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It seems as though Social Security has become more a Security system for those who would otherwise be unable to find a "real" job and therefore work in the bureaucracy (a pseudo jobs program), than a Security system for those who pay in and later become unable to work and require assistance.

Some people just don't believe the things they hear and/or read until they experience it first hand. I am not one of those people. I have been acutely aware of the things going on around me for some time, but can now also relate to you first hand how the Social Security Administration (SSA) appears to be concerned more for the protection and safety of the SSA workers and the "bottom line" rather than the hard working Americans it is supposed to protect. In this day and age of "Reform" and "Budget consciousness" Administrators seem more concerned about themselves than for the General Welfare of those who have paid into the system all their lives. In time of need, don't come to expect compassion, or even a fair hearing, is the advice I'd impart to you, and seemingly what I've learned from my families ordeal (thus far) with the Social Security system. The system, in my opinion, still has a lot of "reforming" to do. Rather than putting our Military through sensitivity training, we should start with the bureaucrats at the SSA. It leaves me wondering if we won't find the same incentive practices going on in the SSA that we've recently learned about in the IRS (high marks, rewards, bonuses, for denying deductions to rake in revenues for back Taxes) only in reverse (incentives for keeping monies from going out).

THE BASIC FACTS:
Briefly stated (more details later): A Male age 55 roughly 10 years ago suffered a Stroke. As is often the case, the attack left side affects, while minimal at first, that over time became more acute. He was still able to work, and later took an early retirement from his position with one of the Big 3 Automotive Corporations. This retirement, however, wasn't enough to sustain he and his wife. He began working odd jobs. His health worsened when he had artery trouble that ultimately required corrective surgery to ensure the blood flow to be sufficient to his brain. Despite this, he kept working. I will not mention any names here, as I wish there to be no harsh feelings toward those companies and any individual that may work there; but he worked 4 or 5 different outlets of National chain retailers, with the results being the same - insufficient hours, everywhere he worked they kept scaling down his number of hours scheduled. The Stroke, the artery trouble, had now begun to take a greater toll and his Mental and Physical quickness, sense of balance, and general Physical abilities were reduced. Finally, unable to work any longer, in 1999 this man had to apply for Social Security. DENIED!

I'll get to the "stated reason(s)" in a moment, but in order to better understand this, you'll need a little more background first…

THE MAN:
A man who has worked hard all his life to provide for his family, allowing for his wife to stay at home to raise their 2 children, my father pushed hard on the job to make a good living. He was a dedicated GM Office worker, loyal to his job and his family. He worked to make things better for us than he had while growing up monetarily, and more importantly worked hard at home to instill a sense of strong family ties, a good work ethic, and self-reliance - it is those values that prevented this proud man from claiming benefits he rightly earned through his years of work until just recently. Little did he know, that fighting the SSA would be harder than fighting the ill health that brought on the need to seek that help.

As stated above his health began its deterioration when he suffered a Stroke. He had High Blood Pressure and Back trouble. Eventually having artery trouble that ultimately required surgery. We now find that the Back trouble is Arthritis, an ailment his mother had suffered in debilitating degree with for many years.

THE DENIAL:
The basis of the claim was the fact that my father was/is unable to work due to reduced capacity from his Stroke, his Artery problems, and general deterioration of health related to those ailments. However, seemingly looking for any reason to deny a claim, the SSA denied the claim based on the fact that someone with High Blood Pressure and lower Back pain would still be capable of working. NO KIDDING! We all agree 100% with that statement, however to focus on just those 2 things in someone's Medical records/history to deny a claim ignoring the major reason for the claim being filed borders on gross negligence - in my opinion. The High Blood Pressure and Back trouble are of NO concern, in relation to the other problems faced.

RECENT DEVELOPMENTS:
Further evidence to, and resulting from, his reduced equilibrium - my father, just before this past Christmas, fell down the stairs in his home and fractured his neck and spine. We are all grateful that my mother was home, and the quick reaction and assistance of neighbors and Emergency crew's saved my fathers life. If it were not for swift action, my father who's head was also split open in this fall, could've easily bleed to death at the bottom of his stairwell (Head injuries bleed badly, there is no muscle tissue to help to seal the wound, plus my father is on blood thinners). This man who could not balance himself adequately enough to prevent himself from falling down the stairs, the SSA says can work!

An appeal was filed prior to this accident, and while my father lay in the Wyandotte Hospital, his neck in a Halo (large titanium alloy apparatus to ensure your head/neck doesn't move) had to hear the news from me that the appeal was denied; a standard SSA practice we are advised from our Attorney that we have now had to retain to try and obtain the Social Security benefits he will now have a greater need for as Medical Bills will certainly pile even higher than before. We will now be taking the issue to the Courts, where we are confident a just decision will be made by a Judge, removing the decision from the seemingly misguided and/or uncaring personnel at the SSA.

REFORM:
Reform, yes! Certainly reform is required in the SSA and in our Federal Legislature. I have supported that notion for many years. For far too long people had elected Officials that raided the Social Security revenues (or used it to mask their over-spending and fiscal irresponsibility) that were supposed to safeguard the future of the Americans that paid into the SSA to protect their later years, only to squander it on countless Government hand-out programs to seemingly "buy votes". It is only recently, with reform minded individuals elected to Congress, that we are even discussing ways to separate the SSA funds from the General Budget and truly make a 'Trust fund' to protect the safety net that was put in place so many years ago. This reform needs to give people more control over some, if not all, of those revenues as it has been proven that our Officials cannot be trusted with those monies. It seems as though Social Security has become more a Security system for those who would otherwise be unable to find a "real" job and therefore work in the bureaucracy, than a Security system for those who pay in and later become unable to work and require assistance. Administrators seem more concerned about themselves and their friends "feather-bedded" jobs than for the General Welfare of those who have paid into the system all their lives. Reform, therefore, in my opinion, is needed on the inside of the SSA to ensure that people are there to safeguard the best interests of all, those 'truly' requiring assistance, those of us who are going to have to be expected to pay in more and more to shore up the SSA (due to the previous Congress' of the 60's-80's that squandered the funds), and the interests of the jobs of those within the SSA.

SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS:
My advice, if you 'truly' need benefits, FILE EARLY! It will most likely take awhile before you see the benefits you seek and deserve. To those trying to fleece the system and live off the hard work and labor of others - we must work harder to deny the undeserving and prosecute those who perpetrate fraud against the system.

FIXING THE PROBLEMS:
Next time a Politician who has been in Office for more than 10 years asks you for his/her vote, and is promising "reform", remember that they were there and helped squander that money. How could you trust them now? How can you even trust anyone from their Party? It is the Congress that spends our Tax money, who controlled that money from the 60's to the 80's? Are you paying attention? Or will this have to happen to you before YOU wake up?!?!