consulted for Florida’s Department of Disability Determination Services for seven years, says, “This type of product is long overdue for millions of disabled individuals who apply for Social Security disability every year. There are many books devoted to the subject, but they require reading even more material before completing the application forms.” Dr. Holden, a founding partner of Disability Insider, LLC, believes this video will increase applicants’ chances of a fair and accurate decision by making sure they submit a complete application. Dr. Holden says, “In my experience, many applicants are denied at the initial level because they don’t understand how to complete application forms in a way that clearly explains how their disability limits their ability to work. The disability case worker never gets to actually see the person applying, so it’s important that application forms show how the applicant’s function is limited. This video should help alleviate that problem.”
The video covers the mandatory 10-page “Disability Report Form SSA-3368-BK”, the mandatory 8-page “Function Report Form SSA-3373-BK.” All forms are included on the DVD as a PDF, and are available to download from Disability Insider’s web site.
Using the video, applicants complete these forms at their own pace and in the convenience of their own home. They then either submit the forms to their local
