Fox News Reports on Social Security's Possible Insolvency

 Here is an interesting article from Fox New's website:

 Social Security Disability Insurance on Brink of Insolvency

Link to Original article:  http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/08/21/social-security-disability-insurance-on-brink-insolvency/
Full Text Listed below. 

Published August 21, 2011 | Associated Press

WASHINGTON -- Laid-off workers and aging baby boomers are flooding Social Security's disability program with benefit claims, pushing the financially strapped system toward the brink of insolvency.

Applications are up nearly 50 percent over a decade ago as people with disabilities lose their jobs and can't find new ones in an economy that has shed nearly 7 million jobs.

The stampede for benefits is adding to a growing backlog of applicants -- many wait two years or more before their cases are resolved -- and worsening the financial problems of a program that's been running in the red for years.

New congressional estimates say the trust fund that supports Social Security disability will run out of money by 2017, leaving the program unable to pay full benefits, unless Congress acts. About two decades later, Social Security's much larger retirement fund is projected to run dry as well.

Much of the focus in Washington has been on fixing Social Security's retirement system. Proposals range from raising the retirement age to means-testing benefits for wealthy retirees. But the disability system is in much worse shape and its problems defy easy solutions.

The trustees who oversee Social Security are urging Congress to shore up the disability system by reallocating money from the retirement program, just as lawmakers did in 1994. That, however, would provide only short-term relief at the expense of weakening the retirement program.

Claims for disability benefits typically increase in a bad economy because many disabled people get laid off and can't find a new job. This year, about 3.3 million people are expected to apply for federal disability benefits. That's 700,000 more than in 2008 and 1 million more than a decade ago.

"It's primarily economic desperation," Social Security Commissioner Michael Astrue said in an interview. "People on the margins who get bad news in terms of a layoff and have no other place to go and they take a shot at disability,"

All rights to Fox News and AP.

For assistance with your Long Term Disability claim, ERISA Disability benefit claim, Tampa / St. Petersburg Social Security Disability claim, or Veterans Disability compensation or pension claim, call Disability Lawyer John Tucker at (866) 282-5260.

A look at Social Security's Disability Program

Some interesting statistics thanks to an article from the Washington Post's website, August 21, 2011 edition. 

By Associated Press, Updated: Sunday, August 21, 10:31 AM

WASHINGTON — A look at Social Security’s disability program:

About 13.6 million people receive federal disability benefits.

—7.6 million receive Social Security disability.

—4.4 million receive Supplemental Security Income.

—1.6 million receive both.

Social Security Disability:

—Reserved for people with a substantial work history.

—Average monthly payment: $927

—Financing: A portion of Social Security payroll taxes (the rest goes to the retirement fund).

—Payroll taxes collected for disability program in 2010: $93 billion.

—Total benefits paid in 2010: $124 billion.

—Assets in Social Security disability trust fund at end of 2010: $180 billion.

—Year when trust fund projected to be exhausted: 2017.

Supplemental Security Income:

—Reserved for the very poor.

—Average monthly payment: $500.

—Maximum monthly payment: $674 for individuals, $1,011 for couples.

—Many states provide additional payments.

—Financing: General revenue funds.

—Total benefits paid in 2010: $48 billion.

For the original web page:  http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/a-look-at-social-securitys-disability-program/2011/08/21/gIQAJlTHUJ_story.html

All rights reserved. For assistance with your Long Term Disability claim, ERISA Disability benefit claim, Social Security Disability claim in Florida, or Veterans Disability compensation or pension claim, call Disability Lawyer John Tucker at (866) 282-5260.

2011 Edition of Federal Benefits for Veterans, Dependents & Survivors Booklet Released

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has released the 2011 edition of Federal Benefits for Veterans, Dependents and Survivors. This publication has information about health care, pensions, education and training, home loans, life insurance, transition assistance and how to appeal a decision on a claim for benefits.


If you have been denied VA Service-Connected Compensation benefits, call Disability Lawyer John Tucker at (866) 282-5260. Proudly representing veterans in every state in the U.S.A.

VA Bay Pines Medical Center to Get New Director

The VA Medical Center at Bay Pines is getting a new director.  Wanda Mims, who currently oversees VA facilities in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, has been named to the post.  Ms. Mims replaces Wallace Hopkins who retired after 35 years of service to the VA. 

The Bay Pines VAMC rests on a beautiful campus on Florida's west coast in Pinellas County, situated between Clearwater and St. Petersburg.  It is the the fourth largest veterans medical facility in the U.S..  It has nearly 4000 employees and treats about 100,000 veterans a year on a budget approaching $500 million.  Most of the Veterans I have represented and gotten to know in the area tell me they get good care at Bay Pines.  Their doctors are not very willing to fill out forms or write letters in the different types of disability cases we handle (like Social Security Disability or private disability insurance claims), but the majority of the medical professionals at the VAMC get high marks from my clients.

Copyright (c) 2010, 2011 by John V. Tucker and Tucker & Ludin, P.A. All rights reserved. For assistance with your Long Term Disability claim, ERISA Disability benefit claim, Social Security Disability claim, or Veterans Disability compensation or pension claim, call Disability Lawyer John Tucker at (866) 282-5260.

VA Creates Women's Outreach Center

WASHINGTON – The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has embarked on a major initiative to reach out to women Veterans in order to solicit their input on ways to enhance the health care services VA provides to women Veterans.

“We are taking a proactive approach to enhancing VA health care for women Veterans,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. “We are seeking the input of women Veterans so that VA can continue to provide high quality health care to the growing numbers of women Veterans.”

Representatives at VA’s Health Resource Center (HRC) are placing calls to women Veterans nationwide, asking them to share their experiences with VA and suggest potential enhancements that will further VA’s mission to provide the best care anywhere.

Women Veterans are one of the fastest growing segments of the Veteran population. Of the 22.7 million living Veterans, more than 1.8 million are women. They comprise nearly 8 percent of the total Veteran population and 6 percent of all Veterans who use VA health care services.

VA estimates by 2020 women Veterans will constitute 10 percent of the Veteran population and 9.5 percent of VA patients. The HRC, which started placing calls on June 1, is contacting women Veterans who have enrolled, but have not begun using VA services.

“Through this contact center, we are placing friendly, conversational calls to women Veterans,” said Patricia Hayes, chief consultant of the VA’s Women Veterans Health Strategic Health Care Group. “We want these Veterans and their caregivers to talk candidly about why they are not using VA, whether they are aware of the gender-specific services we offer, and what additional services they would like to see VA offer.”

The HRC representatives making the calls are also informing women Veterans about the services VA offers and quickly connecting them with appropriate departments if they are interested in trying VA health care. Veterans who have complaints about VA are connected to a patient advocate who helps resolve issues.

VA has trained professionals in all aspects of women’s health, including general primary care, osteoporosis management, heart disease, mental health care, menopausal services and obesity-related issues, such as diabetes. Preventive screenings for breast and cervical cancer are also areas in which VA excels. Soon, all VA facilities will offer comprehensive primary care for women from a single provider.

The Women Veterans Health Care program has made significant changes in the last few years to enhance the health care offered to eligible women Veterans. This progress includes:

· Adopting key policies to improve access and enhance services for women Veterans;

· Implementing comprehensive primary care for women Veterans;

· Conducting cutting-edge research on the effects of military service on women’s lives;

· Improving communication and outreach to women Veterans; and

· Providing mental health, homelessness and other services designed to meet the unique needs of women Veterans

For more information about VA programs and services for women Veterans, visit: www.va.gov/womenvet and www.publichealth.va.gov/womenshealth.

For assistance with a VA service-connected disability claim call Florida VA Lawyer John Tucker at (866) 282-5260.