Tag: COVID-19

New,York,,Ny,-,April,16:,A,Social,Security,Administration

When COVID swept in, the U.S. Social Security Administration responded quickly and closed its field offices on March 27, 2020. They remained closed for two full years, largely eliminating the option to apply in-person for federal disability benefits. So what did people who needed to apply do instead, and how did the closings affect t…

Woman with long COVID

Fewer people with disabilities applied for federal benefits during COVID. The main reason for the drop could’ve been anything from the ease of working at home to evade the virus to the difficulty of applying after Social Security closed its field offices during the pandemic. But fewer applicants does not point to progress. In fact,…