This is the third installment in the blog series titled “Classifying the Physical Demands of Occupations.” When evaluating a claim for Social Security disability benefits and/or Supplemental Security Income the Social Security Administration (SSA) must classify the physical demands of your past relevant work and potentially the physical demands of other jobs that exist in… Read more »
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Disabled Widow’s and Widower’s Benefits
We often discuss on this blog what sort of Social Security benefits a disabled worker can receive. As we mentioned in our Date Last Insured and Quarters of Coverage Credits article, you can only receive Disability Insurance Benefits (DIB) if you have worked long enough a recently enough in relation to your disability. So, if you haven’t… Read more »
Income Requirements for SSI
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a financial needs based program. For this reason the Social Security Administration has set rules in place to determine who meets the non-medical requirements of SSI, whether or not medical disability is proven. There are no work requirement rules for SSI as there is with Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI),… Read more »
So you went to a Consultative Examiner and the CE does not think you're disabled…Now what?!
Often times when Disability Determining Services (the people responsible for making the determination as to whether you are disabled under Social Security’s rules on the first stages of a claim) or when an Administrative Law Judge feels that the medical records don’t say enough about a person’s conditions, they order a consultative examination. This is… Read more »
If I Can Work, Should I Work? Will That Impact My Social Security Disability Case?
The quick answer to the first question is of course a resounding YES! If an individual has the ability to work, he/she should absolutely do so. The Social Security disability system is in place to assist individuals who have been prevented from working, or could be expected to be prevented from working, for at least… Read more »
What is a Representative Payee? And do I need one?
A representative payee’s job is to help recipients of SSD or SSI benefits who may not be able to manage their benefits in their best interests. Typically a representative payee is a friend or family member of the beneficiary, but if a friend or family member is not available there are services that can assist…. Read more »
What is the Social Security Administration Blue Book?
The Social Security Administration (SSA) has created the Blue Book to provide information regarding the evaluation and processing of disability claims to healthcare and legal professionals. The Blue Book consists of four parts. The first part of the book contains the Listing of Impairments. The List of Impairments are divided into Part A and Part… Read more »
All Disabilities Matter in SSDI or SSI Case
As a case manager at Greeman Toomey Law Office I talk to many of our clients who are interested in pursuing a Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) case based on one debilitating condition. Although one specific disability may be perceived to be the reason you are unable to work it… Read more »
Oversight of High Social Security Claims and Role of Administrative Law Judges
Associated Press (AP) released an article on June 25, 2013 stating Social Security is approving disability benefits at strikingly high rates for people whose claims were rejected by field offices or state agencies, according to House investigators. Compounding the situation, the agency often fails to do required follow-up reviews months or years later to make… Read more »
Social Security Administration and Over Payments to Deceased
Social Security states a person must be alive for the entire month to be eligible for a benefit check. Benefits are not payable for the month of death. According to the Wall Street Journal, The Social Security Administration’s inspector general on Monday said the agency improperly paid $31 million in benefits to 1,546 Americans believed… Read more »
