DoD, Social Security aim to speed up wounded warrior benefits

Social Security and the Defense Department want to speed up wounded warriors’ access to disability benefits.

A new project lets SSA disability case processing sites take in DoD electronic medical records originating in multiple locations. That capability went nationwide this week. The centers simply log onto a single DoD website.

Social Security Commissioner Michael Astrue said the setup would shorten the time it takes to make disability decisions. SSA tested the capability in five states. It showed medical records could be made available to case workers within three days. Paper records took five weeks.

This story is part of Federal News Radio’s daily DoD Report brought to you by United Health Military and Veterans Services. For more defense news,

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