If you are awarded Social Security Disability (SSD) benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA) you are required to report certain information to the agency or your benefits may be affected. If you start or stop working you must contact the SSA immediately. Any work activity above the SSA’s substantial gainful activity (SGA) level could… Read more »
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A Federal Program with State Impact
Most people know that Social Security is a federal program for retirement and disability benefits, but few people probably know that Social Security does not make medical decisions on disability claims at the lower levels of the Social Security disability process. These are made by specified state agencies know as either Disability Determination Services or… Read more »
Updating Medical Information
Keeping your Social Security attorney’s office informed of any changes in your medical condition and where you are treating for your conditions is imperative to proving to the Social Security Administration that you are disabled. A large portion of the evidence used to prove your case comes from the medical records obtained from your treating… Read more »
Services for the Homeless
The Social Security Administration is an active participant in the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH). The mission of the USICH is to “coordinate the Federal response to homelessness and to create a national partnership at every level of government and with the private sector to reduce and end homelessness in the nation while… Read more »
What is the difference between the Social Security Administration Field Office and Disability Determination Services?
Many clients call and are confused between the two departments. Most Social Security disability claims are initially processed through a local Social Security Administration field office (DO) such as applications and appeals. Social Security representatives in the field offices usually obtain applications for disability benefits in person, by telephone, by mail, or by filing online…. Read more »
Will Private Disability or Workers’ Compensation Affect my Disability Benefits?
There are many types of evidence which can be considered by Social Security when determining whether a claimant is disabled. This includes statements made by the claimant, third party observations (friends and relatives who routinely observe a claimants functioning), statements by your employers, statements and records made by treating doctors, and opinions of consultative examiners…. Read more »
Updating Medical Information
Keeping your Social Security attorney’s office informed of any changes in your medical condition and where you are treating for your conditions is imperative to proving to the Social Security Administration that you are disabled. A large portion of the evidence used to prove your case comes from the medical records obtained from your treating… Read more »
Osteoarthritis and Social Security Disability
When evaluating a claim for Social Security disability, it’s not a specific condition that makes more of a difference in whether a claim is successful, but how that condition impacts an applicant’s ability to work. It is true that certain conditions, mainly life-threatening conditions, are supposed to automatically qualify you for either Social Security Disability… Read more »
Weight of Different Types of Evidence
There are many types of evidence which can be considered by Social Security when determining whether a claimant is disabled. This includes statements made by the claimant, third party observations (friends and relatives who routinely observe a claimants functioning), statements by your employers, statements and records made by treating doctors, and opinions of consultative examiners…. Read more »
Classifying the Physical Demands of Occupations: Part I – Strength
This is the first 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 »
