Title
Urging the Social Security Administration (SSA) to withdraw its proposed rule to review disability benefit eligibility every two years, which would put thousands of people in danger of losing their benefits over the next ten years in the City of Philadelphia, and millions of people at risk across the United States, and expressing opposition to the proposed rule as inhumane and contrary to public health.
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WHEREAS, The Social Security Disability program has served as an invaluable protection for people with serious life-altering disabilities since its creation. Over 133,000 Philadelphians currently rely on Social Security Disability benefits to afford their basic food, shelter, utilities, and necessities of life, including over 16,000 children. Countless more Philadelphia residents are in need of these benefits or are awaiting review of their application; and
WHEREAS, Under current law, it can take years to qualify for disability benefits according to stringent procedures and rules, with more than sixty percent of applicants initially denied. Even after qualification, people face continuing disability reviews (CDRs), or routine reviews to see if they still meet the disability standard. If medical improvement is expected, SSA will review the claim in six to eighteen months. If medical improvement is deemed possible, SSA will review the claim every three years. If medical improvement is not expected, SSA will review the claim every five to seven years; and
WHEREAS, On November 16, 2019, the Social Security Administration released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking - a new proposed regulation. The proposed rule would change how often most people receiving Social Security disability benefits would have their disabilities reviewed; and
WHEREAS, Under the proposed rule, SSA would review most people every two years, regardless of the severity or permanency of their disability. SSA plans to conduct an additional 1.1 million full medical reviews over the next ten ...
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