Disability Happens ••> Reform bill waves waiting period for terminally ill

Reform bill waves waiting period for terminally ill

June 16th, 2007 by Richard Brassaw

Veteran, Joeseph H. Seall, qualified for Social Security disability benefits. Unfortunately, he did not live long enough to make it past the required 5-month waiting period. Two Congressmen, Chip Pickering (R-MS) and Congressman Earl Pomeroy (D-ND), jointly introduced the Joseph H. Seall Act of 2007 (HR 2713).

Congressman Pickering saw Seall as a man who served his country, worked hard his entire life. When Seall was diagnosed with terminal cancer he was approved for disability benefits, but because of bureaucratic rules his first payment did not arrive until after his death.

The Pickering-Pomeroy legislation will allow a Social Security Commissioner to waive the 5-month waiting period for a terminally ill beneficiary.

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Category : Social Security Disability

One Response to “Reform bill waves waiting period for terminally ill”

Darlene D. Brideau, on August 27th, 2007 at 6:01 am Said:

My brother is in a similar position in NY. Hi is 53 years old and a veteran. He was diagnosed with terminal cancer on April 28, 2007 and was approved to receive Social Security Disability on November 2007.

His cancer is too aggressive and it is unlikely that he will make it till then. His circumstances are a little different though.

Yes, he contributed all his life to social security, but prior to his diagnosis this year he was at a new job 2 days less than the 90 [day qualifying] period to receive any company benefits, such as short term disability which would allow him to get some income pending his receipt of the SSD. Just prior to that he was in Temp positions that provided no benefits. Given he worked without interruptions he cannot now claim an “unsuccessful work attempt” which would start the clock from the previous non-work period. So now he is in a catch-22 and has no income.

I am VERY ANGRY that our system places these added burdens of financial worries on top of having to deal with the worries of dying and leaving their families fatherless, and who have contributed to a financial system that is supposed to take [care] of them in their time of need. WHERE IS OUR COUNTRY WHEN PEOPLE SUCH AS MY BROTHER NEED IT TO SUPPORT THEMSELVES AND ARE TOO PROUD TO TAKE FROM OTHERS AND WHO HAVE A RIGHT TO GET THE MONEY THEY PUT IN TO THE SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEMS AND WITHOUT A TIME LIMIT GIVEN THE DIAGNOSIS IS TERMINAL. TERMINAL IS TERMINAL. THEY SHOULD NOT HAVE TO WAIT. THEY SHOULD HAVE THE MONEY THE NEXT CYCLE THE SS CHECKS ARE ISSUED. I PLANNED TO FIGHT THIS, BUT SAW THIS BILL ON THE INTERNET. A NOTE TO ALL CONGRESS PEOPLE - THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE WELL BEFORE NOW. WHERE IS THE SUPPORT TO OUR DYING PEOPLE AT HOME?