Although we talk about the Social Security Disability process every week on this blog, it’s sometimes hard to remember that this process is a very emotional one. There are many individuals across the country who apply for disability benefits each year only to find out that they have been denied. For these individuals, the news can be extremely devastating, especially if they are dealing with a critical situation in terms of their finances.
A news source in another state recently detailed the struggle one man is having to receive benefits, and it’s particularly distressing. The man used to be an oil worker and a commercial fisherman. He is no longer able to do that job due to his disability. He cannot operate heavy machinery due to the various medications he is on.
He has been trying to get disability benefits since 2008. When he applied for benefits, he was denied because the administration told him he could medically still perform another job from a list of several thousand jobs that are outlined in the Dictionary of Occupational Titles. If an applicant is able to do one of those jobs, they are then judged as not being disabled.
The job that the state’s Office of Disability Adjudication and Review said he could do: egg-packer. The man said the letter he received said nothing about how to obtain this type of job or if any driving is involved, which he can’t do.
The man has already lost his home and is living with a friend who drives him to his medical appointments. He is still hoping to get disability benefits. According to the Social Security Administration, the mean wait time from application to decision is 506.5 days. Some individuals die before they ever get benefits. If you are struggling to secure disability benefits, an attorney may be able to help you navigate the appeals process.
