Several years ago the Social Security Administration changed a policy related to disability claims. Prior to this change a disability claimant could have an active claim at the Appeals Council and could file a new claim while that decision is pending. Typically Appeals Council decisions can take up to 18 months to receive and there… Read more »
Blog
Too Many People Die While Waiting For Social Security Disability
I came across a story this month about a Louisiana man who was recently arrested for fraudulently receiving Social Security disability payments for the last year while he was working and earning substantial income, which is a big NO-NO. When a person receives Social Security disability they are claiming that they are unable to work… Read more »
Is Social Security Disability Going Bankrupt?
For many years now there has been a lot of talk about both the Social Security retirement and disability programs going broke. We have heard about when both programs will run out of money if nothing is done to change it, so it is important to know that Congress held hearings on the issue a… Read more »
What is a Vocational Expert?
A huge sigh of relief usually follows the notification that a claimant’s Social Security disability hearing is scheduled. Finally, it gives a claimant a chance to have their “day in court” to prove they deserve either Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits. Sometimes that relief is soon replaced with trepidation… Read more »
Will I Have to Speak at My Disability Hearing?
As a case manager, when I have to inform our clients at Greeman Toomey about hearings before an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ), a common question that is asked is if a claimant has to speak at the hearing. The answer is, if the ALJ wants to hear from you, you are going to have to… Read more »
The Problem With SSI Applications
Social Security has, for quite some time now, attempted to provide more services online so that people don’t have to face long wait times standing in line at a Social Security office or on hold when they call Social Security. Not everyone has Internet access, but most people do and would rather attempt to access… Read more »
Millennials Should Care About Social Security As Much As Anyone
When you are young and in the prime of your life one of the last things you are probably thinking about is old age and retirement, but it’s really never too early to think about securing your future. Today’s Millennial Generation is finding it difficult to get a career started, so topics like retirement and… Read more »
The Listing Of Impairments
Unless you are familiar with the Social Security disability process you probably don’t know what the Listing of Impairments are, but few things are more important in a successful disability claim than the Listing of Impairments. These listings describe each major body system and impairments that are considered severe enough prevent an individual from gainful… Read more »
The Disability Date
Nothing may be more important to a Social Security disability case than the Alleged Onset Date (AOD). This is the date a claimant contends that impairments they suffer from have become disabling enough that they are unable to maintain gainful employment. Now, gainful employment may mean different things to different people, but for the purposes… Read more »
Internal Revenue Veteran Named CIO Of SSA
The Social Security Administration recently named Rajive Mathur the new Chief Information Office (CIO). Mathur, whose official title will be deputy commissioner for systems and CIO, is the former director of online services for the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), where he helped promote certain tax products for the public. Mathur replaces Rob Klopp who helped… Read more »
