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In July, Megan Girardy, EBS in Jackson County, met with a man who had recently entered into home hospice after surviving four years with stage four prostate cancer. They discussed the process of applying for disability benefits and began filing for early retirement benefits. The local SSA field office representative proved very helpful and began the process of filing for survivor benefits and designating the client's wife as representative payee for their two children. Megan helped the client complete a compassionate allowance request in August. At each visit along the way, they spent time discussing family, going through old photos, sharing hunting stories, and learning about his family's history. When the client passed away in late October, Megan was invited by the family to come to their home to assist with the notification process. After she arrived, his wife showed Megan that she had received notice that benefits were approved with a back payment award of more than $18,000, which the family later used to cover funeral expenses. Megan received a hand-written thank you note with the client's signature, an invitation to his celebration of life, and an open pass to his hunting cabin to continue sharing stories with his family.
Monetary Impact = $18,000
10/31/2022
Story #43
Tiffany Scully, EBS in Dane County, also assisted a 63-year-old client with a good cause late appeal for an SSDI appeal. (Note: EBS typically do not help with SSDI appeals, but Tiffany got permission from her BSSA to assist in this narrow circumstance). The client was referred to the EBS Program by a nurse practitioner at a local cancer treatment clinic who tried to assist him with a phone appointment to apply for disability, but they were unable to get through to the claims rep due to phone issues and missed their scheduled appointment. When Tiffany and the client contacted the Madison SSA FO to reschedule, the claims rep informed them that the record showed the client already applied for SSDI in August 2021, based on a history of seizures. His claim was denied in March 2022. The client did not recall ever applying for SSDI, even though the forms had been signed by him, and he never received the denial notice. Tiffany explained that while the original claim was still pending, in November 2021, the client had been diagnosed with metastatic melanoma. During the call with SSA, the claims rep consulted with the FO manager who recommended submitting a good cause late appeal rather than a new disability application. With the client's permission, Tiffany consulted with the nurse practitioner at the cancer clinic who confirmed that the client met and exceeded the criteria under the compassionate allowance listing for skin malignant melanoma with metastases. After consulting with her program attorney, Tiffany met with the client and completed the necessary forms to request the good cause appeal, then faxed everything to the Madison FO and indicated that it was a TERI case. After making numerous calls to the FO over the course of two months requesting an update on when the claim would be sent to the DDB, Tiffany utilized the escalation process, and the area work incentives coordinator ensured that this process was completed. Within a few days of receiving the claim, the DDB issued a favorable decision which the area work incentives coordinator communicated to the EBS. The client is very pleased as his monthly Social Security benefit increased significantly under SSDI. Prior to the appeal, he had been receiving early retirement benefits, and, after paying his rent each month, he had less than $200 remaining for his other living expenses, making it difficult to make ends meet.
10/30/2022
Story #38