Sunday November 22, 2009, 5:47 pm
This is hard to understand. I thought there were clear national standards. Well, JoAbba, thank you for this news. I would hate to become disabled in Delaware.

Sunday November 22, 2009, 5:48 pm
Please forward this news story to your friends as this could be your city too one day if it isn't already!

Sunday November 22, 2009, 5:55 pm
THANK YOU DEAR JoAnna, HUGGLES FROM TERESA

Sunday November 22, 2009, 5:56 pm
ty JoAnna :)

Sunday November 22, 2009, 5:57 pm
Very sad for so many.. I know have been denied and they are still fighting for it..I do know they are plagued with many fake claims..and due to that they really make it a very difficult process..but making it so hard for those who are in true need..is not right either..

Thanks Jo..I will post and forward this..
It should be front page news..
Noted..

Sunday November 22, 2009, 6:11 pm
Thanks for noting my news story..My friend lives in Deleware and she too is fighting the system..She also went before Judge Showalter a month ago via video Conference and now this artical came out in her local news journal today..I posted this news story as a stand for my friend..Reguardless where we live this could be in our own backyard!
What is one to do with no family to reach out to..Cannot do most daily task ect..And this is the situation my friend is dealing with right now..
Please lets get this to the Care2.com front page..
Judge Showalter is in the spotlight and not in a good way!
Message to my friend:I am here and I love you and I care!
Thank you JoAnnaB.

Sunday November 22, 2009, 6:23 pm
Thank you JoAnna, these stories are painful, so heartless are these judges. I too have heard stories of people getting denied "after they have died" and I want someone to pay for that with a trial of their very own, sentanced before their peers of no less then 6 disababled Americans.

Sunday November 22, 2009, 6:38 pm
Thanks Dee

Sunday November 22, 2009, 6:40 pm
thanks JoAnna and Dee, this needs attention.

Sunday November 22, 2009, 7:35 pm
It is a national disgrace... this should not be happening in this day and age... these people should sue the system and demand all the back pay that should of been credited to them over the years and for suffering and anguish stress and anxiety... so it will be an example to the system...

Sunday November 22, 2009, 7:41 pm
The chief judge of the Dover office is Judith A. Showalter, 61, who earns $162,900. After graduating from the University of Baltimore Law School in 1980, Showalter worked as an attorney in Baltimore before becoming a Social Security administrative law judge in 2001, agency records show.

Sunday November 22, 2009, 9:40 pm
Such a disgrace!

Monday November 23, 2009, 12:42 am
Thank You JoAnna. This is a very Important issue. As I've been waiting 6yrs for my Disability to go through in Florida. It's a joke. I was denied the first time due to me being able to fill out their paper work....OK, what does that (paper work) have anything to do w/ a lower back & right leg injury.????... Beats me. I think here in FL they are coming up w/ any excuse for you not to be able to get Disability here. I feel for the people in Delaware. Thanks again.

Monday November 23, 2009, 2:31 am
Thank You JoAnna, Noted! Thanks Dee for the heads up!
~hugs
~Michelle

Monday November 23, 2009, 4:28 am
Edward Janus | Disability Advocate and Activist.
My Campaign and Mission is Fighting for Persons with Disabilities.
Doing Daily Internet Activism for Supporting Causes of Change. Signing Letters, Petitions, and Sharing News.
You Can Act Now and Make a Difference. Lets all help to make a difference. Thank you.
Founder of: www.EdwardJanus.net | Disability Network Connections.
Thank You JoAnna B. for Noting and thanks Dee C. for this to my attention.

Monday November 23, 2009, 5:49 am
Don't live in Texas and be disabled either, if you are a woman. hate to say it but it's true, gender discrimination goes on here all the time. Harder for a woman to get anything in this state than it is a man. Just my opinion and from past experience. Thanks for the article!

Monday November 23, 2009, 6:12 am
Basically this Country is telling everyone....don't get sick. Don't get sick for you may or may not have health care coverage. If you do have health insurance you may or may not have the medical treatments needed to be approved.

Then put monies into the Social Security system from each pay check and if you should need it we will make it near impossible for you to collect. So again don't get sick or become disabled in any way.

And we wonder why we have homeless, we wonder why there are desperate people, we are told to play by the rules and a system to help us will be there when we need it. That is a fairy tale for many.

I'm all too familiar with this system. My husband was diagnosed with TERMINAL cancer. His Doctor had clearly stated on the paperwork that my husband had a 1 to 3 MONTH life expectancy. Yet the claim took 7 months to be processed and his first check given! He did live 10 months by the grace of God, but as it took 7 of those months to get the money he had put into the system, he spent those months in worry of how to keep the heat and lights on.

My heart goes out to your friend Joanna. People do not realize how broken this system is until they have to use it in any way. We are lead to believe that if we work, put into this system, it will be there when we need it. Big Joke only it isn't a funny joke at all when your fighting this system in pain and severly sick.

Monday November 23, 2009, 6:14 am
This is disgraceful...

Monday November 23, 2009, 7:10 am
This is so a total crock of crap. OMG, I went through three or four appeals all by myself, besides the initial mounds of paperwork it took just to begin to try and get my total disability. What I had done, (because the disability medical people that supposedly examined me did nothing) I had all of my doctors send my medical records from the last 5 to 10 years or more. I also had good records from where I was asked to leave my job due to my health. I had doctors sign statements that I was NOT able to hold down a job of any kind, never again. I had several medical problems, plus anxiety, post traumatic stress disorder, and those all went into my case. I did finally after three years go in front of a disability judge. They ruled in favor for me, but it takes a world of tenacity, patience, follow through, phone calls, getting your doctors to send letters and records, making phone calls, and doing a lot of the foot work yourself, even if you have a lawyer. I had a stack of medical paperwork about 4 to 5 inches thick when I finally went in front of the judge.

Monday November 23, 2009, 8:26 am
Thanks JoAnna,

Monday November 23, 2009, 8:27 am
A dear friend in Calif. has to periodically prove her disability. It angers me to know they do this to someone that will NEVER not be disabled. Why in h-ll does anyone that has a permanent disability have to prove it periodically? Absurd, rubbish and totally unfair, IMHO (and obviously everyone here as well!).

Monday November 23, 2009, 8:40 am
I WILL FORWARD THIS STORY TODAY, THANK YOU JO, HUGGLES FROM TERESA

Monday November 23, 2009, 9:29 am
Noted thank you Dee and JoAnna.

Monday November 23, 2009, 12:27 pm
JoAnna, my new friend...I don't know what good it will do, but I thought perhaps that we could start a petition to the governor over there in Delaware for all of the disabled people in need.

I would need the governors name, because he will be who we target first and maybe the name of your Care2 friend that has been denied. This is so wrong on all accounts. No one should ever be denied that has an illness, NOONE!

So, please let me know how you would like to start the petition. I really want to help these people out. Everyone deserves good treatment on this planet.

Thanks for caring so much hon ~
In peace ~
FreeSpirit...

Monday November 23, 2009, 12:29 pm
I just saw your post on the Judges name as well, he should be a target in this petition too! Thanks sweetie.

Peace as always,
FreeSpirit ~

Monday November 23, 2009, 12:57 pm
I have never known anyone here in Utah to be approved on their first application. They are in the business of denying benefits. It's hard to believe it's worse somewhere else.

Monday November 23, 2009, 1:31 pm
Free Spirit..Thank you for helping in creating a petion..Please check your net messages..Thank you so much! JoAnna

Monday November 23, 2009, 3:50 pm
Thanks JoAnna, and I want you to know this is my first petition ever, so please bear with me hon.

Please people if you all could go to the "Human Rights Section" in the News under "Social Security Benefits" and sign this petition asking the governor of Delaware to please look into Judge Showalters cases. It would be much appreciated, and please do forward as well.

I know it's a longshot, but it's worth a try, right?

In peace always,
~ FreeSpirit ~

Monday November 23, 2009, 5:17 pm
This is terrible,but reminds me of what my dad went though to get this for my mom,we had to fight tooth and nail for her to get her claim though,and we live in Mississippi,also,a state where poor and disabled people get the shaft.

Monday November 23, 2009, 5:28 pm
Free Spirit..Again I reach out to you and say thank you very much..For creating the petition:Social Security Benefits
Social Security Benefits..You did a wonderful job..I did sign and forward..
I hope this may help anyone who is in need and I also hope that all of Judge Showalter's cases that are before the court are reviewed in fairness..
Again thank you very much!
Again please go to the petition site and click Human Rights and "Social Security Benefits"
Thank you to everyone who has taken part in this petition and news story..

Monday November 23, 2009, 6:39 pm
No Problem JoAnna...anytime sweetie. I believe in helping others in need.

Now, I look here and see the many comments about all the states in which this is happening to. Please think about writing your Governors, Reps, Senators, anyone who will listen about the problems with our Social Security System.

I am also going to get a petition going for the state of Florida, where I moved only awhile back...but, I see that my good friend Cheree is having many problems obtaining her disability checks that are due to her. She is disabled and needs her money. She worked for that money.

When I lived in NY, I wrote all my Reps, Senators and Congresspeople. This is a shame that people who are disabled have to wait so very long to get what is due to them by rights. I don't care what the system says, there is no good reason for people to keep getting denied, time after time.

Shame on our govt. They give it easily to the people that haven't even given into our countries social security system yet? What's up with dat? You would think that hard working people all their lives, who have lived here in the USA would be able to get it quicker! Not! There is something definately amiss here, sorry.

What people don't realize is, that we as American citizens put into the Social Security System by giving monies from our paychecks, so this is OUR money, not the governments money!

If people are disabled, how the hell do you expect them to work, you tell me?

Sending many blessings and hoping all will sign the petition at:
Human Rights {Petitions} under "Social Security Benefits" and thank you all. Please feel free to forward as well.

We need to care about each other, or who else will?
Blessings all,
FreeSpirit ~

Monday November 23, 2009, 10:13 pm
thank You JoAnna for this important issue You have brought forth! and thank You Cheree for passing it on to Me!

Monday November 23, 2009, 11:27 pm
This is so wrong! When people have to deal with pain and suffering physically and mentally that comes along with the illnesses they have.Some claimants have died waiting; others simply give up in frustration,that's just crazy! You shouldn't have to struggle so hard to get the benefits that you have worked for all your life. You know the legal system gets it's fair share, my brother was encouraged from the minute he applied to get a lawyer. Why should you need to pay a lawyer to get benefits that you have earned? Hmmmm. It's built into the claims process that is in a lawyer’s best interest for your case to drag on since they get paid up to 25% claimant’s retro pay.
On my way to sign the petition at: Human Rights {Petitions} under "Social Security Benefits" ASAP.
Namaste`,
Nikki

Thursday November 26, 2009, 3:49 pm
Hello all, just wanted to thank you all for signing the petition for this lovely lady to get her case moving. Your all beautiful, loving & caring.

Here is the petition site:
www.thepetitionsite.com/13/social-security-benefits

It's real important that we get the word out there for those that suffer from a disability and have no money coming in.

Thanks again all ~
Blessings...FreeSpirit ~

Saturday November 28, 2009, 9:21 am
Dear friends..I wanted to let you all know that my friend who had a judgment in front of this same Judge..Judge Showalter has just received her letter..She was denied..Alot of false statements by this Judge..in her report back to SSI..My friemd has 60 days to appeal the ruling..She has contacted her lawyer and now we will see where to go next..This is very sad news..Thanks to everone for your post and comments..Please get the petition out there..Get your friends to sign it..
Go to:
Human Rights {Petitions} under "Social Security Benefits" and thank you all. Please feel free to forward as well.

Tuesday December 8, 2009, 7:31 pm
Update on news story;
http://www.delawareonline.com/data
http://php.delawareonline.com/federal/_popup.php?qId=DOVER, DE&queryName=byOffice
Each year, more than 434,000 disability claims are decided by the Social Security Administration's 1,300 administrative law judges in more than 140 hearing offices nationwide. Although the judges are supposed to follow the same guidelines to determine who is diasbled, they deliver rulings that are far from uniform.

The data here, covering fiscal years 2005 through 2008, can be searched three ways.
By state -- State agencies make the first decisions in disability cases. Those who are denied by their state can then appeal their case to a federal administrative law judge in a Social Security hearing office.
By hearing office -- Disability cases are considered in Social Security's hearing offices nationwide. Claimants are entitled to a face-to-face hearing, but many cases are conducted by video teleconference.
By judge -- Denial rates and workloads vary widely among the judges.

Thursday December 10, 2009, 5:03 am
Edward Janus | Disability Advocate and Activist (Disabled myself).
Doing Daily Internet Activism. My Campaign and Mission is Fighting for Persons with Disabilities. Making Our Voices Heard. Supporting Causes of Change. And Sharing News and Resources.
Founder: www.EdwardJanus.net | Disability Network Connections.

Dear JoAnne,

Thank you so very much for keeping us updated and informed regarding all this unthinkable stupidly of judges and people whom decide these cases, while after sitting on them too. I have been sharing this all over the internet. Love, Edward…

Thursday December 10, 2009, 9:55 am
Thank you so much Edward..It is easy for one to tell someone who is fighting the system to hang in there and keep fighting While at the same time they are in great pain, not eating and not sleeping, worried about how they are going to live let alone think they will be soon on the streets.. Being unable to get the correct medicines to get one through the day..Their survial mode damaged by the lack of actions on the part of some of these judges..
We are still needing more signatures on this petition..PLEASE..Get it out to your friends and family
Human Rights {Petitions} under "Social Security Benefits"
Thank you JoAnna

Thursday December 10, 2009, 10:19 am
Go to drop down menu go to my petition site and in the search bar type in..
Social Security Benefits..
We only have 90 signatures at this time..Please help!
signature goal: 1,000