Yes. But, we don’t advise it. While it might be awfully comforting to think 
that you can successfully obtain social security disability benefits in Maryland, Virginia or Washington, D.C., by starting the process in your jammies while using your laptop, self-representation that starts with an Internet-based claims almost always ends in a denial. Often that denial is based on missing or incomplete information — something that can be avoided if a Baltimore social security disability lawyer or disability representative is hired at the beginning of the social security disability process.
There are three different ways to apply for social security disability benefits in Maryland or the Washington, D.C.-metro area — in person, online or over the telephone. Michael Astrue, the former head of Baltimore, Maryland-based SSA appointed by former president George W. Bush, backed the Internet claims system. Under Astrue’s direction, the agency encouraged those seeking retirement or disability benefits to apply using SSA’s Web site.
But, the emphasis on Internet claims has many social security disability advocates deeply concerned. “Eighty-five percent of the time the person is disadvantaging themselves. They complete the information based on what their neighbor told them. They’re guessing,” Dana Duggins, a vice president of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Council 220, a labor union that represents SSA workers in Michigan, told LaborNotes, a union-oriented blog.
Witold Skwierczynski, president of the Social Security Council of the American Federation of Government Employees, told the Baltimore Sun that emphasis on Internet applications puts people at risk of making bad choices. Applying for benefits is complicated, he said.
Social Security Administration employees are supposed to review online claims, but they have to work the reviews around their other responsibilities such as taking public telephone calls and taking initial applications for disability benefits through in-person interviews – making review of Internet claims extremely difficult at a time when both personnel and overtime have been drastically cut while social security disability applications are up significantly. The disability insurance program provided benefits to 8.3 million disabled workers in 2011, nearly six times the 1.4 million disabled workers who received benefits in 1970, according to the Congressional Budget Office.
AFGE surveyed SSA claims representatives and found them unhappy with Internet claims. “We are trained to pay the right person the right amount at the right time and not play games with people’s livelihoods. The old-timers have always had the ethics of going the extra mile to make sure you’re being paid correctly. Now the policy’s changed to: You no longer question this,” Duggins said.
In fact, Duggins said Astrue “insisted” that employees not question information on the applications – some say this is part of a management decision to make the program less user-friendly in an attempt to obtain more denials. Incorrectly filled out application lead to denials.
A social security disability representative or a Baltimore social security disability lawyer is your best bet for obtaining social security disability benefits and for obtaining them sooner rather than later. Contact us at 844.327.5567 so we can help you. There’s no charge for the consultation.