The Social Security Administration (SSA) provides disability benefits to those who are blind and are unable to work. If you are blind and have worked in the past under the SSA’s rules you may qualify for Disability Insurance Benefits (DIB). If you are blind and do not qualify for DIB benefits, you may still be… Read more »
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COLA Versus ‘Chained’ CPI
President Barack Obama and congress have both offered plans that would change the calculation of annual Social Security payment increases. When Social Security began in 1935 there were no provisions for annual increases in payments for theQ first 15 years of the program. Since 1950 the Social Security Administration uses Cost of Living Adjustments (COLA)… Read more »
Social Security’s Listing Of Impairments
Almost daily, employees of Social Security disability law offices are bombarded with client questions about why a client received a denial letter in the mail when their conditions and impairments should’ve qualified them as disabled, but Social Security decided they were fit enough to work. Honestly, it is a question that does not have a… Read more »
What Is A VTC Hearing?
Social Security has instituted a new procedure when it comes to scheduling disability hearings before an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ), a phase in a disability case that is probable for most disability applicants who continue with claims. The new procedure is that Social Security reserves the right to schedule a hearing Via Video Teleconferencing (VTC)… Read more »
Many Obstacles Exist When Contacting Social Security
Unfortunately contacting Social Security is a necessary evil in the world of Social Security disability claims. It may be logical to think that if someone applies for disability through Social Security that the agency would be readily available to handle claims, process paperwork and answer any questions for those who apply. Well, think again. There… Read more »
What is Date Last Insured?
The Date Last Insured (DLI) refers to the last quarter in which a Social Security Disability claimant met the insured status and is eligible to receive Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) (also known as Disability Insurance Benefits (DIB)). Why does this date matter? Think of SSDI as an insurance program, you pay into it when… Read more »
The Consequences of Trying to Hide Income
Last year an Amarillo, TX woman pled guilty in federal court to participating in a scam that allowed her brother-in-law to collect $42,000 worth of Social Security disability payments he was not eligible for because he was working. The woman, who co-owned a concrete business, hired and employed the man who was allegedly collecting fraudulent… Read more »
Can I Receive Benefits if I Live Abroad?
According to the Social Security Administration if you are a U.S. citizen, you can travel to or live in most foreign countries without impacting your Social Security benefits, but there are a few countries where they cannot send Social Security payments. These countries include: Azerbaijan, Belarus, Cuba, Cambodia, Georgia, Kazakstan, Kyrgzstan, Moldova, North Korea, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine,… Read more »
Rare Lung Disease: Obliterative Bronchiolitis Explained
Obliterative Bronchiolitis is a very rare and non-reversible form of obstructive lung disease. When someone suffers from this condition a small airway in the lungs becomes compressed and narrowed by scar tissue or inflammation. In these types of cases, the disease is extremely serious and can be fatal. Common symptoms of the condition include obstruction… Read more »
Social Security Disability Terms
The Social Security disability process can be lengthy and confusing. The Social Security Administration uses a lot of terms and definitions related to processing of disability claims, so to understand the process a little bit better, here are some terms Social Security uses and their definitions. More specifically, we are looking at the types of… Read more »
