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June 7, 2007

Schumer vows to clean up Social Security disability program

Schumer pledges to address slow Social Security payouts

By JOE LoTEMPLIO

PLATTSBURGH -- Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) vowed to fix a Social Security disability system that he claims is "in shambles."

Schumer said upstate New York beneficiaries of the disability system are waiting an average of 522 days to collect benefits.

The lengthy delays are caused by understaffing and underfunding of the many state regional offices and a mountain of cases.

The delays could cause serious problems for those who are out of work and depending on assistance to sustain life.

"The number of New Yorkers who are forced to wait, in some cases, close to two years for their disability claims is staggering," Schumer said in a release Wednesday.

"After paying Social Security like clockwork for decades, New Yorkers should be entitled, not deprived, of their disability claims, which are essential to paying mortgages and for medical care."

Schumer, who held a telephone news conference with upstate reporters on the issue, is calling for full funding of $10.44 billion for the disability system. He also wants to investigate the possibility of making Social Security Administration funding "off budget," so it will not be endangered by budget cuts each year.

According to a report from the National Council of Social Security Management Associations, funding for Social Security Administration was reduced in fiscal year 2006 by $300 million and in fiscal year 2007 by an additional $200 million.

The reduction of funding has left many upstate Social Security field offices without the necessary resources and staffing to efficiently process disability claims, creating a huge backlog.

At the same time, demands for benefits have increased significantly. Administrative offices handle 858,000 American visitors each week nationwide and receive about 68 million business-related telephone calls each year.

The demand has overwhelmed offices, Schumer said, and cases figure to continue to increase.

As a result, people seeking benefits must wait a long time. The average wait for those in the Capital District and North Country is 484 days, and 41 percent of those cases have been pending for more than 365 days.

Schumer said that without help, the disability system is in jeopardy of collapsing.

The Social Security Administration requested $10.44 billion for the 2008 budget year, but President George W. Bush's budget includes only $9.5 billion.

Schumer said the underfunding could lead to up to 4,000 positions being cut from the agency, which would further burden the system and create longer delays for those waiting to receive benefits.

jlotemplio@pressrepublican.com

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