The Social Security Administration currently has 1,248 offices around the country. This seems like a lot of offices, but the recent trend is to eliminate offices more than increasing the number of offices, even as the population continues to grow. Ten years ago there were 1,330 Social Security offices across the country, so the trend… Read more »
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Social Security Terms and What They Mean
The Social Security Administration has many different terms and acronyms that are used to describe aspects of the retirement or disability process, but to a layman these terms and acronyms can be confusing and difficult to understand. Below are some terms and acronyms that are better explained. PIM: Primary Insurance Amount is the monthly amount… Read more »
The Social Security Administration Launches New Campaign to Draw Awareness to the Disability Insurance Program
Recently, the Social Security Administration (SSA) started a national communications campaign to raise awareness of their Disability Insurance Benefit (DIB) program. This campaign is called the “Faces And Facts Of Disability.” As the title suggests, the campaign is focused on providing facts about the program as well as sharing personal stories from beneficiaries. The campaign… Read more »
How Marriage Impacts Social Security Disability
During the Social Security disability process, on occasion, the question will come-up of how a new marriage may affect a Social Security disability claim if it is approved. The answer all depends on the circumstances of the marriage and the type of disability program an applicant is entitled to. For someone who has been approved,… Read more »
Case Transferred to National Hearing Center
Social Security disability claimants who receive notice that their request for a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) has been transferred to the National Hearing Center (NHC) sometimes get easily confused about what this means. Request for hearings are transferred to the NHC to help speed up the hearings process when a local hearing’s… Read more »
Residual Functional Capacity (RFC)
Residual Functional Capacity (RFC) forms can be among the most supportive documents a treating physician can complete. This form shows the treating physician’s opinion of an individual highlighting the various limitations due to medical conditions. Many people often assume that if a physician is supportive that in itself means that you are disabled. However, this… Read more »
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) vs. Disability Insurance Benefits (DIB): Two Programs, One Process
Many social security claimants don’t fully realize that, when they file their initial application to prove they are disabled and receive Social Security, they can file under two programs with two distinct technical requirements. One program, Disability Insurance Benefits (DIB), is based on how much a claimant has paid into the system, through Social Security… Read more »
New Process to Improve Efficiency for Wounded Veteran Applying for Social Security Disability
Military service members can receive expedited processing of disability claims from Social Security. Social Security benefits are different than those from the Department of Veterans Affairs require and separate application process. The expedited process for Social Security applicant is for military service members who become disabled while on active military service on or after October… Read more »
A Partially Favorable Decision OR: I Won…Sort Of Part II: Which Option to Choose
In Part I, we discussed the options a claimant has when they receive a partially favorable determination from Disability Determination Services, the Administrative Law Judge or the Appeals Council. A claimant can either accept the decision as final, and collect benefits on the terms of the partially favorable ruling, or file an onset appeal, which… Read more »
A Partially Favorable Decision OR: I Won…Sort Of Part I: The Options
Many claimants who prevail within the Social Security Disability/Supplemental Security Income process are surprised to see an award letter come in the mail that says: “The date we found you disabled is different from the date you alleged on your application.” What many don’t realize is that Disability Determination Services (the examiners deciding disability on… Read more »
