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 »
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Compassionate Allowance Addition: Huntington’s Disease
Social Security Commission Michael J. Astrue announced in July of 2012 that Adult Onset Huntington’s disease will be added to the Compassionate Allowance List as of December, 2012. This news follows the addition of Juvenile Huntington’s disease to the Compassionate Allowance List effective in August, 2012. The expedited disability process will identify people with significant… 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 »
Investigative Report Detects Zero Instances of Overpayments
On November 20, 2009 President Obama issued Executive Order 13520, which required the Social Security Administration to investigate purported incidents of overpayments to recipients of Social Security Disability payments and Supplement Security Income. Yesterday, the Office of the Inspector General issued a long-awaited report on its investigation into “High Dollar Overpayments.” The results were… Read more »
What does the Affordable Care Act (“Obamacare”) mean for Social Security Claims?
Like it or not, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) has and will change the way health insurance and healthcare will be delivered throughout the United States. Some changes are already evident: children and chronically ill adults can no longer be denied the opportunity to purchase insurance coverage, and insurance companies are no longer allowed to… Read more »
Social Security Administration takes steps to improve transparency
The Social Security Administration (SSA) Commissioner, Michael J. Astrue, has developed an Open Government Initiative to increase transparency, participation and collaboration in his federal agency. The program is part of broader initiative within the federal government to increase openness in the programs and operations of the various federal agencies. This effort to improve transparency started… Read more »
What Is a Technical Denial for a Social Security Disability Claim?
A technical denial is issued to a claimant who does not meet the non-medical requirements for one or more of the disability benefit programs through the Social Security Administration (SSA). If you do not meet the non-medical requirements for any of the SSA benefits programs your claim will not be evaluated for a medical determination…. Read more »
What Exactly is an ALJ?
The majority of Social Security disability claimants, who continue to appeal unfavorable decisions at lower levels, will eventually have to request a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ). The ALJ is in charge of deciding whether or not a claimant is disabled and should be awarded either Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental… Read more »
Expedited Hearing Request
Due to the high volumes of Social Security Disability claims waiting for a hearing by an Administrative Law Judge, the average wait time is between 12-15 months. This can be financially straining for many people pursuing disability claims. Clients frequently ask me if there is any way to speed up this process. The Social Security… Read more »
Social Security Disability is Not Charity
Most people who file for Social Security disability never dreamed they would be asking the government for assistance because they could not longer work, but eventually they realize they have no other choice. As Americans we are told at an early age the importance of a hard day’s work, but what happens when you are… Read more »
