by Suzanna Laker
1. February 2010 20:44
When someone calls in to Freedom Disability to find out how to get SSDI benefits, the first responder to the call is someone like Eric.
Eric gets about 25 in-coming calls a day. He always keeps his voice calm and gentle. He is very patient as he asks the caller to answer a series of difficult questions. He takes special care with every single person he talks to, as if that person is his only call for the day.
“I never know what to expect on the other end of the line,” he says. “I want to be as helpful to the caller as I can because I know they wouldn’t be contacting Freedom Disability unless they needed help. I’m always hopeful we can help.”
Eric’s job is to “screen” the call, which means he must decide if the person he is talking to could qualify for disability benefits. He asks about their medical condition, work history, and how long they‘ve been out of work – all necessary questions to determine if the person is a likely candidate for disability benefits from the Social Security Administration. There are exceptions to the rule. Eric can tell.
Often it’s hard to hear their stories. But Eric works at controlling his emotions. If he can’t, he says, he isn’t helpful to anybody. So, he prays silently for them. It’s his way of getting through the day.
Another call comes through. He takes a moment, then picks up the receiver.
The next caller is a 50-year-old woman who tells one of those particularly difficult stories. He is confident a Freedom Disability Advocate can help the woman get the disability benefits she needs and schedules an appointment for her. He knows the Advocate will help the woman prepare a winning application.
However, Eric never really knows what the outcome will be for any of the people he passes on to Advocates.
As he takes the next call, he stays positive about the good work he is doing for people with disabilities. He believes that things will work out for them all. He has faith.
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