Posted on 11/14/2010 3:38:48 PM PST by ChicagoConservative27
WASHINGTON (AP) - Judges who hear Social Security disability cases are facing a growing number of violent threats from claimants angry over being denied benefits or frustrated at lengthy delays in processing claims.
There were at least 80 threats to kill or harm administrative law judges or staff over the past year - an 18 percent increase over the previous reporting period, according to data collected by the agency.
The data was released to the Association of Administrative Law Judges and made available to The Associated Press.
One claimant in Albuquerque, N.M., called his congressman's office to say he was going to "take his guns and shoot employees" in the Social Security hearing office. In Eugene, Ore., a man who was denied benefits said he is "ready to join the Taliban and hurt some people." Another claimant denied benefits told a judge in Greenville, S.C., that he was a sniper in the military and "would go take care of the problem."
(Excerpt) Read more at apnews.myway.com ...
How many were actually carried out? Stupid journalists. Of course let’s not share that info, or even ask the question.
An example that you can never take benefits away once they are provided? Maybe just a reminder of things to come...
They all sound pretty fit to me.
I used to play tennis with one of these judges, back in the 80s. They were always showing videos of ‘disabled’ guys shoveling snow and playing golf in his courtroom.
Since they're so good at serving the public we should let them run the health care industry, too!
/s, obviously
I wonder how these agitators would fare facing a legitimately armed squad of taxpayers.
If they can be a violence threat or can afford to hire someone to do it for them, what the hell are they filing for SSI for in the first place?
Is it me, or is something being displaced here?
Only 80? I'm surprised. I absolutely do not understand the domains of disability, workers comp, etc, and clearly the bureaucrats ("judges") don't either. Stories I have heard and validated would have made me want to pick up a gun too.
It's the price you pay for abandoning established principles of right and wrong and contaminating them with the legalities of entitlement.
Judges have a union?
My neighbors 32 yr old son (who still lives with her) lost his job as a city bus driver due to a drunk driving charge. He then went on to apply for SSI benefits based on the argument that his “drinking problem” is a disability that cost him his job.
I assume he wasn’t successful, because he had to actually find another job instead of staying home collecting tax payer money. Don’t know what his new job is, but I don’t imagine it is one where he needs a license. He now rides a bus instead of driving one.
Except that in these cases, the benefits have typically not been provided to begin with.
Generally speaking, this is people who did not meet SSA's definition of disability - unable to engage in substantial gainful activity (currently reckoned as a job grossing $1k a month), with a disabling condition expected to last 12 months or result in the claimant's death.
They file an initial claim, which is a two part process. First the claims representative determines whether they've worked enough (for Social Security Disability) or come in under the income and resource limits (for SSI). If they don't meet the technical requirements, they can appeal that, but they generally don't. If they meet the technical requirements, the case is then referred to a state Disability Determination Service. The doctors and other medically trained people at DDS approve or deny them on medical grounds.
If denied, the claimant can file a reconsideration in which a different medical examiner at the DDS, who was not involved in the first case, takes a look at the case again and makes a decision.
If they're denied at the reconsideration, they can file an appeal to an Administrative Law Judge, or ALJ. That process can take up to 2-3 years (lots of cases, few judges).
When they are denied by the ALJ, they then have the option of filing a new initial claim and starting the process over again. They can also file civil suit against SSA at any time in the process.
***They were always showing videos of ‘disabled’ guys shoveling snow and playing golf in his courtroom.***
My worthless brother-in-law (If you know him he probably owes you money) comes to mind.
He hasn’t worked since 1980 when he found he could get on the gov’t dole. He can do his own roofing, climb trees to cut limbs, crawl under houses, rebuild engines with no problem. Then to the door comes any stranger and suddenly out comes the cane and he hobbles to the door like he is on his last legs.
It burns me up every time I see him put on his act. Now, he actually is slightly crippled but still capable of some work but turns down all simple jobs offered to him.
“If they can be a violence threat or can afford to hire someone to do it for them, what the hell are they filing for SSI for in the first place?”
they are filing for mental disability
Great detailed reply - lawyerly in fact... The point is that when the Government passes laws that grant privileges to anyone, it is seldom if ever reprieved. That means that when Government (Congress or even States) pass laws granting monies to anyone, it is very unlikely that it will ever be changed (or at least canceled)... It might be changed at the margins, but eliminated, don’t bet on it.
The Utopias promised by the rats these past 80 years are unraveling and becoming the hells the rats were warned of.
Thanks... not so much lawyerly as "I work for SSA" :)
Other than a few wealthy people and well placed politicians who is really protected in our nanny state?
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