By Joshua Dieker
District Representative

Recently I wrote about the Social Security disability backlog, and how it affects so many Kansans who badly need help. With people waiting two years or longer for benefits, many are put in serious financial trouble by the fact that they are unable to work.

Dave Bly, a Topeka resident, recently contacted this office because he applied for disability benefits and had already waited several months. Dave’s situation was similar to many applicants, in that he had never imagined that he would need help from Social Security until he was struck with a terrible illness that made him no longer able to work. In Dave’s case, it was cancer, and by the time it progressed to stage IV, he badly needed the assistance of Social Security Disability Benefits.

Dave applied for benefits but after several months of not hearing back, he contacted our office. He was worried because he had heard about the backlog and knew that a delay of that magnitude could put him in a financial disaster. Being unable to work made it nearly impossible to pay his bills, and the hospital bills related to his illness were significant.

After talking to Dave, I contacted the Social Security office in Topeka to find out the status of his application. I was initially told that a medical decision had not yet been made on his case, but that it was pending. I explained Dave’s situation with his finances and encouraged them to rule on his case as soon as possible. A few days later I received a letter from Social Security saying that a decision had been made, and that he would begin receiving benefits right away. In addition to his regular benefits, he would also be receiving a payment of nearly $5,000 in retroactive benefits, beginning from the date of his application.

If you are in a similar situation, please don’t hesitate to call our office at (785) 234-8111. We can advocate on your behalf to Social Security and make sure that your claim is being processed as quickly as possible.