Thousands of Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) recipients in Flagler and Volusia counties in Florida feel threatened by a looming disability benefits cut, the Daytona Beach News-Journal reported on February 22.
Disabled Port Orange resident Suzanne Traficante, 57, said having her SSDI benefits reduced would have a huge effect on her life. Traficante is currently suffering from several ailments, all of which followed her diagnosis of multiple sclerosis in 2000. Traficante, who is currently taking various medicines everyday, uses her monthly SSDI benefits to augment her husband’s salary. According to the SSA, from 2009 to 2013 SSDI beneficiaries in Flagler and Volusia have increased by an estimated 16 percent. Traficante is one of the nearly 11 million SSDI beneficiaries nationwide whose benefits are threatened if lawmakers fail to prevent SSDI from exhausting. The Obama administration wants to salvage the SSDI program by acquiring funds from the Old Age and Survivors Insurance program, as other administrations have done in the past. The Republican Congress, however, has blocked that ability without additional reforms to the program.
The Indiana lawyers at Hankey Marks & Crider help disabled individuals in applying for or appealing their SSDI benefits. Our lawyers understand how hard it is to apply for disability benefits, especially as the future of the program is in flux. Call us today at (317) 634-8565 to find out how we may help you get your much needed benefits.