May 4th, 2012
The United States Social Security Administration (SSA) recently partnered with the Department of Defense to make access to disability benefits for wounded veterans and their family members less cumbersome. The SSA now has the ability to receive military medical records from multiple facilities using a single, centralized system. The newly implemented project was designed to speed up the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) application process for injured members of the nation’s military. According to Social Security Commissioner Michael J. Astrue, the partnership will also make the SSDI program more accurate and efficient.
The collaboration consolidates SSDI medical records requests at a single Department of Defense location that has access to the organization’s central database. The location then responds electronically to SSDI records requests that would previously have been sent to multiple locations. On average, Department of Defense medical records are now transmitted electronically to SSDI claims offices within 72 hours after receipt. Prior to implementation of the program, the median response time for paper medical files was approximately five weeks.
The partnership originally began as a pilot program in five states. On April 30, 2012, the rest of the nation joined Colorado, Oregon, North Carolina, Washington, and Virginia in receiving expedited military medical records. Benefits associated with the nationwide partnership include faster receipt of military medical records by SSDI examiners, increased efficiency for both agencies, fewer applicant consultative exams, and speedier SSDI application decisions for the nation’s wounded soldiers and their families. The SSA hopes to eventually utilize a completely automated medical information sharing system in the future.
Many people in the United States believe social security benefits are only available to the nation’s retired population. SSDI was established to provide financial assistance to disabled Americans who are unable to return to work for at least one year. If you have a physical or mental disability that has rendered you unable to work, you should discuss your situation with a skilled Boston social security disability attorney.
Contact Pulgini & Norton, LLP today if you are unable to work due to a temporary or permanent disability. Our knowledgeable Andover social security disability lawyers are available to help you file your SSDI application or appeal. At Pulgini & Norton, our dedicated attorneys will help you evaluate your disability claim, gather your medical evidence, and present your case to the SSA as favorably as possible. Our law firm assists the disabled with their social security benefit applications throughout the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. To discuss your SSDI claim in more detail with an experienced lawyer, call Pulgini & Norton at 781-843-2200. You may also contact our capable attorneys through the law firm’s website.
Additional Resources:Social Security and Department of Defense Implement New Process to Improve Efficiency for Wounded Warriors Applying for Disability Benefits , Social Security Administration Press Release dated April 30, 2012