Florida Workers' Compensation Lawyer Blog

Across the United States, including South Florida, more than 2 million persons are waiting for a determination of an application for Social Security Disability! According to Social Security Disability expert, Randy Zeldin, Esq., the wait for hearing dates in Palm Beach and Broward Counties is between 14-18 months and sometimes longer.

This delay has been made worse by two factors, according to Boca Raton Social Security Attorney Randy Zeldin. The first factor is the increase in the number of claims, which has been exacerbated by the current recession. Secondly, the U.S. Congress has failed to increase spending to allow for more Social Security Judges and administrative staff.

Social Security Commissioner Michael Astrue, is hoping to cut wait times to about 9 months, by the year 2013. One method being implemented is the use of video hearings before Social Security Judges. Social Security Attorney Randy Zeldin, with offices in Boca Raton, West Palm Beach and Ft. Lauderdale, believes that video hearings can help the backlog, but will have limited impact overall.

The Social Security Administration is renewing contracts with private vendors to accelerate the use of electronic medical record transmission. According to Boca Raton Social Security Disability attorney, Randy Zeldin, Esq., the use of Continuity of Care Documents is a step forward in streamlining the SSD application process.

After an initial application to the Social Security Administration is made, requests for medical records are often made and thereafter transmitted via U.S. mail. It is obvious that this process is harmful to the many Social Security applicants in Ft. Lauderdale, Boca Raton and West Palm Beach, states attorney Randy Zeldin, Esq.

Eventually, as the health care system is reformed further, most medical records will be available electronically to be shared with the Social Security Administration. Longer and longer waits are causing great suffering and hardship to disabled persons in South Florida, according to Social Security Disability expert Randy Zeldin, Esq., with offices in Ft. Lauderdale, West Palm Beach and Boca Raton