Social Security Fraud

The media is constantly reporting on how disabled people "fake" their medical problems to collect Social Security Disability ("SSD") benefits fraudulently, somehow duping their doctors into lying for them. The media does not report how the Social Security Administration (“SSA”) increasingly commits fraud by relying on the opinions of its doctors to reject the opinions of the claimants’ doctors. That is why the SSD approval rate has declined over the years. In order to depress the approval rate even further, the SSA has eliminated the treating physician rule, which required giving extra weight to their opinions.

The SSA goal of decreasing the approval rate is why there is such a huge backlog in the wait time for a hearing. If you ask any one of our clients, they would much rather be working than be applying for SSD benefits, which will pay them only a fraction of what they were earning. You are only eligible for SSD benefits if you have worked and paid into Social Security, and have enough work credits. There is no cheating or getting around the eligibility requirements. Our clients, as well as anyone who has worked their entire life, deserve to be treated with respect and dignity, not like they are doing something wrong. Do not be fooled by the media. The problem lies with the SSA.