The conditioned called obliterative bronchiolitis or constructive bronchiolitis was included in the new compassionate allowances made effective on August 11, 2012. Obliterative bronchiolitis is an irreversible lung disease where the portions of the lung have been narrowed, greatly restricting one’s ability to breathe effectively. Some veterans who served in Afghanistan and Iraq have been diagnosed with obliterative bronchiolitis after inhaling toxic… Read more »
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Another Solvency Crisis Looms for Social Security
When the subject of Social Security comes up in conversation many times someone suggests that Social Security retirement or disability may not be around when it is needed because of reported insolvency. Although these conversations offer a lot of smoke, there is some fire there too. The last five Social Security trustee reports indicate that… Read more »
Social Security Benefits: Will They Be There When You Retire?
For millions of Americans, Social Security is a key part of retirement efforts. According to Nolo, around 96% of the workforce is currently covered by some sort of Social Security plan. But the current economic downturn has many people seeing an increasingly uncertain (if not downright bleak) future for their Social Security benefits. According to… Read more »
Why Do I have to Work 5 out of 10 Years to Qualify for Disability Insurance Benefits?
The Disability Insurance program is designed for people who have paid into Social Security through their jobs then can no longer hold a job due to their medical condition. If you quit your last job 20 years ago and now have become disabled, you will not be able to qualify for the DIB program. To… Read more »
I missed my appeal deadline. What can I do?
If the Social Security Administration (SSA) denies your disability claim, you have 60 days to file an appeal, plus five days to allow for mailing of the document. If you miss this deadline and still file the appeal, SSA may deny your claim because the appeal was filed late. There are some circumstances in which… Read more »
Auxiliary benefits for dependents
If you are successful in obtaining Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits you may think that you are not entitled to any other types of Social Security benefits, but your dependents may be. Disabled workers who are awarded SSDI benefits are eligible to receive additional benefits for their dependent children if their monthly benefit is… Read more »
What happens after my hearing?
If you have filed a claim for Disability Insurance Benefits (DIB) of Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and are denied on both your Initial Application and your Request for Reconsideration, you are entitled to a hearing by an administrative law judge (ALJ) if your Request for Hearing was requested within sixty five days of your denial… Read more »
Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS)
If you receive SSI or could qualify for SSI after setting aside some income or resources, you could benefit from a PASS. A PASS allows you to set aside income besides your SSI for a specified period of time so that you may pursue a work goal that will reduce or eliminate the SSI or… Read more »
Your Friends on Disability
As a Case Manager and Social Security Disability Attorney, I hear all too often a claimant asking why they have friends and acquaintances on Social Security Disability, who were approved early in the process, but they need to go through a lengthy appeal. The claimant then often mentions that the person they are talking about… Read more »
Social Security Disability and Dependent Children
Many people who learn they will be receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits are relieved to finally receive some good news, but then the disabled worker quickly realizes that disability payments may not be enough to cover their family’s needs. This is where dependent children’s benefits can makeup the difference. Dependent children of SSDI… Read more »
