The Social Security disability process can be confusing. Not only can the entire process be difficult to understand, but so can the different terms Social Security uses along the way. To make things a bit clearer below are some definitions for terms Social Security uses during the disability process. Alleged and Established Onset Date: The alleged… Read more »
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Name Changes and Social Security Disability
Because the Social Security disability process can drag on, much of the time well over a year, those who have applied for either Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) go through many different life changes. One of these life changes are name changes. No matter why your name may change it… Read more »
The Appeals Council and its Function
You’ve waited the better part of two years to go before an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) to get some finalization on your Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) claim, but the result is not what you expect. The ALJ issues an “Unfavorable Decision” stating you are not entitled to disability benefits…. Read more »
Using Medicaid as a Key to Driving Down the Cost of the Affordable Care Act
As many times as Republican federal legislators have tried to repeal, the Affordable Care Act (often times characterized as Obamacare) survives. The intent of the Affordable Care Act is to provide healthcare access to people who otherwise aren’t able to afford it. During the 2012 election, an argument was consistently presented by high profile Republican… Read more »
Onset Date Important in Disability Cases
When discussing Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) cases the topic of onset dates will eventually come up. The differences in onset dates can be the difference in thousands of dollars in Social Security backpay. The onset date is the date in which the Social Security Administration finds someone disabled. This is also the date in… Read more »
Disability Payments That May Impact Social Security Disability
Disabled workers many times become disabled on the job, when this happens they are potentially eligible for worker’s compensation benefits as well as Social Security disability benefits. Although a disabled worker is potentially eligible for both types of benefits, these are two separate entities that have to be applied for individually. Because both types of… Read more »
Using Medicaid as a Key to Driving Down the Cost of the Affordable Care Act
As many times as Republican federal legislators have tried to repeal, the Affordable Care Act (often times characterized as Obamacare) survives. The intent of the Affordable Care Act is to provide healthcare access to people who otherwise aren’t able to afford it. During the 2012 election, an argument was consistently presented by high profile Republican… Read more »
Social Security – Wounded Warriors Program
According to Armytimes.com, a Fort Riley soldier was recently sentenced to prison for Social Security disability fraud. James Scott Nickerson was ordered to pay $72,000 in restitution to the Social Security Administration. Nickerson first applied for disability benefits in October 2009 under the Wounded Warrior Program but continued to receive disability benefits while working for… Read more »
A Look Inside The Appeals Council
One of the worst days a Social Security disability claimant can face is when they open their mailbox and an unfavorable decision from the Administrative Law Judge arrives a short while after their disability hearing. An unfavorable decision means the ALJ found the applicant not disabled. After waiting two years to get to this phase,… Read more »
Fraud Is Not Rampant In Social Security Disability Program
Anyone who follows the news regularly has probably heard about a recent case in New York where 130 people were arrested for participating in a Social Security disability scam that resulted in unlawful payments of $20 million. The case involved former New York City police and firefighters who claimed they suffered from mental health disabilities… Read more »
