Lawmakers Push For Social Media Snooping In Disability Cases

On Tuesday, key members of Congress brought attention to two Social Security judges who may have approved thousands of bogus disability claims. According to members of Congress, the Social Security Agency has yet to review the applications approved by David B. Daughtery in Virginia and Charles Bridges in Pennsylvania, who have been accused of making false disability determinations.

The lawmakers are asking the agency to come up with a system to review cases from “red-flag” judges, who tend to lean towards rubber-stamping applications.

Additionally, the Representative heading the House Oversight and Government Reform subcommittee, say that Social Security employees should be allowed to look at the social media profiles of those applying for disability, because the information provided on those platforms will often expose applicants as able bodied. This was the case when New York City police officers, who had claimed disability from the 9/11 terrorist attacks, were exposed because investigators found photos online of said officers engaging in flying helicopters and riding personal watercraft.

Nearly a dozen recommendations for improving the Social Security’s disability system were sent to Social Security acting Commissioner Carolyn W. Colvin, in an 11-page memo.

A Social Security spokeswoman said that the Social Security agency takes fraud very seriously, and will review the lawmaker’s recommendation. She also asked Congress to grant more funding in order to help the agency make more of an effort to prevent fraud.

Lawmakers hope that granting Social Security employees access to social media so that they can scour them before approving applications will reduce the number of disability determinations. To read more about this visit the Washington Times. Contact our experienced social security attorneys today.

Kenneth G. Marks has been practicing personal injury law since he was admitted to the California Bar in 1981. www.KmarksLaw.com