THIS IS A PRESS RELEASE FROM THE OFFICE OF OHIO CONGRESSMAN CHARLIE WILSON.

Washington, D.C. – Out of concern for disabled workers, Congressman Charlie Wilson (OH-6) held a press conference in Bridgeport, Ohio this morning to highlight the deplorable wait that disabled workers endure before they begin receiving their Social Security Disability payments.

Recently, CBS Evening News ran a story about the Social Security Administration. It was called “Failing the Disabled” and it reported that the Social Security Administration is denying justified disability claims.

In fact, the two-month long investigation concluded that Social Security examiners are encouraged to deny disability claims. The report said that two-thirds of all applicants denied last year—nearly a million people—gave up after being turned down the first time.

“Bear in mind, these disabled workers aren’t looking for a government handout,” Wilson said. “In fact, these are benefits that American workers have paid for. This is a system we’ve all been paying into since we collected our first paycheck.”

“We are failing the disabled,” Wilson added. “People are getting hurt. This is an example of how the government bureaucracy is broken.”

Unfortunately, the broken system doesn’t stop there. Those who don’t give up and decide to appeal for their disability benefits, wait for about two years for a hearing. Meanwhile, they are unable to work and therefore have no income. During that terrible wait some of the disabled workers lose their homes, fall behind on utility payments, end up on food stamps, and are even forced into bankruptcy.

“It’s unconscionable. It’s their money.” Wilson said.

Wilson told reporters that he recently sent a letter to the Commissioner of Social Security.

“I want a response to the allegations in the CBS report. I also asked what steps the commissioner is taking to ensure better consideration of people’s claims.

Wilson sent the letter at the end of January. To date, he has not had a response.

Tom Sell, former Union plumber, joined Congressman Wilson at the press conference. Sell waited more than 2 years for his disability payments despite being legally blind in one eye and severely impaired in the other eye due to macular degeneration. By the time he got his first disability check, foreclosure proceedings had begun on Sell’s house.

Sell said he’s telling his story with the hope that he can help things change so that other disabled workers don’t have to wait as long.

Wilson went on to explain that he’d heard from many constituents and interest groups since he sent his letter to the Social Security Administration.

Wilson explained that adding insult to injury – after a disabled worker goes through this entire process and is approved to receive disability, there’s another waiting period. Eligibility for monthly S-S-D-I benefits does not begin until five months after Social Security determines the onset of disability.

Recently Senator Sherrod Brown (OH) introduced a bill to eliminate that five month waiting period for the terminally ill.

“I am now looking into introducing a companion bill in the House. I think it is unethical that any worker who has paid into Social Security gets denied the benefits while dying because they are made to wait five months,” Wilson said.