Hundreds of Disability Cases suspended

[piasabird]

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/tangled-fraud-probe-100s-face-loss-disability-checks-44619840

Tangled in Fraud Probe, 100s Face Loss of Disability Checks

They have one thing in common: They hired attorney Eric C. Conn, a flamboyant master marketer who billed himself "Mr. Social Security." For years he clogged the highways with neon yellow billboards promising to help people get what they deserved from the government. Too bad all their cases are part of a fraud conviction.

Now none of their old evidence is worth a hill of beans and they all are losing their disability checks. None of the doctor's this man used can be trusted and Disability is not accepting any of their old evidence as proof. If they dont have backdated evidence, they have to pay all that money back to the government.

I feel for these people because some of them might actually have a valid case. When my wife filed for disability it was disapproved and we just appealed ourselves and kept our own money and it eventually was approved. However, we thought about getting a lawyer.

Probably a lot of people had bogus claims like for people with slight cases of depression or people that just cant find a job. This is creating a real mess. It pays to do everything legally.

Never trust a lawyer and always see your own doctors for medical evidence.

 

[Sonikku]

What is unfortunate is that the people reliant on SS that actually have a legit case could wait years on the application and appeals process before getting it back.

 

[sandorski]

Ouch.

 

[MongGrel]

Kinda sucks I guess, my back is so screwed up I probably should have applied for disability years ago and I never have.

Even have cashed in one of my retirement funds and receive no federal aid for the taxes I've paid the last 40 years or so

 

[pcgeek11]

It is sad that some deserving people will probably get screwed. More cheaters will lose the disability they never deserved however. We should all blame the responsible person which is the low life lawyer.

 

[madoka]

You know, if you were using this guy for your case, then it probably wasn't really legit to being with. He was like a real life Saul Goodman,

 

[Puffnstuff]

This situation is very sad for those who've been affected by the unscrupulous behavior of this man and those he's influenced to aid and abet him. The fact that he could sway an ALJ to help him speaks volumes to how effective his powers of persuasion are.

 

[ModerateRepZero]

Sad, but that is why people should do their research on who they trust to prepare work for them, whether it's tax prep, social security benefits, or something else.

The statistic I've heard is 40% of people are approved for Social Security disability the first time, so not everyone gets it.

 

[Jhhnn]

From the article-

Critics call it a secret welfare program that morphed over the decades from serving the truly disabled to aiding the unemployable: the uneducated, the frail, the unfortunates who live in places where a rotting economy relies on back-breaking labor.

Of course it is, stupid bastards. It's the American people & places that our Job Creators left behind.

 

[Jhhnn]

Sad, but that is why people should do their research on who they trust to prepare work for them, whether it's tax prep, social security benefits, or something else.

Conn has a strong record of delivering to his clients. He gave people reason to trust him. It's not like he has a lot of competition in that neck of the woods, either.

The statistic I've heard is 40% of people are approved for Social Security disability the first time, so not everyone gets it.

The linked article says ~75% refusal on the first try.

There's enough pride in people, particularly the people in the area, that they won't apply for disability other than as a last resort.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Sad, but that is why people should do their research on who they trust to prepare work for them, whether it's tax prep, social security benefits, or something else.

The statistic I've heard is 40% of people are approved for Social Security disability the first time, so not everyone gets it.

This is absolutely false. It is sop that everyone is automatically denied their initial application.

 

[child of wonder]

Despicable.

My 49 year old sister in law managed to get on SS Disability after several attempts because of back pain. Eventually she did, but she was assigned a case worker who was responsible for managing her finances. After her subsidized rent, electricity, and gas was paid then her $25/mo DSL internet, $40/mo cell phone, and $100/mo towards old debts, they gave her the remaining $400 to live on each month.

She then discovered that if she was married, the state could no longer control her finances and, wouldn't you know it, she found a nice man to marry her within months! And by golly she pushed him away, they've been separated for years, and she won't go through with a divorce.

Now she's working part time as a security guard, getting her disability checks, and there's no one to oversee her finances!

 

[FelixDeCat]

Despicable.

My 49 year old sister in law managed to get on SS Disability after several attempts because of back pain. Eventually she did, but she was assigned a case worker who was responsible for managing her finances. After her subsidized rent, electricity, and gas was paid then her $25/mo DSL internet, $40/mo cell phone, and $100/mo towards old debts, they gave her the remaining $400 to live on each month.

She then discovered that if she was married, the state could no longer control her finances and, wouldn't you know it, she found a nice man to marry her within months! And by golly she pushed him away, they've been separated for years, and she won't go through with a divorce.

Now she's working part time as a security guard, getting her disability checks, and there's no one to oversee her finances!

Unfortunately lots of people scam the SS. Some deserve it and some don't. Anyone who can still earn a living should not be getting payments.

 

[JSt0rm]

All poors and those with afflictions should die.

 

[FelixDeCat]

All poors and those with afflictions should die.

Are you smoking pot? What would make you say this?

Reviewing cases for fraud is prudent and wise.

 

[brycejones]

Felix appears to have watched a few too many 50's propaganda movies about pot.

 

[Jhhnn]

Unfortunately lots of people scam the SS. Some deserve it and some don't. Anyone who can still earn a living should not be getting payments.

So, who's going to hire them? Or does that not matter?

 

[JSt0rm]

Are you smoking pot? What would make you say this?

Reviewing cases for fraud is prudent and wise.

We must kill all religious people AND anyone with extreme viewpoints.

 

[1prophet]

Sounds similar to Madoff, were the government didn't just go after Madoff but all the people that invested in his ponzi scheme regardless if they knew he was fraud or not.

 

[hal2kilo]

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/tangled-fraud-probe-100s-face-loss-disability-checks-44619840

Tangled in Fraud Probe, 100s Face Loss of Disability Checks

They have one thing in common: They hired attorney Eric C. Conn, a flamboyant master marketer who billed himself "Mr. Social Security." For years he clogged the highways with neon yellow billboards promising to help people get what they deserved from the government. Too bad all their cases are part of a fraud conviction.

Now none of their old evidence is worth a hill of beans and they all are losing their disability checks. None of the doctor's this man used can be trusted and Disability is not accepting any of their old evidence as proof. If they dont have backdated evidence, they have to pay all that money back to the government.

I feel for these people because some of them might actually have a valid case. When my wife filed for disability it was disapproved and we just appealed ourselves and kept our own money and it eventually was approved. However, we thought about getting a lawyer.

Probably a lot of people had bogus claims like for people with slight cases of depression or people that just cant find a job. This is creating a real mess. It pays to do everything legally.

Never trust a lawyer and always see your own doctors for medical evidence.

This is one of the things driving SS broke. I have an acquaintance that instead of proving that after working as a tile tradesman for years, that he has bad knees and can't work anymore, it was easier to get disability if you claimed that you were an alcoholic or depressed. Seems there's a mill in our area to go to for that.

 

[poofyhairguy]

So, who's going to hire them? Or does that not matter?

Serious question-

What is wrong with expecting people with low skill levels or bad employment prospects to move to areas of lower unemployment to make a better life for themselves? Is it a right to be able to make a living at any skill level in every part of America?

If it makes you feel better I would ask rural rednecks who got Trump elected the same thing.

The right to live where you want to live sounds like a European ideal, not an American one.