The Social Security Forum

NOSSCR Helps Provide Relief to Those Impacted by Hurricane Helene

December 19, 2024

Shortly after hurricane Helene struck western North Carolina, Commissioner O’Malley reached out to legal advocates in North Carolina to facilitate a meeting between NOSSCR President Rick Fleming, advocates from Legal Aid of North Carolina and Pisgah Legal Services, and Social Security Administration leadership to receive feedback and support on addressing the needs of impacted Social Security claimants and beneficiaries. Rick, Brian Hogan of Legal Aid of North Carolina (a NOSSCR nonprofit member), and legal services advocates met with Rose Mary Buehler, Regional Commissioner and Patti Patterson, Regional Communications Director in the Atlanta Region to offer feedback and discuss flexibilities for beneficiaries in the impacted areas.

NOSSCR Board Member, Ashley Sappenfield, also advocated directly to the Commissioner’s Office during our November 2024 monthly meeting in Woodlawn to express the urgent needs of our impacted neighbors, friends, and colleagues in Western North Carolina.  We are pleased to report that the Social Security Administration responded favorably to our conversations. Some specific results are as follows:

  • Guidance issued on disaster relief assistance to ensure the assistance is not counted as income or resources for SSI.
  • Guidance issued to identify underpayments for the affected areas with the goal of streamlining payment to the beneficiaries. 
  • Guidance issued to apply maximum flexibility when deciding whether to extend good cause provisions related to the submission of evidence, appeals, hearings, redeterminations, and continuing disability reviews.
  • Guidance issued to exercise caution and remain flexible while processing workloads that may cause an adverse action, including the processing of overpayment waivers and personal conferences.
  • Regional Chief ALJ, Michael Rodriguez, and Regional Management Officer, Jennifer Thompson, communicated to the hearing office management teams affected by hurricanes Helene and Milton, wherein they were reminded that policy allows for liberal considerations in the disaster struck areas to include leniency in establishing good cause in cases where an unforeseeable event occurred, delays in receipt of mail in the affected areas, adjusting the manner of appearance if warranted, and ensuring the utilization of HITMER where applicable.  

NOSSCR is grateful that SSA worked hand-in-hand with us and with Legal Aid of North Carolina and Pisgah Legal Services to offer meaningful assistance for those affected by Hurricane Helene. The work of aiding impacted claimants and beneficiaries in Western North Carolina and impacted areas is just beginning, and it will be a long road to recovery for this region, but we are happy to see the Agency take these meaningful immediate steps to meet the needs of our mutual clients.  Please do not hesitate to reach out to your Circuit Representative if a local issue arises that requires action.