Category Archives: Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)

The Social Security Administration (SSA) recently revised the POMS and HALLEX that deal with borderline age situations for claimants seeking Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits. When adjudicators are evaluating a claim under the five-step sequential evaluation process, they must consider the claimant’s age in combination with his or her

A new ruling has been published by the Social Security Administration (SSA) affecting claimants seeking Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits. The SSA published SSR 16-3p – “Evaluation of Symptoms and Disability Claims” meant to supersede SSR 96-7p. The primary change in the new ruling is that it does not

A major concern for people seeking Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is the time it takes to get their case decided once they reach the hearing level. It has been since December of 2015 that I updated the processing times and approval rates for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and

If you or a loved one is struggling with a medical disability, you may have options for getting financial assistance through Social Security benefits. Perhaps you have heard of SSD benefits and want to learn more, or maybe you applied for benefits and your application denied. Regardless of what stage you’re at, an attorney experienced

People seeking Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits are having to endure longer and longer wait times for their hearings. I regularly update the average wait times for local hearing offices as well as issues affecting or causing the backlog. Recently, the Social Security Administration’s Office of Disability Adjudication and

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) claims typically have one of two outcomes: Favorable (fully or partial) or Unfavorable – though various combination of benefits can occur. When a person applies for disability benefits through the Social Security Administration (SSA), he or she typically files a dual claim: Social Security Disability

For workers over the age of 50, the gradual or sudden onset of a mental or physical disability can have significant professional consequences. Whether you work in manufacturing in Knoxville or in an office setting in a neighboring Tennessee community, managing your disability and the responsibilities of a job may be impossible. For those with

An increasing number of Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) cases are involving evidence from Cooperative Disability Investigations (CDI) Units. The Social Security Administration (SSA) utilizes CDI Units to investigate allegations of fraud. The Units work in conjunction with the Office of Inspector General (OIG), as well as State Disability Determination

In Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) cases, people statistically find the greatest level of success at the hearing level where they appear before an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ). However, ALJs often make mistakes on Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and SSI claims that result in unfavorable decisions. If an ALJ

A reoccurring theme on my blog is the backlog at the hearing level for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and SSI claims. I recently discussed that one of the factors in the backlog was the decrease in on-the-record (OTR) Fully Favorable Decision produced by attorney advisors (AA’s) or known as senior attorneys. The Social Security Administration

It has been since early October that I checked in on the processing times and approval rates for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) claims for some hearing offices in Tennessee and Eastern Kentucky. Please remember that these statistics are only for claims pending at the hearing level or Office of

Recently it was discussed that there will be no cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) in 2016 for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and SSI beneficiaries. The COLA is important because it also sets other Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and SSI-related amounts for 2016. For 2016 the following are amounts to remember: Maximum taxable earnings – $118,500.00

Unfortunately, many at some point in their lives will need to hire an attorney for some issue. Whether you are buying a house, preparing your will, using a contractor that did you wrong, or, you or someone you love has been involved in a car accident, suffered medical malpractice, or are disabled and need help

Recipients of Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits will not see a benefit increase in 2016!  Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and SSI recipients saw a 1.7% increase in benefits in 2015. The COLA is based on the Consumer Price Index from the third quarter of the current year.  This is only the third time in the history

I often write about how long it takes for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) claims to wind through the bureaucracy to completion and how often claims are denied.  I do this partially to dispel common myths that exist such as it easy to get disability benefits and everyone gets approved.  In September, I looked at

On August, 29, 2015, I wrote about waiting times and approval rates for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) at the hearing level. I try to blog on this subject every month or two because these statistics are so important to people waiting for their Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or

Last week, I discussed how the Social Security Administration evaluates Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) claims.  This week I want to briefly discuss how the SSA evaluates subjective symptoms by claimants in Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) cases.  The SSA evaluates symptoms, including pain and fatigue, and the extent to which the symptoms can be accepted as

Whenever I meet with a potential Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) client, again prior to his or her hearing, I find it helpful to discuss how the Social Security Administration (SSA) evaluates claims for disability.  In terms of meeting the medical requirements, the SSA utilizes the same process for Social

I often get calls about qualifying for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and SSI due to epileptic seizures.  The Social Security Administration (SSA) has stringent rules for those seeking Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or SSI based only on epilepsy at the listing level of the sequential process.  The regulations require: 11.02 Epilepsy – convulsive

I used to write on and update about the average wait times for hearings in Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) claims on a quarterly basis.  However, because the trend has continued to be on increasing processing times and decreasing approval rates, I have chosen to update more frequently.  Below you