Terry Moakley of United Spinal Association testified on behalf of the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities at a January 16, 2008 hearing on “Social Security Benefits for Economically Vulnerable Beneficiaries” before the Social Security Subcommittee of the House Ways & Means Committee.

In his testimony, Terry emphasized:

• Serious concerns that Social Security’s proposed regulations will deny claimants the ability to submit additional evidence of their disability at the time of their hearing. Essentially, if a claimant’s disability worsened between the time that they initially filed a claim and the time of their hearing, then they would be forced to begin the claims process from the beginning in order to submit additional evidence of the worsened disability.
• Changes to Social Security programs so that disability beneficiaries who are able to work are encouraged to do so without fear of serious repercussions.
• The need to eliminate the 24-month waiting period to receive Medicare. This critical period of time after a disabling injury or diagnosis can make or break a person – it is simply the worst time to be without continuity of medical care and can have serious medical, financial and psychosocial repercussions.