Actually, it WAS Bush...LMFAO!!!!!!!!!!
Senate Passes Social Security Disability Applicants Access to Professional Representation Act
Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-MT) and Ranking Member Chuck Grassley (R-IA) applauded the Senates
unanimous passage yesterday of a bill to make permanent two successful demonstration programs that provide incentives for qualified professionals to represent Americans with disabilities in claims for Social Security Disability and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits, according to a press release.
In the past, attorneys could request to collect their fees directly from the Social Security Administration (SSA). But the direct payment was available only to attorneys, not to non-attorney representatives, and only for Social Security claims, not for SSI claims. This deterred some representatives from pursuing these cases and made it difficult for some claimants to access the qualified representation they needed.
The Social Security Protection Act of 2004 created two demonstration projects to expand eligibility for direct payments to qualified non-attorney representatives and SSI claims. To qualify as a professional representative, individuals must pass an exam written and administered by the Commissioner of Social Security, meet certain educational and professional liability insurance requirements and pass a criminal background check. Both programs have proven successful at increasing claimants access to qualified, professional representation.
The Social Security Disability Applicants Access to Professional Representation Act (H.R. 4532) makes these two successful projects permanent, streamlining the compensation process and providing the certainty representatives need to pursue these cases.
Its been passed in the House, so the bill now goes to President Obama for his signature.