Disabled And Waiting

(CBS)  This is the first part of a CBS News investigation into Social Security disability benefits.

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Each year, millions of people who are disabled from an accident or disease turn to the federal government for Social Security disability payments - a benefit that every worker who is declared disabled is eligible to receive. It's a 51-year-old government insurance program - a lifeline of sorts - that every worker pays for through that line-item on their pay stub, known as FICA.

But a two-month CBS News investigation reveals that safety net may not be there when you need it most.

"I always figured that I'd die in a fiery car wreck or something, never that I'd be disabled," 33-year-old Scott Watson told CBS News chief investigative correspondent Armen Keteyian.

Two years ago, a failed surgery left Watson with a fracture in his spinal cord. It turned his life upside down, leaving him unable to work in his job as a broadcast engineer.

"Everybody says, 'You gotta have a positive attitude,'" Watson said. "You know, and I say, 'Well, I am positive. I'm positive this is the end,' you know. I mean it's not going to get better."

Declared disabled by the state of Maryland, Watson was told he was "shoo-in" when he applied for federal disability last year, only to be turned down three months later on the grounds, according to federal guidelines, he wasn't disabled enough. Watson appealed, and was denied again.

He's one of 27,000 Maryland residents - 68 percent of all those who applied - to suffer such a fate.

Overall, two out of every three people who apply for federal disability benefits are rejected by a government agency that critics say is out of date, underfunded, and incapable of serving the exploding number of disabled Americans. Waiting times for a hearing in some cities are more than three years.

Linda Fullerton, an advocate for the disabled, told Keteyian: "I have people all the time writing to me, saying they are suicidal."

Fullerton's online support site is home to one horror story after another.

Reading from emails, she said: "Had to file bankruptcy to keep home. Losing home with four children."

A two-month CBS News investigation has found that over the last two years, at least 16,000 people fighting for disability benefits died while awaiting a decision.

Overall, the backlog of cases now stands at 750,000 - up 150 percent since 2000.

People wait an average of 520 days for a hearing on their claims.

People like Jerry Rice, who calls an abandoned tool shed home. When we found Rice, who suffers from mental illness, he'd been waiting for three years for his day in court.

"So. Jerry, this is how it ends up for you?" Keteyian asked.

"This is how it is," Rice replied. "I hope it's not how it ends up."

But he believes he deserves the disability?

"I'm not asking them to give me welfare," Rice said. "I'm just asking them to give me what they promised. Yeah, I deserve it."

"It's a mess from the time you apply - till the time you get a hearing," said attorney John Hogan, who has represented thousands of folks in Atlanta, the backlog capital of the nation.

"We're the furthest behind of any area of the country, it could take 2.5 years to get your hearing," Hogan said.

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FYI: Resources on Disability Benefits

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That's because there are some 24,000 cases waiting to be heard. And only about 15 local judges to handle them.

"We have a lot of room for improvement," said Social Security Commissioner Michael Astrue, who took over the federal disability program last year. He stepped up efforts to fix the system many call broken.

"So I think it's been broken the way a leg is broken," he said. "And it can heal. And it is healing."

Keteyian asked: "But what do you say to the people who have stood in that line, that three-year line?"

"I don't have a defense. I don't think it's a good thing. It don't think it should have been allowed to happen," Astrue said. "We're probably not gonna be able to drive back the backlog down at the arte that it went up. But we're sure as hell gonna try."

That's little consolation to the likes of Scott Watson, who has had to rely on his parents to simply survive.

"You pay into a system that you think is gonna help you in your time of need, and it doesn't even acknowledge that you even have a problem," Watson said.

[deathtrap237]

this is just another way of the decimation of America. Many of us are disabled, but see, you aren't an illegal immigrant, or something. I have waited over 3 years. I have multiple disabilities. I finally had my firsy hearing and was denied most of my rights to a fair hearing, the medical records went missing, that is the ones that I needed to help me, and the good ones were not given weight for unfair reasons, then the audio tape went missing, so it is again in reconsideration, over a year now, reapplied, denied again, and waiting for time in court again. But, just like all the jobs going oversease, a huge majority of Americans and businesses going bankrupt and closing, money going to illegal immigrants getting more benefits than the American people from what I have seen, doctors lying to patients and lying on records, america is losing every which way and loose, and as it was said on television that America must be put out of busness over a year ago. The only thing Americans can do is, buy American products, don't speak to people from other nations where business is concerned, speak to an AMerican only, in America, stand firm, expect american resources be used to make everything in America by Americans will get the jobs back. But as long as the trillions of dollars are sent to help those against the USA, well, it is what it appears. Genocide of the American People and slavery for our children that are allowed to live. It all points that way. We can call every organozation, every Congressman, Senator, Governor, everyone, and they all are tight lipped about it. See, something bad is coming, many are afraid to think of it, many are horrified, many are in denial, and many who are working are in ignorance. Apathy and Complacency is still a continuing factor, those who used to speak up have stopped for they have either been threatened or just gave up on a hopeless cause and they are just trying to find a way to survive, you know, the millionaires. These are the worst days for America, and unless Americans make a stand on these principles, and they turn back to the U S Constitution which was founded on The Ten Commandments, and people pray, I doubt that there will be any divine providence anymore for America, unless there is a big surorise awaiting for everyone. There are millions comteplating suicide for they see no hope and live in despair, divorce is escalated, wives are hating their husbands out of fear, and again, no one in government in any party are saying what nees to be said to reboot this nation and I am not as smart as they are, and they know what would put America back on her feet, but no one is speaking about it, which can onlt mean one thing. It isn't going to happen.
My advice for all of us disabled, do what we must to survive, don't hurt people, don't eat them when you have gone a month withour food like humans have done since the beginning of starvation. Die with dignity. But fight tooth and nail and make it your goal everyday in life to spread the word as to what it takes to take America back, that being the People, and the way of life we should have stuck with regarding our orgins and beliefs. Maybe there will be enough leaders with the big ones to make a stand and try to save America, but I just don't know. But I am not sure that many of us are going to get disability anymore and it is a genocide tactic, like taking away jobs, food, starvation, etc etc. Yep. I am depressed, and have had 4 years of being out of work to lose part of it for sure. I am told, hang in there, have faith. Well, can;t eat hanging in there nor does hanging in there put gas in the car, buy meds, pay bills, even buy toilet paper. I sa it as it is. But I will never give up. And if your wife turns on you, then if she has a better way then it may be better to let her go that way rather than be full of fear and hate and anger. Maybe she will meet someone who is finacially better off, not disabled, whatever, but this storm is just beginning, and it will hit every American no matter the wealth, unless a few good American men make a stand to stop it and the People of America make a stand as well. Sorry I coldn't get you the answer you wanted to hear. I haven't found one yet either. Doesn't sound like anyone else has either. The good days are gone. I doubt there is one 5 star general with power willing to do what it takes to save this nation. And lets be clear on something, this does go to the Presidency, but this began long ago, and the agenda has been around before he was born. I just wonder, while all our presidents that are living still, see hte devastation, if they actaully are prepared to pay the price. Eternally.

[thornn2]

I am 58 years old and have worked for 41 years paying into the socail security system. My right hand was cut off in a punch press accident and in 2001 i went paralized in my left arm due to ostioartitis. Ihad an operation to install a metal plate in my neck to help my restore my arm, I regained parcial use of my arm but left in continous pain. I have wear a back brace for the lower back and my knees are going bad.
Social Security has denied my claim twice and I will now have a hearing before a Judge.
I have coming to understand that their job is not to help disabled workers but to stop them from getting SSDI.
I had to get a lawyer for this hearing and he was stunned that I was denied SSDI.
At least being totally disabled I am not paying into the social security system any more.

[uanir12b]

what is really sad is i see the people at the slum apartment across the street . they have husbands from mexico who can not speak english and my mexican wife (native american) can only half understand them .
they work at the slum owners resturant and drive new vehicles , get housing assistance , food stamps and medicade . All paid in FOOL by us the American people ! *** is really going on ?

[uanir12b]

oh and i forgot memory impairment , migraines from hell, black outs , broken back , and two aortic valve replacements !Told i can still work ;).
Go fiqure so i applied at local ssa and was not HIRED , LOL

[uanir12b]

in dec of 80 i was involved as a passenger in auto wreck severe head trauma , re-attached left hand , nerve damage in right , broken jaw .
was denied and managed to go back to work in oilfield after ten months self therapy, on jan. 23/1982 drunk hits me head-on while i am riding motorcycle ,again reattach left hand , left hip bolted together , severe head tramua , right foot crushed , both hips fractured , scrotum , long bone fractures , DIC , memory loss ,addicted to hospital meds(no rehab help)...... . I , at 73lbs. in a wheel chair needing more surgery apply for ssi and emergency food stamps and am told i can still work .
28 yrs and numerous denials later i request my file in preperation for a hearing where i am representing myself , a fool for a lawyer is better than the bozos i have met ! When i recieve the ssa file i find that a Judges order had been changed from remanded to dismissed this starts me to comparing my records with ssa records(some have been mysteriously purged) and there are numerous errors that change the facts of my disabilities . i have contacted the OIG and they are investigating , so i am told , no way to confirm .
People KEEP all records of dealings with the ssa ALL records send everything to them certified and NEVER , NEVER send the original as they tell you to , NEVER ! certified copies ONLY !
YOU should not have to hire an attorney to recieve entitled help from a government of the people , for the people and by the people ! If you do then you are not in a country of for or by the people .
United we State the truth and demand it be SO !!
Never break just bend far enough to slap the crap out of them .
We will not accept LESS than the most for the least of US Americans united we are ! yea, yea , amen

[viper581plo]

I want to know WHERE THE HE** IS MY BAILOUT MONEY?

[viper581plo]

I am a 51 year old disabled man. I was working since I was 15 years old. I was disabled in an auto accident which causes me pain in my lower back 24 hours a day, the medications ( which I can't afford) I must take just make the pain where I am just able to stand it. I also have other health problems to numerous to talk about at this time. It took almost 4 year before I was declared permanently disabled. I had to file bankruptcy and I lost everything I had, because I couldn't afford my apartment or my bills I had at the time. Now I just can't afford my medications, my doctors or the $800.00 I owe on my wheelchair after medicare paid their part. I am soon to be homeless because my friend is selling the house I live in now and my friend is moving into a seniors only one bedroom apartment. I have been looking at apartment after apartment and I can not afford any of them. I have tried to get into assisted living facilities for over 2 years now. they either cost way more than I make or they have a 2 to 5 year waiting period or my credit is not good enough to get in. I am so PO- ed that no one will even try to help me not even Eugene Delgaudio, Sterling District Supervisor, Loudoun County, Virginia that my friend called and emailed. They give dogs a place to stay but could care less about me and I now see I am not alone. People should not be treated like this.

[rkartist]

The latest game the government is playing now is stealing our stimulus checks. What does it say about a nation when it robs from the poorest citizens and middle class to prop up corrupt companies that have run themselves and the nations economy into the ground. I don't think we have the slightest chance anymore of avoiding a full blown depression. As Thomas Jefferson once said... "A departure from principle in one instance becomes a precedent for a second; that second for a third; and so on, till the bulk of the society is reduced to be mere automatons of misery, to have no sensibilities left but for sin and suffering."

[skotw]

To dulcinea8

I can understand where you are coming from but you also have to understand that in many cases someone, such as myself, may one day be able to recover. Medicine is always advancing, just think about all the progress that has been made in the last 30 years. If I do make it back to a level where I could return to work I would jump back in with both feet. I don''t want a handout and I worked hard so that my wife could be a stay at home mom. But now that has all changed. I had finally reached the peak of my career and could have gotten a job in any city in the world. I loved what I was doing. This small segment didn''t really describe all of the issues that I am facing. Because of my broken back (if you look at a clock a normal spine should go from 6 O''clock to 12 O''clock, mine goes from 6 O''clock to 2 O''clock),Caude Aquina Syndrom, and extensive nerve damage I suffer constant severe pain and am forced to take tons of medications. One of the side-affects of all those medications is the same as if you were to take 3 shots of NyQuil everyday. In addition to me being like zombie all the time I am unable to sit, stand, or lie down for any extended period of time because of the pain. All of this started with numb feet and I never had back pain and even now the pain I feel in my torso isn''t traditional back pain, it is pain from all of the muscles trying to deal with being constantly in the wrong position. It''s basically a "cholly-horse" in my entire torso all the time.

[life_writer]

oslone: You said:"and it is the ability of individuals to draw disability payments if they have the necessary funds to hire the right attorney and procure the right doctor. Evidently for the right sum disability benefits can be obtained promptly."

Not true!! There is normally no upfront attorney fee if we choose to be represented for a disability claim. If we win, our attorney gets a huge chunk of our back pay, usually within days or a few weeks, while we wait months for our first monthly check, and sometimes more than 6 months for a portion of our greatly reduced back pay. And doctors- we rack up tens of thousands in unpaid/pastdue bills.

If we had the "necessary funds", would we really be on disability?

Come on now. Surely you jest.

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