Update on east KY's Social Security crisis: Benefits REINSTATED for now

[peecoolyour]

WASHINGTON, D.C. (WYMT) - Social Security Administration officials announced Thursday disability benefits for hundreds of Appalachian residents will be restored.

The S.S.A. last month suspended payments to about 900 former clients of Floyd County lawyer Eric C. Conn, who the government suspects of using fraudulent information to secure the benefits.

Rep. Hal Rogers, R-Somerset, met with high-ranking S.S.A. officials Wednesday afternoon.

"What my case to them was lift this suspension of these payments to everybody and then individually go through these cases one by one to find those that are fraudulent," Rogers said. "But in the meantime, don't punish the innocent."

The SSA had until 5 p.m. Thursday to respond to a motion filed on behalf of hundreds of people whose disability benefits were suspended, a federal judge ordered Wednesday.

A legal team headed by Prestonsburg attorney Ned Pillersdorf filed two lawsuits - one against the federal government and the other against Conn - in response to the suspensions.

http://www.wkyt.com/wymt/home/headlines/Social-Security-Administration-to-restore-disability-benefits-for-hundreds-of-people-306168481.html

[gratuitous]

1. Good news

Unless, of course, you happened to kill yourself in despair of living in a country that can have $8.5 trillion go missing at the Pentagon over 20 years, but can't see its way clear to taking care of its citizens at the barest subsistence level.

[peecoolyour]

2. +1

[jeff47]

3. And it only took three suicides to change their mind!

*sigh*

[In_The_Wind]

4. That won't help the loved ones of the 3 who committed suicide.

[ruffburr]

5. I'm so happy for those who were affected