Anyone who has been involved in a Social Security disability case has probably come across the term Substantial Gainful Activity. This blog is an attempt to explain what SGA is and how it impacts a Social Security disability case. As it relates to Social Security disability, SGA is the amount of money someone earns from… 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 »
The Consequences of Trying to Hide Income from Social
Earlier this month 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… 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 »
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 »
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 »
How does my living arrangement effect my SSI benefits?
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits are paid to disabled individuals who also have little or no financial resources. Since SSI benefits are paid based on financial need your living arrangement may impact the amount of benefits you are eligible for. The Social Security Administration (SSA) considers where you live and who pays for your food… Read more »
Critical Case Processing Designation Given to Wounded Veterans
Disabled military service members and veterans may be eligible for expedited processing of their claims. This Social Security Administration (SSA) law is outlined in HALLEX I-2-1-40 Critical Cases section. This also provides information for the SSA employees on how to process these types of claims. This special claim processing is reserved for military service members… Read more »
Bill Could Eliminate 5-Month Waiting Period for Terminally Ill
Recently Rep. Steve Israel D-New York, announced he would introduce a bill in Congress that would eliminate Social Security’s five-month waiting period to receive disability benefits for the terminally ill under the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program. Currently, anyone who has been approved for SSDI has to wait five months before they can collect… Read more »
Part IV: Most Claimants Are Not Simply Trying to "Pull a Check"
This is Part IV of our 4 part series on NPR’s recent article discussing Social Security Disability and Supplemental Security Income recipients, viewed here: http://apps.npr.org/unfit-for-work/. Let’s start with this fact: Social Security payments come out of the Social Security Trust, paid for by payroll and FICA taxes, and do NOT add to the national debt. If… Read more »
