Bad information given out by the social security administration toll free number

Recently, I posted a short blog post about using the SSA 1-800 number (in essence, don't use it). Well, today, I learned of another situation that fully illustrates why one should never call that number. This comes to me via a field office claims rep that I know (claims reps are the individuals who, among other functions, take disability applications at social security offices).

Here's what happened. An individual called the 1-800 number to get the status on his pending social security disability claims. Some SSA employee at that number told him that his claim had been approved. And it had been. Sort of...but not quite.

His claim HAD been approved by a disability examiner (I used to be one). However, the case had been intercepted by R40, otherwise known as DQB, the disability quality branch in atlanta. DQB is the organization that goes behind disability examiners to make sure that every i is dotted and every t is crossed. And when a social security disability case or ssi disability case goes there it means this---whatever decision was applied to the case (by the examiner) may not be the same decision that it comes back with.

In other words, an examiner may approve a disability claim and if it is selected by R40 (a.k.a. DQB a.k.a. the disability quality branch), the approval may turn into a disability denial.

In this instance, the gentleman who called the 1-800 number was mistakenly told that his case had been approved when, in fact, his file had been pulled by DQB and was technically "up in the air". And what the eventual decision on his disability claim will be is anybody's guess, really. It could "stay" an approval, or come back from DQB as a denial.

Needless to say, the claimant who called the 1-800 number, was told he had been approved, and then later was told that his case was in limbo, was livid. And he had a right to be.

Once again-------never never never call the social security administration toll free number.



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