Occasionally you see some legislation out of Congress that shows some real insight to problems faced by people who become disabled. Yesterday (6/14/07) Congressman Chip Pickering (R-MS) introduced the Joseph H Seal Act of 2007 (HR 2713). Seal, a Mississippi veteran with terminal cancer, was eligible for Social Security disability benefits but died before he could be receive the benefits.
Congressman Pickering said, “Currently there is no provision that allows a Social Security disability case, no matter how qualified and necessary, to bypass the automatic five-month waiting period from approval to receipt. For terminally ill individuals, this could mean that after a life time of putting money into Social Security, they might pass away before receiving their approved benefits. Obviously moved by the situation Congressman Pickering noted , "This isn’t just about the money. Joseph Seal is a man who served his country and worked hard his whole life. He was diagnosed with terminal cancer; approved to receive disability benefits; and then because of the inflexibility of government rules, passed away before he could receive his first check. This legislation allows a waiver [of the 5-month waiting period] for a terminally ill beneficiary.”
Congressman Pickering was joined by bill co-sponsor Congressman Earl Pomeroy (D-N.D.) who added, “There is an unacceptable backlog of disability claims waiting to be processed by the Social Security Administration, leaving thousands of people in North Dakota and across the country without the benefits they’ve earned,” Congressman Pomeroy said, “This bill will expedite the delivery of disability benefits to people who are terminally ill and require Social Security to find ways to improve the evaluation process and promptly deliver benefits to those who qualify”
The Joseph H Seal Act legislation directs the Commissioner of SSA to waive the statutory five-month waiting period for disability benefits when an individual is terminally ill. The measure also requires the Commissioner of Social Security to conduct a study of the Social Security disability claims process and make recommendations to Congress for improvements and reforms.
The legislation was sent to the Social Security Subcommittee of the House Ways and Means committee for further action.
The National PASS Network applauds this proposed legislation, but we also encourage Congress to end the two-year wait for Medicare medical coverage. When people are disabled is when they need medical coverage the most, not two years after they die.
