Pro-Bono Representation to Kentucky and West Virginia Claimants

In an unprecedented action by the SSA, approximately 1500 SSDI beneficiaries in Kentucky and West Virginia received notices this summer stating that their benefits could be discontinued. RamosLaw has joined the National Organization of Social Security Claimant's Representatives (NOSSCR) and the Appalachian Research and Legal Defense Fund (AppalReD) in providing Pro-Bono representation to some of these individuals.  

Government officials have requested that benefits be stopped for all former clients of Eric Conn, a Kentucky lawyer who they suspect committed fraud.  Many generous local attorneys have been working tirelessly to protect these individuals’ rights and benefits, through preliminary injunctions, wrongful death actions, motions to freeze Conn’s assets, and pro bono representation at the Social Security ALJ hearings. These individuals need representation to assist them in obtaining medical evidence, and to represent them before the Appeals Council or at ALJ hearings, if needed. Since it is expected that there will be no funds available to pay attorneys, many lawyers throughout the country have agreed to provide free legal services. To date, an army of about 100 social security disability lawyers has volunteered to help represent the claimants at hearings or to provide training or other resources to volunteer lawyers.

Help is still needed from attorneys. The local attorneys in Kentucky and West Virginia anticipate that they can serve fewer than 15% of the affected individuals. You can send an email to nosscr@nosscr.org if you are an attorney or a representative who is willing to help.  If necessary, ALJs will allow lawyers to participate in three way video conferences and lawyers might not be required to attend hearings in person.

Social Security lawyers and representatives are truly involved in ensuring the integrity of the Social Security disability process.  Unfortunately, some of the actions taken in these cases have been highly arbitrary and are hurting people who are completely innocent. We must ensure that the affected individuals receive full due process from the Social Security Administration.

Seventh Circuit Upholds Ban on Discretionary Clauses

On September 4, 2015, the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals issued a decision which is a giant victory for long term disability claimants.  In Fontaine v. MetLife, the Seventh Circuit joined the Ninth and Sixth Circuits holding that state laws prohibiting discretionary clauses in LTD insurance policies are not preempted by Federal Law.  This means that state legislatures can pass laws prohibiting policies that give full discretion to the insurance companies when they determine whether a claimant is eligible for benefits or not. 

One of the most common issues in long term disability lawsuits is what standard of review is used by the court to decide a case.  In 1989, the Supreme Court held in Firestone v. Brunch, 489 U.S. 101, 115, that courts should apply a de novo standard of review in suits dealing with a denial of benefits governed by ERISA.  However, if the LTD plan expressly provides for a different more deferential standard of review, then that specific language in the policy controls.  After 1989, insurance companies began including language in their policies, stating that they had discretionary judgment in interpreting the policy or deciding whether to pay benefits.  As a result of this move by the insurance companies, some states started adopting laws prohibiting such clauses in insurance policies.  This action by state legislatures prompted extensive litigation involving cases such as Fontaine.

In Fontaine, MetLife argued that the Illinois statute banning discretionary clauses was preempted by the Employee Retirement Security Income Act of 1974 (ERISA).  In other words it argued that, state statutes were not valid because legislation in this area of the law has been reserved only for Congress. Fortunately, the Appeals Court rejected this argument stating the ERISA law specifically saves from preemption any state law "which regulates insurance".  29 U.S.C. Sec. 1144(b)(2)(A).   

Moreover, a more clever argument was made by MetLife in Fontaine.  MetLife argued that the discretionary clause in question was not in the insurance policy but in the actual long term disability plan.  The insurance company alleged that since the plain was not part of an insurance policy it could not be regulated by state laws.  The Seventh Circuit rejected this "hyper-technical argument" and stated: "whether a provision for discretionary interpretation is placed in an insurance policy or in a different document is arbitrary and should make no legal difference",  The Court concluded that: "If MetLife's interpretation of ERISA's savings clause were correct, then states 'would be powerless to alter terms of the insurance relationship in ERISA plans; insurers could displace any state regulation simply by inserting a contrary term in plan documents.'" 

  

SSDI Allowance Rates Fall Under Obama / Colvin

Over the past year, enemies of the Social Security Disability Programs have waged a campaign of misinformation alleging that the Democratic administration of President Barack Obama has allowed the number of SSDI recipients to soar during his tenure.  An article recently published by The Atlantic shows that official numbers do not back up this accusation.  See Saving SSDI   

The article from The Atlantic notes that: "SSDI has become a more stringent program during the Obama years, admitting fewer than expected new recipients onto program rolls."  Here is a chart showing the actual figures gathered by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities:

Another must read article on this issue was published by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities: Disability Allowance Rates Fall as Social Security Strengthens Oversight of Hearings.  The articles states: 

The rate at which Social Security administrative law judges (ALJs) approve claims for disability benefits dropped for the fifth straight year in 2014, new Social Security Administration (SSA) data show. The ALJ allowance rate has fallen from 63 percent in 2008 and 2009 to 45 percent in 2014. Thus, claims that ALJs are “out of control” are without merit.

It should be pointed out also that the only time during the Obama administration when allowance rates increased was when the SSA was under the direction of Commissioner Michael Astrue.  Astrue was appointed by President George W. Bush, not Barack Obama.  Terms for SSA Commissioners are staggered.  When Astrue finished his term, President Obama appointed the the current Commissioner, Carolyn Colvin.  Official data clearly shows that allowance rates for SSDI have dropped, at all stages of the process, under Commissioner Colvin.

This is important information to keep in mind during the upcoming debate regarding the fiscal challenges that the Social Security trust fund will face in the fall of 2016.  As I have stated in previous posts, the problems facing the fund can be corrected with a relatively minor relocation of funds.  However, enemies of the disability programs are trying to manufacture a crisis in which they allege that disability allowance rates have gone wild over the past years.  As you can see from the latest numbers gathered regarding allowance rates, this accusation is completely false.  

Updating Your Social Security Disability Case

As we all know, the Social Security Disability claims process is very slow.  While you wait for your case to be decided, it is extremely important to continue receiving intensive medical care for your conditions.  Moreover, you must keep your lawyer updated on certain specific developments in your case.  Here is a list of certain things that you must keep your lawyer updated while your case is pending:

• Any attempts to go back to work:  If you decide to work or to make an attempt to work while your case is pending, you must immediately notify your lawyer.  Be prepared to provide your lawyer with paystubs of all the payments that you have received.  Moreover,  you should provide your attorney with a list of the duties that you perform on your job.  Consult with your attorney to make sure your attempt to work is not inconsistent with your allegations of disability.  
• Changes in address and other contact information:  This one is common sense.  Unfortunately, many clients forget to let their lawyers know about changes in address, email or telephone. Always provide your lawyer with alternative contact information from relatives or close friends in case that your are too sick to be able to respond to your lawyer when he or she is looking for you.
• For SSI cases, any changes in income:  If you have an SSI case, you must notify your lawyer of any new sources of income received by you.  For example, if your former spouse begins paying alimony after the filing of your disability claim, you must tell your lawyer.  Changes in income can affect your eligibility for SSI.
• Any offers to settle your worker's comp case:   If your SSDI case is pending, you should not sign a settlement agreement in a worker's compensation case without first running it by your Social Security Disability Lawyer.  Once you sign an agreement in a worker's comp. case, you might be stuck with a fairly high reduction in your Social Security Disability Benefits.  It might be possible for your Social Security lawyer to include language in the settlement agreement that prevents a high reduction (offset) in benefits.
• New medical treatment and new doctors:  If you are receiving a new type of medical treatment or have a new doctor, you must let your lawyer know.  Be prepared to send the law firm an email, if possible, with the name of the doctor(s) or treatment sources, dates of treatment and the doctors addresses.