Social Security disability applicants can see benefits when they hire a representative to help them apply, according to Allsup, which represents tens of thousands of people in the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) process each year.

In fact, more people are getting representation, especially at the hearing level (level 3) of the SSDI application process. About 90 percent of all hearings involved representatives in fiscal year 2007, compared with about 84 percent in fiscal year 2004, according to the Social Security Administration1. More than 765,000 people are waiting just at the hearing level to see if they will be awarded benefits.

"Once people quit working because of a disability, it's important to realize that their situations are not likely to get easier--but rather more complex," said Ed Swierczek, senior claimant representative. "This is another reason to get representation earlier in the SSDI process, for example, at the initial application or after you've had your first denial of benefits."

   

A team of Slimband employees successfully competed in the 19th Annual Canada Life CN Tower Climb for WWF-Canada that took place on April 16th. The CN Tower Climb is a demanding competition in which competitors race up the 1,776 steps (or 144 flights) of the CN Tower. This year more than 400 teams and over 2,200 climbers competed in the Team Challenge division.

The CN Tower Climb is not only a great physical challenge, but also a fantastic fundraising event. The event's main purpose is to raise funds for the World Wildlife Fund, and in turn combat global warming - our greatest current environmental threat. Slimband's fundraising efforts contributed over $500 to the cause.

The Slimband team, consisting of members David Ku, Ioana Pescarasu, Leo Palermo, Jen Prosen and Yvonne Tsui completed the trial in fantastic time - all well under the average time of 25 - 40 minutes. A standout performance however, was that of Leo Palermo who completed the climb in 15 minutes and 58 seconds, placing him amongst the top 10 competitors.