Social Security Five Year Plan
Posted by
Amanda WickOctober 15, 2008 2:17 PMJust last month, the Commissioner of Social Security, Michael J. Astrue, released the agency’s new Strategic Plan.
This new plan lays out four specific goals the agency hopes to meet over the next few years. These goals include: eliminating the hearings backlog and preventing its recurrence, improving the speed and quality of the disability process, improving retiree and other core services, and preserving the public’s trust in our programs.
While the agency hopes to make speedy improvements in theses areas, each of these goals also includes long-term objectives to ensure its success over time.
The SSA has also made filing for Social Security easier for people with internet access. At the SSA website, www.ssa.gov, individuals fling for SSDI only can file their claim online.
The Social Security Administration has also included a “benefits estimator calculator” on their website that allows individuals to determine approximate SSDI earnings based on previous work history. The tool is designed to help people plan for retirement.
Despite these internet conveniences and goals to make filing for Social Security, most people are denied after their first application. This frustration leaves some people asking:
Do I need an attorney? Research shows that hiring an attorney is more effective than trying to file for Social Security alone.
Although Social Security Administration pays 60 million people a total of 650 billion dollars a year, some people are unable to get the benefits they deserve. In addition, once denied, it can take up to two years to get a hearing to appeal your case. The disability claims process can be complicated and difficult to navigate. Given that most attorneys will give you a free consultation to review your case, consider hiring an attorney to help you file your claim or handle your appeal.