Social Security Reform For Relapsing Chronic Illness

The Need for Social Security Reform...and How You Can Help!

Art Mellor recently posted the link for an online petition that seeks reform in our Social Security system. If you haven't already signed the petition, please do so here.

Here is some additional background on why this effort is so important to MS patients and others who suffer from chronic illness.

This past year, I helped spearhead a movement to secure flood insurance for coastal homeowners who are ineligible to participate in the National Flood Insurance Program and can no longer purchase private insurance in the wake of two consecutive years of unusually active hurricane seasons. As a direct result of this effort, the state of Florida recently passed historic legislation allowing homeowners to create their own self-funded flood insurance pool.

Now, I am concentrating my efforts to amend the Social Security guidelines to include special provisions for victims of chronic illnesses like Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis. Please support this important effort by signing the petition today.

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The motivation behind this petition to amend Social Security guidelines came about as a result of my own experience in applying for early Social Security benefits. Unlike Social Security Disability Insurance, which is based upon the financial need of disabled individuals, regular Social Security benefits (normally received at age 65) can begin at a younger age if a person becomes disabled. However, the approval process generally takes 3-5 years. In my case, my claim was denied even though the neurologist assigned by SSA determined that I was, in fact, disabled.

Fortunately, I had enough savings to live on. But there are many other people who don't, and have been waiting for years for benefits approval. Perhaps you are among them. According to a former Social Security Judge with whom I spoke, anyone under age 50 is generally rejected by Social Security as a matter of routine until they file an appeal and challenge the decision in court. Ironically, private organizations would be prosecuted for such discrimination, but our own government widely practices it with no accountability or consequence. This is your opportunity to make a real difference and effect necessary change.

The petition is designed to facilitate a much better and fairer solution. Instead of making it so difficult to qualify for permanent disability benefits, Social Security guidelines need to be amended to allow for temporary benefits during times when benefits are actually needed. I'm sure many people on permanent disability would jump at the chance to work periodically if they knew they wouldn't have to go through the several-year approval process all over again the next time they got seriously ill.

The result of the current system is that many MS patients who are already on disability will never return to work out of fear that they won't be able to get help during future attacks. There is simply no incentive. Currently, there is no provision that allows chronically disabled individuals to resume working while maintaining eligibility for future benefits.

This petition is a way we can collectively urge our legislators to propose much-needed reform. It will allow those with chronic diseases to continue contributing to the workforce as they're able...it will make it easier to extend assistance to those who really need help, if only on a periodic basis... and ultimately, it will cost the taxpayers less.

So far, the new petition has been signed by fewer than 100 people. Among the signatures received to date are MS patents and their families, physicians, MS advocacy organizations and a political action group that testified before congress last month for similar reform.

Unlike the hundreds of petitions that ask for signatures but are never presented to anyone, this is an opportunity for your voice to be heard. My goal is to gather signatures from 10,000 concerned citizens during the coming year. As soon as that goal is reached, I am committed to formally present the petition to The House Ways and Means Committee.

Again, the petition is here.

Thank you, in advance, for your support.

Sincerely,

Bob Guidara
Petition Author
ddremote@aol.com