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In the last six months, there have been several changes to the Social Security Administration, especially with respect to staffing, overpayments, and how people interact with Social Security. For example, it used to be that if the Social Security Administration overpaid a claimant in error, they were given a grace period to repay the amount.
Lately, the rules have been leaning more towards stringency regarding how quickly those benefits need to be paid and whether the Social Administration can deduct over-payments from continuing monthly benefits. In other words, people who owe money to Social Security won’t get their regular benefit amount until the overpayment has been caught up.
The Social Security Administration is also encouraging everyone to contact them online rather than in person at a local office. More sophisticated, computer-savvy individuals may have no issue with this, but people who have difficulty communicating or who have a lot of questions may find the online process more challenging.
On top of this, the Social Security Administration is trying to limit local office visits. There have been staff cuts, and Social Security simply doesn’t have the number of workers they used to. This last factor will likely cause receiving answers, getting a hearing, and being helped to take longer than you’re used to.
No. The same rules apply in 2025 as in previous years to be eligible for Social Security in North Carolina. However, it may take longer for reduced staff to sort through and review new applications, causing delays for people who have recently applied.
If you have a pending case, there are several things you can do. First, you can ask your attorney to begin making legal arguments on your behalf early, even before a judge is assigned to your case. Entering early legal arguments can sometimes set the stage for someone within Social Security to review your file and at least agree with the principle of your case.
Another option is to contact your local representative. Some of the changes that Social Security has faced lately have been met with little resistance or protest from elected representatives. This can be a good opportunity for you to contact your elected representatives and ask them to step in and act to help move your case forward.
Most representatives across the country, including in North Carolina, usually have a person on staff for each congress member who interacts with different state agencies, Social Security being one of the more common ones. If asked to, these staff members can sometimes conduct an inquiry, and that inquiry will usually get somebody’s attention at Social Security, ideally speeding up your case.
This has yet to be determined, but one near-certainty is that the process of reviews and hearings is likely to take more time. You may soon see stricter requirements for proving your identity. Increased concerns over fraud may also cause delays and make the process a bit more complicated. This can make it especially helpful to enlist the help of a Social Security Disability attorney to oversee your case and speak for you.
Many of our firm’s clients have a workers’ compensation claim that occurs later in life, typically when they’re approaching 60 years old. If their work-related injury is severe enough, we may also have them apply for Social Security Disability if their ability to work has been truly decimated by the injury.
It’s important to let clients know about timeframes and to give honest and accurate examples of how long it may take a case to go through. We let clients know that in every case, it’s better to seek legal representation sooner rather than later.
For more information on North Carolina SSDI law changes in 2025, an initial consultation is your next best step. Get the information and legal answers you are seeking by calling (833) 444-4127 today.