Update on east KY's Social Security crisis: Benefits REINSTATED for now [View all]
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
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