Social Security’s National Disability Forum is scheduled for 1 p.m. Nov. 28 in Washington D.C. The forum will include a special panel to discuss the disability benefits process, mainly the Request for Reconsideration phase.
The Request for Reconsideration is a step in the process where Social Security considers a disability claim after it has been rejected at the initial application level. A few years back, Social Security initiated a pilot program where the Request for Reconsideration phase was dropped in several states, and this forum may focus on that decision. The following panelists are expected to appear and provide feedback.
- Moderator – Darlynda Bogle, Executive Secretary, Office of the Commissioner, Social Security Administration
- Phoebe Ball, Legislative Affairs Specialist, National Council on Disability · Cheryl Bates-Harris, Senior Disability Advocacy Specialist, National Disability Rights Network
- Sharon Bland-Brady, President, National Association of Disability Examiners
- Lisa Ekman, Director of Government Affairs, National Organization of Social Security Claimants’ Representatives
- Trudy Lyon-Hart, Policy/Quality Committee Chair and Board Member, National Council of Disability Determination Directors
- Christopher Mazzulli, Treasurer, National Association of Disability Representatives
The forum is open to the general public and people can attend either in person or by streaming the forum online. Below is more information about how you can attend. There is no indication of what actual changes may come from the forum, but ultimately Social Security could decide whether or not to scrap the Request for Reconsideration phase in all states.
Please register online by Monday, November 26, and note whether you will be attending in person or via live stream. Additional details will be provided to live stream participants prior to the event. We hope you can join us and look forward to your participation. To learn more about the National Disability Forum, please click http://www.socialsecurity.gov/ndf.
