Local veteran still fighting to get social security

[MinneapolisMatt]

Note: This article is from the small town newspaper I grew up in (Hastings, Minnesota). I'm hoping by posting this here it will get wider attention. I've already contacted my reps/senators, but is there anything else I/WE can do? Please K&R for ideas, suggestions, etc.

I don't want to violate the five paragraph rule, but are there any legal arguments (either way) for or against him in the article that weren't mentioned? Thanks for checking this out.

-Matt



Local veteran still fighting to get social security

http://www.hastingsstargazette.com/articles/index.cfm?id=18891§ion=homepage

On the gray morning of Nov. 11, with a sky full of sleet and snow, Tony Rose pulls a pan of sweet-smelling caramel pecan rolls out of the oven at Second Street Coffee Shop in downtown Hastings.

The 67-year old Navy veteran and resident of the Hastings Veterans Home has been fighting for the past two years to get his social security pension from the U.S. government, so far, to no avail.

*snip*

“That memo has caused me no end of grief,” he said.

The government’s denial of his social security seems to hinge on that one paragraph memo. The letterhead says “United States Government Memorandum.” It’s dated April 13, 1963, and says Rose “stated he had abandoned his residence in the U.S. and does not plan to live in the U.S. again.”

*snip*

Rose has been living at the Hastings Veterans Home for the past three years and works part-time at Second Street Coffee Shop and Animal Ark.

[Donnachaidh]

1. I had two suggestions, but it seems he's already done them

The first was get a lawyer, which he's done. And she seems to be doing as much, if not more than the normal SS disability lawyer would. The second was contact his representative - and he's done that as well. I'm just surprised that his rep has done nothing.

We had a close friend who became a quadraplegic when he had a fall in his kitchen. He literally only had the use of his head, neck, and partial use of one shoulder. Believe it or not, even with extensive medical records, Social Security turned him DOWN the first time he applied! We were ALL stunned when this happened. But at that point his mother jumped in, and contacted her representatives -- in MINNESOTA -- and his disability was gotten, pretty quickly, I should add. The difference in this case - she personally KNEW the rep, and her son had grown up with the rep's kids.

At this point I'd contact the media. Send this to Keith or Rachel, and let them run with this. It's shameful that he would be getting so screwed by the government he fought for. It's unbelievable that the Government hasn't produced the original document that the damning paragraph sprang from. That's not supposed to happen here.

Please keep us posted on this.

[MinneapolisMatt]

3. I'll keep trying to contact my reps/senators.

This article just pisses me off to NO END.

My dad is a vet, so maybe he can make some calls too.

Thanks for responding!

[midnight]

2. Another shame that will never get the exposure it deserves.

When I hear about all the money being used for Bush and his gang off the hard work of our vets, it just makes me shake my head.

[MinneapolisMatt]

4. As Donnachaidh said...

...I think I'll start contacting local media and bigger papers here. I'll cross-post this on Kos, since I know Keith reads/posts there.

-Matt

[MinneapolisMatt]

5. Shamelessly kicking for the afternoon crowd...

...and here are some contacts, if you feel so obliged:

State Senator Katie Sieben (D) District 57:
[e-mail]


Rep. Denny McNamara (R) District 57B:
http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/members/mailto.asp?id=10776


MN Congressman John Kline (R) District 2:
http://kline.house.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=ContactInformation.ContactForm&To=[e-mail]&CFID=6759690&CFTOKEN=37847019


US Senator Amy Klobuchar (D):
http://klobuchar.senate.gov/emailamy.cfm?contactForm=casework&submit=Go


US Senator Norm Coleman (R):
http://coleman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.ContactForm


Future US Senator Al Franken (D):
http://www.alfranken.com/page/s/contact


Thanks!

Matt :)