Category Archives: Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)

Social Security Disability and SSI claimants now have more opportunities to get their cases fast-tracked for certain conditions. The Social Security Administration announced 13 new Compassionate Allowances conditions involving the immune system and neurological disorders. The Compassionate Allowances program fast-tracks disability decisions to ensure that claimants with the most serious disabilities receive benefit decisions within

Social Security Disability claimants will receive a raise next year!  On Wednesday, October 19, 2011, the Social Security Administration put out a press release announcing that the Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) for beneficiaries will be 3.6% in 2012. This adjustment affects individuals receiving Old Age and Social Security Disability benefits. In 2011 there was no COLA.

This entry is the third and final installment of a review of changes to Social Security Disability and SSI proposed by Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK) that would supposedly save $3 trillion from entitlement plans. Listed below are some of his “reforms” with some brief comments in italics from this author. The government should be represented at the ALJ

This entry is the second installment of a review of proposed changes to Social Security Disability and SSI made by Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK) that would supposedly save $3 trillion from entitlement plans. Listed below are some of his “reforms” with some brief comments in italics from this author. Eliminate the 10% cap on recovery of SSI

Social Security Disability and SSI are likely to see some changes in the future in order to provide the program with the solvency it needs to take care for those who need the benefits to survive.  However, some proposed changes to the program would significantly harm deserving claimants and only add more expense and confusion to an

VA says I am disabled, so why is Social Security denying my Social Security Disability or SSI claim? It is Social Security’s position that VA decisions are not binding upon them. Social Security and VA have similar standards for approving disability claims, but the VA has many partial disability programs. For Social Security disability, one

Can I get Social Security disability benefits if I expect to get better and return to work? You have to have been disabled for at least one year or be expected to be disabled for at least one year. So, if you expect to be out of work for one year or more on account

As part of our continuing series on Social Security Disability and SSI benefits: What kinds of benefits are there? There are several kinds of disability benefits for which a person can be eligible. Depending on the facts, you may be entitled to one of these benefits, or you may be entitled to more than one.

As part of our continuing Q&A section on Social Security Disability and SSI benefits: How does Social Security Determine Disability? They use a five-step process to decide if you are disabled. Here are the questions Social Security asks: 1.  Are you working? If you are working and your earnings average more than a certain amount

Thinking of applying for Social Security Disability or SSI benefits?  Here some answers to common questions.  This will be part of a continuing series of questions and answers on the blog. When Do I Apply? You should apply for disability benefits as soon as you become disabled. It can take a long time to process

Claimants applying for Social Security Disability and SSI can sometimes qualify for benefits due to serious spinal conditions or disorders. Affected people may qualify under the Listing 1.04 of Part 404, Subpart P, Appendix 1 or under Step Five of the sequential decision making process because of the reduced Residual Functional Capacity resulting from the

Social Security Disability claimants beware!  As noted in a recent e-mail flash from NOSSCR (a great organization!!), the Social Security Administration recently published SSR 11-1p revising the SSA’s policy for handling subsequent applications when a prior claim is pending with the Appeals Council. Effective July 28, 2011, the Social Security Administration will no longer process a subsequent disability claim

The Social Security Administration has released disposition data for the Administrative Law Judges on their website for September 2010 through June of 2011. You can get historical data on ALJ dispositions here. If you need more information about a personal injury matter (car wreck, truck accident, boating accident, slip and fall, etc.), SSD/SSI matter, or a workers

Tony Farmer and John Dreiser were both recently recognized by their peers in the July/August 2011 issue of Cityview Magazine as top attorneys in the areas of workers’ compensation and Social Security Disability. CityView Magazine invites members of the Knoxville Bar Association to participate and this year more than 20,000 votes were cast in 57

Often I am asked, “How much will I get if I am approved for Social Security Disability?” My first response is that I cannot tell you off hand because every person’s benefit is different depending on their earnings. The next thing I advise a client is that an easy way is to look at the pamphlet

For the month ending April 28, 2011, the three East Tennessee Office of Disability, Adjudication and Review (ODAR) offices responsible for handling Social Security Disability hearings were ranked in the top 30 for processing times. The Chattanooga ODAR came in ranked at 7th with an average processing time of 259 days. The Kingsport ODAR slipped some to

On Friday, June 10, 2011, firm attorney, John Dreiser, lectured at National Business Institute’s Social Security Disability Bootcamp in Knoxville, Tennessee.  The 6.67 hour CLE was aimed at teaching attorneys, paralegals, and other appointed representatives the ins and outs of representing claimants before the Social Security Administration.  The seminar was well attended and received. If you need

Social Security Disability benefits can affect amounts recovered under other federal, state, and/or private benefit policies. First, amounts received under Title II can affect a claimant’s eligibility for SSI benefits under the federal statutes or can at least reduce those amounts to a smaller amount. Since SSI is a needs-based calculation, it does not matter where

individuals may be eligible for Social Security Disability or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits for hereditary or degenerative neurological disorders. Affected people may qualify under Listing 11.17 of Part 404, Subpart P, Appendix 1 or under Step Five of the sequential decision-making process because of their reduced Residual Functional Capacity resulting from the neurological disorder. Listing 11.17 reads as