Social Security Disability SSI complaints   Here's a short list of complaints and/or comments regarding the Social Security Disability, SSI disability claim process that a number of individuals have written. 1. "It's a shame that they take it out of your paycheck w/ no problem!!! Then they make you fight your butt off to get it when anyone really needs it!" Yes, it's true that the social security retirement and disability system is compulsory not voluntary, meaning that FICA taxes are taken out of a person's paycheck. Even self-employed individuals must pay into the system or else not be covered for social security retirement or Social Security Disability benefits. Regarding having a system that requires a person to prove that they are disabled according to SSA standards, it's logical that it would be this way. After all, the federal disability system is not based on temporary disability or partial disability. To qualify for disability benefits that are ongoing, a person's condition must be severe enough that it A) rules out the ability to work at a substantial and gainful level and B) lasts at least one full year. 2. "Did anyone know that if you called your city council person that there is a special department that makes sure that your case is moving alone. They will not get the disability for you but will help to make sure you are represented and moved along quicker." Personally, I am not aware of city municipalities (or city/country politicians that are associated with them) that assist claimants with their Social Security Disability or SSI cases. However, I would not be surprised if this is the case in larger metropolitan areas. As the writer indicated, it is most likely true that they either conduct inquiries on cases or provide lists of local disability representatives. With regard to inquiries, this is exactly the kind of assistance that one could hope to receive from a senator or congressman's office. These are known as congressional inquiries and they basically amount to a status inquiry on someone's case. Such inquiries typically have little effect when an SSD or SSI claim is being worked on by a disability examiner. However, if a case has been pending for quite a long time at a disability hearing office, a congressional inquiry may help to move the hearing request along a bit faster. On the subject of providing the names of local disability representatives, this is something that was once taboo for social security field offices. Long ago, they kept lists of disability attorneys to provide to applicants. Then, amid cries of favoritism, the lists were done away with. Now, from what I've heard from current social security employees, these lists are coming back into existence. 3. "I have been waitin for 9 mos. just to find out that I got denied...I am goin to go thru the appeals process that will take at least a yr. in my state just to get a hearing date...." It used to be the case years ago that after a request for a disability hearing was submitted, a claimant might reasonably expect to receive notification of a scheduled hearing three to five months later. That is no longer the case due to A) increasing numbers of disability claims, B) manpower shortages in the disability system at both the state and federal level, and C) ineptitude on the part of social security administration managers (i.e. failed initiatives that were unrealistic, doomed to fail, and only compounded problems rather than solve them). About the Author: Tim Moore is a former Social Security Disability Examiner in North Carolina, has been interviewed by the NY Times and the LA Times on the disability system, and is an Accredited Disability Representative (ADR) in North Carolina. 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