Wait Times for a Decision in Michigan Social Security Cases

March 11, 2012
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Here are the hearing times process numbers for a the offices where I have most of my hearings.  According to Social Security, these numbers represent the “average number of days until final disposition of the hearing request.”  You can check all of the hearing office processing times at the following link, by clicking here to access [...]

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What about the Freedom of Information Act?

December 23, 2011
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The Problem The Office of Disability Adjudication and Review (ODAR) has a new policy that prohibits releasing the name of the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) assigned to hear a case until the day of the hearing.  Attorneys for disabled individuals seem to be universally against this foolish policy. My Solution Use the Freedom of Information [...]

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Open Government my SSA

December 19, 2011
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Have you even been punished for something you didn’t do?  Parents and teachers have been guilty of the punish-everybody-for-the-misdeeds-of-a-few since … well, forever.  Sometimes it works.  The undesired behavior is eliminated, and the authority figure can pat themselves on the back for a job well done.  Other times, the punishment is so ill-conceived that one Michigan [...]

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Should I Apply for State Disability?

December 3, 2011
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If you live in Michigan and are applying for Social Security Disability or SSI, you should strongly consider applying for Michigan State Disability Assistance (“SDA”).  This is a state-run program that provides medical insurance and cash benefits if you are approved.  The main difference between the two programs is that to get approved for SDA, [...]

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Wait Times for Social Security Disability and SSI appeals in Michigan

November 24, 2011
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Wait times in Michigan are all over the map, according to a recent Social Security report accessed on November 24, 2011. Detroit: 293 days.  37th out of 161 offices. Flint: 304days.  44th out of 161 offices. Grand Rapids: 451 days.  160th out of 161 offices. Lansing: 292 days.  36th out of 161 offices. Livonia: 291 days.  34th out of 161 offices. [...]

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(Non) Adversarial Social Security Disability Hearings

October 13, 2011
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I have already written (here and here) about Senator Coburn’s efforts to reduce the federal budget by weakening the very minimal safety net provided by Social Security disability and SSI benefits. In Michigan, after Social Security denies an application, many clients choose to appeal the denial to an impartial Administrative Law Judge.  After a year [...]

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Senator Coburn’s Misguided Opinions on Social Security

October 10, 2011
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I just can’t get enough of Senator Coburn’s Back in Black publication. You know, the 600 page report that seeks to reduce wasteful government spending and get the federal budget under control.  Just to be clear, I do not dislike all of his ideas.  I am fully in favor of eliminating reconsideration nationwide.  Thankfully reconsideration [...]

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Continuing Disability Reviews – A Senator’s Plan to Save Money

October 7, 2011
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So I have been one Senator’s plan to restore fiscal balance to the government by finding exciting new ways to save the government money (I know, I know, I need a some more interesting things to do besides read a 600 page deficit reduction plan). One idea seems particularly troubling to social security recipients. That [...]

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At Least Show Up

June 30, 2011
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Today while I was waiting between hearings I overheard an ALJ. He was telling the the hearing monitor that he hoped that the scheduled claimant was going to appear. He wanted to approve her case, and had one simple question for her. I don’t know what that question was, but I felt bad that some [...]

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The Social Security Denial Letter

February 24, 2011

In Michigan, the vast majority of individuals who apply for SSI and/or Disability are denied on the initial application.  A typical application takes between 4 and 6 months to process.  In my experience, the typical Notice of Disapproved Claim comes in an envelope from Baltimore, and looks like this: When you open the envelope, you [...]

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