South Carolina Social Security Disability Benefits Attorney Says Fraud Hasnt Caused Claims to Spike
North Charleston, S.C. (PRWEB) September 13, 2012
South Carolina Social Security Disability benefits lawyer Ken Harrell today reacted to a blog article suggesting that the nation’s increase in SSD benefit payments could be attributed to a rise in fraudulent work-related injury claims.
Jack Ablin, the chief investment officer at Harris Private Bank, said in a recent guest blog post at Forbes.com that the number of Americans collecting Social Security Disability (SSD) payments is climbing at an unprecedented and alarming rate even though workplace safety is constantly improving.
Despite the evolution toward more of a desk job workforce, the disability participation rate has risen by 4.5 percent each year over the last decade, Ablin said.
The only way we can explain the increase in disability payments is to conclude that legions of workers are gaming the system, according to Ablin.
Those assumptions are unfounded, said Harrell, managing partner of the North Charleston-based Joye Law Firm, whose South Carolina Social Security Disability lawyers help disabled workers across the state.
This conclusion does a disservice to all workers who have suffered serious injuries and illness at work and who rely on SSD benefits just to survive, Harrell said.
Harrell said he instead agrees with Walter Hamilton, an L.A. Times business analyst, who said that Ablin ignores the fact that office workers suffer repetitive injuries such as carpal tunnel syndrome and tendinitis. Ablin also minimizes mental health issues, Hamilton said.
The larger point here is that no one should stigmatize legitimate requests for assistance by people who have suffered a disabling workplace injury or occupational illness, Harrell said.
Harrell said workers who have become disabled through illness or a workplace accident should not be discouraged from seeking Social Security Disability benefits.
Injured or ill workers have a right to seek SSD benefits, and they should contact an attorney who will fight to protect their rights, Harrell said.
About Joye Law Firm
Since 1968, Joye Law Firm has been fighting to help people throughout South Carolina with their legal challenges in a broad range of practice areas, including personal injury, car accidents, birth injury, brain injury, defective products, drug injury, motorcycle accidents, nursing home abuse, Social Security disability, spinal cord injury, traffic tickets, truck accidents, workers compensation and wrongful death. The South Carolina law firm has offices in Charleston and Myrtle Beach and assists clients in areas that include Florence, Richland County, Orangeburg, Columbia, North Charleston, Mount Pleasant, Summerville and the Horry County communities of Conway and North Myrtle Beach. The firms Charleston-area office is located at Northgate Office Building, 5861 Rivers Avenue, North Charleston, S.C. 29406 (local phone (843) 554-3100). Contact the firm by calling (888) 324-3100 or filling out its online form.
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