The Ombudsman contacted the SSA concerning the woman’s request. Staff at the agency reported a high volume of citizen requests, yet agreed to send the woman a disc containing her electronic records. The discs are provided rather than paper copies because the citizen’s folder with the Social Security Administration is completely electronic.
The woman later called to report that she had received a disc from the SSA that contained a great deal of information — but not the particular medical reports she was seeking.
The Ombudsman is familiar with the agency discs and believed the disc to be complete. The Ombudsman provided some instruction for the woman on how to check the disc for additional information. The woman called later to report that a friend had been able to open the medical reports on his computer, and now the woman had all the information she had been seeking and was satisfied.
The Ombudsman Column, a production of the Joint Office of Citizen Complaints, summarizes selected problems that citizens have with government services, schools and nursing homes in the Dayton area. Contact the Ombudsman by writing to the Beerman Building, 11 West Monument Avenue, Suite 606, Dayton, Ohio 45402 or telephone 937-223-4613 or by electronic mail at ombudsman@dayton-ombudsman.org.
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