It is a little known fact that ex-spouses have the ability to collect Social Security disability benefits based on their divorced partner’s Social Security earnings even if that ex-spouse has remarried, if the right circumstances exist. The same goes for Social Security retirement benefits. This may irk some people who would have their ex-spouse collecting… Read more »
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Social Security Benefit Increase Expected in 2015
We are now in the fourth quarter of 2014, which is a good time to start looking at what 2015 might bring in the world of Social Security disability. Although no official word has come out, it is expected that Social Security retirement and disability benefits will increase in 2015. Social Security is expected to… Read more »
Video Teleconferencing At Your Hearing
Social Security recently changed its rules about the use of video teleconferencing (VTC) for disability hearings before an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ). Previously, Social Security has used VTC for a portion of its hearings. The VTC process relates to using ALJs in other jurisdictions to administer hearings with claimants and representatives via video rather than… Read more »
Will New Social Security Support Center Change Things?
Late last month the Social Security Administration announced the opening of a new National Support Center (NSC), which the federal agency christened with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Social Security lauded this announcement as a new step towards state-of-the art technology that will allow Social Security to work more efficiently, something the agency has lacked for decades…. Read more »
When Disabilities Don’t Matter To Social Security
It may seem ridiculous when administrators of a disability program don’t require evidence of disabilities or even consider medical evidence of a claimant applying for disability, but that is exactly what Social Security does on occasion for its Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program. Many people, who navigate through the Social Security disability process for… Read more »
Income Requirements for SSI
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a financial needs based program. For this reason the Social Security Administration has set rules in place to determine who meets the non-medical requirements of SSI, whether or not medical disability is proven. There are no work requirement rules for SSI as there is with Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI),… Read more »
What is the Social Security Administration Blue Book?
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Oversight of High Social Security Claims and Role of Administrative Law Judges
Associated Press (AP) released an article on June 25, 2013 stating Social Security is approving disability benefits at strikingly high rates for people whose claims were rejected by field offices or state agencies, according to House investigators. Compounding the situation, the agency often fails to do required follow-up reviews months or years later to make sure… Read more »
Commonly Asked Questions Regarding SSA Issues
The Social Security Administration is a huge government agency that is in charge of providing retirement, survivor and disability benefits to millions of Americans every year. With an agency this big, navigating the ins and outs of Social Security can be confusing, here are some answers to some of the most commonly asked questions related… Read more »
Social Security Administration and Over Payments to Deceased
Social Security states a person must be alive for the entire month to be eligible for a benefit check. Benefits are not payable for the month of death. According to the Wall Street Journal, The Social Security Administration’s inspector general on Monday said the agency improperly paid $31 million in benefits to 1,546 Americans believed to… Read more »
