An article in the Rochester, New York, Daily Record quotes prominent Social Security lawyers as saying the proposed regulations will make it harder, not easier, for claimants to receive disability benefits. Excerpt:
The Commissioner of Social Security, Jo Anne B. Barnhart, has proposed new regulations for people applying for Social Security Disability benefits.
Barnhart stated the purpose of the proposed new regulations is to benefit applicants who are obviously disabled by identifying and referring their claims to special units so they can be handled quickly. Attorneys who represent claimants, however, say the new regulations will make it more difficult to receive benefits.
I believe these new regulations are taking rights away from claimants, said Rudolph N. Patterson, co-founder and board member of the National Organization of Social Security Claimants Representatives (NOSSCR). Up to now they’ve been on equal footing with the Social Security Administration. What will really happen is that people will be denied more quickly.
