Maryland Injury and Disability Law : Washington DC Metro Injury & Disability Lawyer & Attorney : Greenberg & Bederman : Accidents, Falls, Medical Malpractice : Maryland, DC, Virginia

For years I have been attending social security disability law seminars. And for years I have sat through some really lackluster presentations by social security administration officials. Typically, they drone on about their latest initiative. Usually, the initiative sounds doomed from the start. But, this time, things were different. There are some exciting changes on the horizon. By the middle of next year, the Social Security Administration should have their "electronic records express" (ERE) up and running. With this program, representatives will be able to view folders electronically through a secure website. The delay, according to SSA, is ensuring claimant’s privacy.

This may not sound like big news to you but to representatives, this is huge. Having access to a social security’s file at our fingertips, will be enormously helpful. We can check to see what evidence has been obtained. We can look to see what the consultative examiners found during their evaluation. In an instant, we can read what the state agency reviewer opined.

There are other new processes in the works including "eScheduling" and "ePulling".The former envisions automated scheduling of hearings and the latter involves the development of software to organize the evidence in coherent fashion.

All the new proposed procedures have the goal of increasing efficiency in disability process. Keep your fingers crossed that ERE is up and running on schedule and that it works relatively free of glitches.