There are few people on the face of the planet who have done more for the Social Security Administration than Commissioner Michael J. Astrue. As you may remember from past posts, he has already received several awards for his work with Social Security disability beneficiaries; and with this month’s newest award, we see how grateful people truly are of his hard work and dedication.
The National Alliance for Hispanic Health awarded Commissioner Astrue this month with the prestigious VIDA National Hispanic Health Leadership Award for his exemplification of vision, innovation, dedication and advocacy. The award is only presented to those persons who the Alliance feels has shown exceptional leadership and have worked hard to secure the best health outcomes for everyone.
“Commissioner Astrue’s commitment to all communities has defined his life,” says the president and CEO of the Alliance. “He is a man of principle and values that we respect and honor.”
Under the guidance of Commissioner Astrue, the Social Security Administration has become more streamlined and is now able to process considerably more applications than previously able. Thanks to his development and expansion of the Compassionate Allowances and Quick Disability Determinations, people with disability claims now get quicker response time to their applications and are able to receive benefits faster and easier than before.
As many disability beneficiaries in Illinois know, the system still isn’t perfect and there are still those few cases that are denied despite mounting evidence that seems to state otherwise. It is the hope that as Commissioner Astrue pioneers ahead that the system will continue to improve thereby improving the lives of disabled people across the nation.
Source: The Social Security Administration, “Commissioner Astrue Receives 2013 VIDA Award from the National Alliance for Hispanic Health,” Mark Hinkle, Jan. 29, 2013
Tags: disability benefits, Social Security Administration, Social Security Disability
