According to the Social Security website: Earned Income: are wages, net earnings from self–employment, certain royalties and honoraria, and sheltered workshop payments. Unearned Income: is all income that is not earned, such as Social Security benefits, pensions, state disability payments, unemployment benefits, interest income, and cash from friends and relatives. In–Kind Income: is food or shelter that you get for free… Read more »
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An Insider’s View On Social Security Disability Going Broke
News that the Social Security disability trust fund is set to run out of money by next year, which could result in disabled workers receiving a 20 percent pay reduction in monthly benefits, has encouraged politicians, policy experts and everyone else to speak-up about what should be done about the pending crisis. Jason Fichtner, a… Read more »
A Closer Look At Social Security Proposals For 2016
Social Security recently released its proposed budget for 2016. Part of the budget discusses certain legislative proposals in 2016. A closer look at some of these more interesting proposals may give us some indication of what changes may be coming for Social Security in the near future. Social Security benefits to same-sex couples: Currently, Social… Read more »
Social Security Benefits for People who are Blind or Have Low Vision
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 »
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 »
