Since our story "Denied for Disability" aired earlier this month so many of you have asked for our help with your disability claim. Well we have good news for applicants who have waited more than 2 years for their hearing. In the last few weeks Greenville's hearing office has made decisions on a record number of cases and nearly 1000 more have been moved to other offices to get processed faster. Dianne Derby has more in this follow up to a 7 On Your Side Problem Solver "Denied for Disability".
They are the faces of disability we've shown you over the last year...a diabetic with poor circulation in her feet who survived two heart attacks, a woman suffering from a seizure disorder, and a 32-year-old dying of cancer. In each case the Social Security Administration said these women could work. They say they can't and their long wait for their day in court to prove it was cut to just weeks with the help of 7 On Your Side.
"I think nobody should have to wait that long to see anybody especially when they have medical problems that need to be taken care of," said applicant Janice Reynolds.
"I can't live off of family and friends for the rest of my life there's just no way," said applicant Jennifer Satterfield.
"It is a waiting game and a paper pushing game," said applicant Penny Knight.
And when we talked to the SSA for a story that aired earlier this month they said they would be transferring cases to faster hearing offices. At the time they said Greenville was close to last place out of more than 140 hearing offices in the country taking more than 2 years on average to process cases.
Here's the big news...since our story aired Greenville processed so many cases they jumped to second place. Plus they've moved nearly 1000 cases waiting more than 2 years to other hearing offices.
"This is impressive because the government doesn't normally move quickly on anything there's usually red tape budgetary issues," said disability attorney Leah Broker.
Broker says each day she finds out more of her clients are having their cases moved.
"Now we know there will be a hearing soon and we're able to tell our clients they don't have to wait two and a half years which is what we had to tell them realistically before this," said Broker.
"It could mean that it's going to be approved 'on the record' which means there's enough evidence to approve them without a hearing or it may mean they get scheduled for a video hearing with a judge somewhere else," Broker said.
It's a big deal for people who've waited so long to get their voices heard.
If your case has been moved the SSA says they will notify you in writing.
Read more here:
Problem Solver: Social Security Disability Backlog
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