http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101114/ap_on_go_ot/us_judges_threats
Social Security judges facing more violent threats. AP. 11/15/2010.
Judges should be worried. Many claimants are former military and it wouldn't be hard to locate them using online search tools. Once located they can easily be killed if one is properly skilled and motivated.
What do they expect? People to just sit around quietly and starve to death?
Social Security judges facing more violent threats. AP. 11/15/2010.
Judges who hear Social Security disability cases are facing a growing number of violent threats from claimants angry over being denied benefits or frustrated at lengthy delays in processing claims.
There were at least 80 threats to kill or harm administrative law judges or staff over the past year — an 18 percent increase over the previous reporting period, according to data collected by the agency.
A Senate subcommittee is expected to hear testimony on Monday at a field hearing in Akron, Ohio, about the rising number of threats, as well as the status of the massive backlog in applications for disability benefits, which are available to people who can't work because of medical problems.
Nearly 2 million people are waiting to find out if they qualify for benefits, with many having to wait more than two years to see their first payment.
Judges say some claimants become desperate after years of fighting for money to help make ends meet.
While no judges were harmed this year, there have been past incidents: A judge in Los Angeles was hit over the head with a chair during a hearing and a judge in Newburgh, N.Y., was punched by a claimant when he showed up for work.
In January, a gunman possibly upset about a reduction in his Social Security benefits killed a security guard during a furious gunbattle at a Nevada federal courthouse.
Judges should be worried. Many claimants are former military and it wouldn't be hard to locate them using online search tools. Once located they can easily be killed if one is properly skilled and motivated.
What do they expect? People to just sit around quietly and starve to death?