In a December 30 post, we noted that we had recently sent a letter to Glenn E. Sklar, Deputy Commissioner Disability Adjudication and Review of the Social Security Administration to express our concern about increasing scheduling problems for Social Security disability appeals in the Norfolk Office of Disability Adjudication and Review (ODAR), where claimants are being subjected to ever-increasing wait times for hearings to be scheduled.
We also wrote to our clients’ representatives in Congress at that time, including
- Senator Mark R. Warner
- Senator Tim M. Kaine
- Congressman J. Randy Forbes
- Congressman Scott Rigell
- Congressman Bobby Scott
- Congressman Rob Wittman
To date we have responses from Senator Warner and Congressman J. Randy Forbes.
Senator Warner wrote:
“Thank you for being in touch. I appreciate the trust and confidence you have shown in me by contacting me with your letter in which you requested my assistance with the increasingly severe delays in processing cases in Norfolk’s Office of Adjudication and Review (ODAR). My top priority in the Senate is to provide efficient and effective constituent service to all Virginians. I am well aware of this problem. I realize this is a matter of concern to you. I will begin work on your case by contacting the Social Security Administration.”
Congressman Forbes responded by asking that our clients in his district contact him directly so that he could investigate in their behalf. After we notified our clients, Congressman Forbes wrote:
“Thank you for contacting my office. I have contacted the Social Security Administration with a request that they review the concerns of my constituents in the matter of their pending hearing request at the Office of Disability Adjudication and Review which you brought to my attention. I will be in direct contact with my constituents regarding this matter from this point on.”
Thank you to both members of Congress who have responded to our concerns.
