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Originally Posted by LittleLegs
Thanks again on all your help in finally in finally getting results in getting SSA to accept my application after five long months. After long discussions with SSA Branch office, They did call and tell me they found my missing Medical Release Form, but would not elaborate where it was. My claim did get completed on their level and sent on to the next level. I did receive info that this was done from their Pennsylvania office and medical information was requested and sent from my doctors. We are moving forward. I did ask for manager's, along with DDS and Analyst names and phone numbers. I was told, "We do not give out that information anymore." They cited that information could put DDS, Analyst and managers in harms way." They still refused to release that info, now I feel they are becoming another NSA. To all out there, keep demanding this info as we have to hold someone accountable for their unprofessional work. We are paying for them out of our taxes. Write your Federal Congressman and Senator and request this change in attitude. I did have a chat with my counselor and informed her, her information was incorrect on not calling to check status. We now have a better understanding and I hope she changes her recomendations to her clients. The news media, I am going to hold on that topic for a short and give a complete report to the reporter when I am complete with this claim. I feel the more data I compile will bring changes with SSA and become more friendly and accountable. To all again, Thank you in showing me how to become my own advocate. I learned so much from you.  |
At some point, you may get correspondence from the DDS analyst so the name will be provided to you at that point.
As far as you believing that your anecdotal story will in and of itself create changes in SSA, I think that is a very optimistic (and unrealistic) attitude. If you search, you will find hundreds, probably thousands, even tens of thousands of people who don't like how their claim was handled. In terms of accountability, what exactly would you want? You want SSA to provide you with detailed step by step report of which employee did what on what day and how they didn't do this according to policy but how they did this according to policy. And if one employee missed a step, or didn't take the right action, do you think you are entitled to know who they are and how they were disciplined? Have you given any thought to how much time it would even take to account to you? This is an agency that has NEVER (IMO) been staffed sufficiently to do the workload timely, full of people who work hard all day and never catch up, complete with a mix of antique computer systems and modern computer systems that are all designed by different computer geeks with little to no cohesion in even the simplest task of how a Social Security number gets entered (111-22-3333 or 111223333) or the same format for dates.
Yes, claims fall through the cracks in the system. If you are going to advocate for changes, I think you should advocate for simplification of policies which reduce the number of "but my case is special because..." as well as providing more employees to do the job.
But we are in an era of limiting staff and increasing technology(do it yourself applications and benefit verification on the internet, for instance) and increasing disability applications because of the increase in retirement age and lots of attorneys who make a living at reopening old claims, so I think quality work will get worse long before it gets better, and expecting personal service is going by the wayside.
Keep working at being your own advocate in order to keep your claim moving through the morass of backlogs and policies in SSA.