On August 5, 2010, The Social Security Board of Trustees released its annual report on the financial health of the Social Security Trust Funds and the long-range outlook remains unchanged. The combined assets of the Old-Age and Survivors Insurance, and Disability Insurance (OASDI) Trust Funds will be exhausted in 2037, the same as projected last year. For more information, read our press release.
The Affordable Care Act
On March 23, 2010, President Obama signed H.R. 3590, the “Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act,” into law. The new law, also known as the “Affordable Care Act,” makes important changes to Medicare Part A and Part B.First, the Affordable Care Act provides free Medicare Part A to certain individuals who were exposed to asbestos in Lincoln County, Montana. These individuals will also be able to enroll in Medicare Part B and Medicare Part D. To be eligible for this Medicare coverage, individuals must have been diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease, and present in Lincoln County, Montana for a total of at least six months during a period ending 10 years or more before the diagnosis. For more information, please click on the following link: http://www.ssa.gov/libby/.
Second, the Affordable Care Act changes the Medicare Part B enrollment period for TRICARE beneficiaries. This change will allow for Part B enrollment without increased premiums.
The Cast of The Patty Duke Show Reunites to Tell Americans About New Online Medicare Application
On March 23, 2010, Commissioner Michael Astrue joined award-winning actress Patty Duke and the cast of her hit 1960s sitcom, The Patty Duke Show , to unveil Social Security's newest online service for Medicare benefits. This new online application, which takes less than 10 minutes to complete, is for people reaching the Medicare eligibility age of 65 who want to delay filing for Social Security retirement benefits. Currently about a half million Americans enroll in Medicare each year without applying for monthly benefits. Alzheimer's Association Gives Commissioner Astrue Humanitarian Award for 2010
On March 8, 2010, Commissioner Astrue was presented with The Alzheimer's Association's 2010 Humanitarian Award. This honor is given each year to a public official who has made a significant contribution to help those who are struggling with Alzheimer's disease. In recognizing Commissioner Astrue, the Alzheimer's Association noted,this exceptional leadership in creating the Compassionate Allowances Initiative and the decision to include early-onset Alzheimer's disease and other dementias in that initiative.Social Security Hearings Backlog Falls to Lowest Level Since 2005
On March 2, 2010, Commissioner Astrue announced that the number of disability hearings pending stands at 697,437 cases -- the lowest level since June 2005 and down more than 71,000 cases since December 2008, when the trend of month-by-month reductions began. In addition, the average processing time for hearing decisions has decreased to 442 days, down from a high of 514 days at the end of fiscal year (FY) 2008. Social Security Adds NewCompassionate Allowance Conditions
On February 11, 2010, Commissioner Astrue announced that the agency is adding 38 more conditions to its list of Compassionate Allowances. This is the first expansion since the original list of 50 conditions - 25 rare diseases and 25 cancers - was announced in October 2008. The new conditions range from adult brain disorders to rare diseases that primarily affect children. the Compassionate Allowance conditions are conditions such as blindness that expedite the award of Social security disability. There is a similar porgam in the VA for presumptive medical conditions.Social Security Launches New Open Government Webpage
On February 10, 2010, Commissioner Astrue announced that the agency has a new Open Government webpage available to the public at www.socialsecurity.gov/open . The new webpage serves as the portal for all agency activities that support the President's Transparency and Open Government initiative.Patty Duke and Dr. David Kessler Team with Social Security in Flu Prevention Public Service Campaign
On October 30, 2009, Commissioner Astrue announced that Academy Award winner Patty Duke and David Kessler, M.D., former head of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, have teamed with Social Security to launch a flu prevention public service campaign. Ms. Duke and Dr. Kessler are featured in a new public service announcement letting people know some simple steps they can take to prevent the spread of the flu, as well as the fact that most business with Social Security can be done online by visiting www.socialsecurity.gov.Support for Obama's $250 Recovery Payment--No COLA for 2010
On October 15, 2009, Commissioner Astrue announced that this will be the first year without an automatic Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) since they went into effect in 1975, stating, "This year, in light of the human need, we need to support President Obama's call for us to make another $250 recovery payment for 57 million Americans.�
Social Security Hearings Backlog Down for First Time in Decade
On September 20, 2009, Commissioner Astrue announced that for the first time since 1999, the agency has ended the year with fewer disability hearings pending than in the prior year. Social Security ended fiscal year (FY) 2009 with 722,822 hearings pending compared to 760,813 hearings pending at the start of the year, a reduction of more than 37,000 cases.Social Security to Fund $24 Million in Contracts for Electronic Medical Records
On August 7, 2009, Commissioner Astrue announced the availability of $24 million in contracts to provide the agency with electronic medical records to improve the efficiency of its disability programs. Through a Request for Proposals available on www.fedbizopps.gov, Social Security is looking for health care providers, provider networks, and health information exchanges to participate in its Medical Evidence Gathering and Analysis through Health Information Technology (IT) program.Public Hearings on Compassionate Allowances
On July 29,2009, Commissioner Astrue was joined by Marie A. Bernard, M.D., Deputy Director of the National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, and other Social Security officials, to hear testimony from some of the nation's leading experts on early-onset Alzheimer's disease and related dementias about possible methods for identifying and implementing Compassionate Allowances for people with early-onset Alzheimer's. See press release for more information.On November 18, 2008, Social Security held a third disability hearing on Compassionate Allowances. Click here for the press release.
On October 26, 2008, Commissioner Astrue announced that SSA is rolling out Compassionate Allowances nationwide. This groundbreaking initiative allows us to identify rare diseases and other medical conditions that are certain to be approved under our disability rules and fast track those cases for quick processing.
Commissioner Thanks Vice President for His Call to Exempt DDS Employees from Furloughs and Hiring Restrictions
On July 6, 2009, Commissioner Astrue expressed his appreciation that Vice President Joseph R. Biden also has urged Governor Edward G. Rendell, Chairman of the National Governor's Association, to exempt federally-funded state Disability Determination Service (DDS) employees from any furloughs, hiring restrictions, and other budget cuts.SSA to Open New Teleservice Center (TSC) in Jackson,TN
On June 22, 2009, Commissioner Astrue announced that the Social Security Administration plans to open a new teleservice center (TSC) in Jackson, Tennessee, which will be the first new call center opened by Social Security in more than a decade. The Jackson TSC will employ about 175 people once it is fully operational.2009 Trustees Report
On May 12, 2009, the Social Security Board of Trustees released its annual report on the financial health of the Social Security Trust Funds. The Trustees project that program costs will exceed tax revenues in 2016, one year sooner than projected in last year’s report. See press release for additional information. Complete OASDI report.Retire Online
On January 6, 2009, Commissioner Michael Astrue and award winning actress Patty Duke announced the launch of SSA's nationwide effort to promote our new and improved online application process. Click here for the press release.Rigtardia comments
The major has been working on a disability for the VA that stretches back to 2002. He took the same information to Social Security and was awarded his disability in 111 days! His conditions were well-documented with seven letters from five bard certified physicians: one GP and four specialists.The SSA has a better system that allows a claimant to file the claim on the Internet and then fax back additional claim forms using a automated fax system with bar codes linked to the claimant's identity.
The Major was able to talk to his case officer on the phone and he didn't have to repeat private practice medical exams and diagnostic procedures that he had already documented to SSA.
It was a far more efficient process than the process the VA uses uses at this time. To get his VA claim to move along he had to contact two US congressman, a US senator an ombudsman, the Appeals Management Center and the Veterans Benefits Administration.
He didn't need to do this with his SSA claim. Of interest, he provided substantially less documentation to SSA than he had to the VA.
Rightrdia sent letters to US Senator Bill Nelson and Congressman Bill Young on the efficiency of the SSA process. He suggested that all government claims for disability be precessed by SSA first.
The SAA could bee made the executive agent for processing VA claims in the initial two stages of the claim. This would eliminate redundancy between the two agencies and save taxpayer dollars.
More importantly, The Veteran would get an answer back faster from the government if the SSA did the initial evaluations.
See the complete report at http://www.ssa.gov/legislation/RecentIssues.html
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