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Social Security Administartion Case Study
Kendra E. Marsteller
Liberty University- Public Administration
PADM 501-B02
Dr. Connie Bates
September 27, 2020
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Introduction:
This case gives some insight into the Social Security Administration (SSA) and their
guidelines about social security benefits as the demand for benefits has increased. This case
touches on the foundations of the SSA, disabled individuals needing assistance and benefits,
insight on customer support and they constant supply of benefits including veteran services and
what options they have after being denied much needed benefits. The SSA has three major
programs, including Disability Insurance (DI), Old Age and Survivor Insurance (OASI), and
Supplemental security Income (SSI). This mainly talks about Disability Insurance and covers a
veteran named Vince Rogov and his story. Vince served his country and was denied disability
benefits multiple times. Vince looked for help though disability advocates and that’s when he
entered Mike Lawrence’s office. Advocates assisted Vince due to their knowledge of policies and
guidelines of the SSA. Vince was denied and needed help, just like many other individuals
including veterans.
Facts:
The Social Security Administration has a stamped increment in applications for
incapacity protection, saddling representatives and expanding caseload for specialists (Cropf,
Giancola & Loutzenhiser, 2012). The criteria for this have specific requirements and measures
set up. Such requirements are dependent on age, the incapacity needs to be relied on year-round,
the handicap has to be extreme enough to take out work in any profession (Cropf, Giancola &
Loutzenhiser, 2012). There is a slight chance that the criteria laid out are met, that candidate
referred to the SSA. Specialists in the SSA are essential at this point of the process, this is where
a case manager adjusts the essentials of the office and the requirements of the candidate. In other
words, they are to be accommodated. Usually there are more refusals and they occur rather
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quickly. At this point case managers encounters distress, dissatisfaction, disarray, and outrage
from the candidate (Cropf, Giancola & Loutzenhiser, 2012). The application process for
administrations are a long and dreary process. Candidates like Vince Rogov are usually denied
the first time at that time they should look for a backer who knows the process and procedures
(like Mike Lawrence). This process can be quite long and can cause significant stress. In this
case Vince was put in a bad position and kept getting denied benefits.
After, Vince Rogov was denied multiple times for inability protection by the SSA. Vince
entered Mike Lawrence office and asked him to take his case. Vince has an extensive medical
history of hypertension, heart failure, back issues, and even showed signs of a mental disability
(which he was not clinically diagnosed with). During this time Lawrence learns that Vince was
deployed overseas and experienced substantial amounts of stress during this deployment.
Lawrence obtained information from Vince’s family and friends realizing that Vince’s
experiences damaged his relationships with others, some of which are permanently. Vince did
have a criminal history with several weapon charges (Cropf, Giancola & Loutzenhiser, 2012). As
shown in this case study there are reasons why Vince may have been denied so many times
considering his medical history.
It’s important to understand that part of the United States government is the Social
Security Administration. The SSA is probably the biggest federal agency in the United States,
which also shares various parts of our welfare organizations. With Vince’s case it seemed that
there was a problem in terms of legitimate records by physicians. Vince mentioned his emotional
well-being and issues while serving in the United States military (Cropf, Giancola &
Loutzenhiser, 2012). Lawrence thought Vince’s legal suit could actually profit with evidence
however, the drawn-out process only caused Vince to become upset and stressed with the
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procedure. The judge wanted Vince to be available for trial or perception, Lawrence advised
Vince of what the judge demanded, Vince violently lashed out and making threats that he was
going to shoot everyone in the court hearing (Cropf, Giancola & Loutzenhiser, 2012). Vince did
give Lawrence an apology, stating that he did not mean the things he said, that he lashed out due
to the pressure this process has cause him (Cropf, Giancola & Loutzenhiser, 2012). Lawrence
considered the circumstance and what Vince was going through as well as his emotional wellness
issues. Lawrence was not convinced of Vince’s apology and his regret (Cropf, Giancola &
Loutzenhiser, 2012).
Decision:
Despite that Vince apologized to Lawrence, he was still skeptical on the sincerity of
Vince’s apology and if he was going to follow through with his threat. Vince’s mental illness
played a huge role in his actions and the level of stress he was under during this whole process.
The courts take their time and all the waiting for a decision on Vince’s appeal ended up stressing
him even more. Lawrence had difficulty in the situation before the administrative law judge
meeting especially concerning the dangers. Lawrence also had a commitment to look out for the
well-being of Vince even more so with what distress this was causing him and his mental state.
Meaning, that Lawrence would continue to proceed with the meeting. Lawrence did achieve an
emotional well-being assessment for Vince, realizing more doctor verification attesting Vince’s
requirements for a incapacity protection endorsement.
However, for Vince could mean more criminal charges based off his threats and harm to another
person but also given his mental health and criminal history, things did not look good for Vince.
Solution:
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Despite that Vince apologized to Lawrence, he was still skeptical on the sincerity of
Vince’s apology and if he was going to follow through with his threat. Vince’s mental illness
played a huge role in his actions and the level of stress he was under during this whole process.
The courts take their time and all the waiting for a decision on Vince’s appeal ended up stressing
him even more. Lawrence had difficulty in the situation Vince has shown and given his criminal
history of weapons charges he is a threat to carrying firearms. Lawrence had an obligation to
inform the other individuals in the meeting that Vince threated to harm them with a firearm,
despite Vince’s true intentions. Lawrence had a moral responsibility to report these threats, not
just for his safety but the safety of others, it did not matter if Vince had a criminal record or not.
These threats are never to be taken lightly. Unless one can get into the mind of a person and what
they are truly thinking there were to many unknowns. With Vince’s criminal history it would
have been a little more difficult for him to obtain a firearm, however, if he really wanted one, he
would have found a way to get one.
Conclusion:
The Social Security Administration is a common beneficial association and massive
government office. However, they have a lot of short comings when it comes to their procedures
and policies. People get un-noticed or passed over despite the need for assistance. The SSA make
things so complex people tend to give up and, in some cases, act out like Vince did. They are so
fed up with the process and are at times in dire need of assistance they resort to other measures.
The application process is so drawn out anyone would become fed up. It is unfortunate that many
people with disabilities who are incapacitated are the ones who are fighting through this
application process. It seems based of this case that anyone who wants to obtain benefits from
the SSA they need to seek help before even starting the process so that they are granted benefits
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the first go round. Vince is just another example of how the United States and SSA falls short in
taking care of their citizens and the dissatisfactions that come with trying to get help.
References:
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Cropf, R. A., Giancola, J.M., & Loutzenhiser, K. K. (2016). The Public Administration
Casebook. Routledge.
Shafritz, M. Jay., Hyde, C. Albert (2017). Classics of Public Admiration (8th ed). Boston, MA:
Cengage Learning.
Talleraas, C. (2019). Reconciling transnational mobility and National Social Security: What Say
the Welfare State Bureaucrats?. Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, 45(1), 151-169
(accessed 22, September 2020).
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