The majority of people who file a claim for Disability Insurance Benefits (DIB) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) receive a medical denial, meaning the Social Security Administration (SSA) has determined their condition (or conditions) are not severe enough to keep them from working at a substantial level. At the Initial Application level approximately 75% of… Read more »
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How do I file an appeal of my disability denial?
The majority of people who file a claim for Disability Insurance Benefits (DIB) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) receive a medical denial, meaning the Social Security Administration (SSA) has determined their condition (or conditions) are not severe enough to keep them from working at a substantial level. At the Initial Application level approximately 75% of… 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 »
Social Security Administration and the Department of Defense are working together to improve access to disability benefits for veterans
On April 30, 2012 the Social Security Administration (SSA) issued a press release titled: “Social Security and Department of Defense Implement New Process to Improve Efficiency for Wounded Warriors Applying for Disability Benefits.” The press release focuses on the SSA’s new project that allows medical records for veterans to be accessed electronically. The electronic processing… 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 »
Cost of Living Adjustment for Social Security Benefits Delayed Due to Shutdown
As discussed previously on the Greeman Toomey blog, the annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for Social Security Disability is based on changes in the consumer price index in the past year. For more details on exactly how the COLA is computed, and how changes in computation may change benefits, visit the Social Security Administration’s website. Due… 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 »
