The Social Security disability process is littered with emotional highs and lows. One example is the five-month waiting period disabled workers are faced with when they are approved for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). Many times Social Security disability applicants express a sigh of relief when they find out they are approved for SSDI, but… Read more »
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Will I have to pay taxes on my benefits?
If you receive Social Security Disability, Retirement, or Survivors benefits you may be liable to pay federal income tax on the benefits you receive. Your tax responsibility, if any, depends on your total income. This typically comes into effect if you have other income; such as wages, self-employment income, interest, dividends, etc. if you are… Read more »
The Social Security Administration is testing new claim processing prototypes
The Social Security Administration (SSA) is currently in the testing stages for changing the way typical Disability Insurance Benefits (DIB) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) claims are processed in hopes to improve the disability determination process. With this current initiative, claimants in 10 prototype states do not have their claims evaluated at the “Request for… Read more »
Online Services Available for Social Security Disability Applicants
Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security, announced the agency is expanding the services available with a Social Security account. This is a personalized online account that people can use beginning in their working years and continuing throughout the time they receive Social Security benefits. More than 60 million Social Security beneficiaries and Supplemental Security… Read more »
Social Security Offers Access to Your Own Online Account
Anyone who has ever tried to call a Social Security office knows the frustration with how long you have to hold before you can actually reach a live person to talk to. Recent news from the Social Security Administration doesn’t promise to improve that service, but a new enhanced online service might enable you to… Read more »
Social Security Cost of Living Adjustment
The Social Security Administration has released next year’s Cost-of-Living Adjustment (“COLA”). Individuals receiving Supplemental Security Income or Disability Insurance Benefits will see a 1.5% increase in their benefit payments beginning with January 2014 payments. If you want to know more about how the COLA is calculated, you can visit the Social Security Administration’s webpage on… Read more »
Social Security and Supplemental Security Income Benefits will be increased in 2014
This week, the Social Security Administration (SSA) announced in a press release that there would be an increase in benefits staring in January 2014. All Social Security Retirement, Survivors, and Disability benefits will be increased by 1.5 percent. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits will also be increased by 1.5 percent. The increase is called a… Read more »
Proving Pain
Proving pain is often assessed by determining the credibility of an individual’s statements. Social Security Ruling 96-7p sets forth the framework for evaluating symptoms and evaluating the credibility of an individual’s statements. Social Security Ruling 96-7p states in pertinent part: In recognition of the fact that an individual’s symptoms can sometimes suggest a greater level… Read more »
The Dangers of Receiving Overpayments
The majority of people who’ve gone through the process of trying to apply for Social Security disability benefits know how difficult it is to finally start collecting benefits, so it may be somewhat of a surprise that some people actually collect more money than they are entitled to from Social Security. Occasionally Social Security will… Read more »
Social Security Announces 1.5 Percent Benefit Increase
Social Security made it official with an announcement Oct. 30 that the Social Security benefit increase for disability and retirement recipients will be a miniscule 1.5 percent in 2014, which is down from a 1.7 percent increase in 2013. The annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) increase averages out to be an extra $19 per month. The… Read more »
