There are two portions to the Social Security Disability Initial Application. The first portion is called the Adult Disability Report (ADR) and the second portion is the Benefit Application. The ADR asks questions regarding your medical conditions, medical treatment, work background and education level. It is important to have a list prepared of all of… Read more »
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Proposed Reforms to Student Loan Debt Forgiveness Based on Disability
Earlier last week the Education Department proposed new rules to revamp its program for forgiving federal student loans of borrowers who become disabled. While the proposed reforms would not use Social Security disability findings as a basis for discharging loans – as many student borrowers’ advocates had hoped – they would streamline the application process… Read more »
What to expect at your Social Security hearing
The day you’ve been waiting two years for is finally here. It’s time for your Social Security hearing before an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ). You are happy the day has finally arrived, but also nervous because you don’t know what to expect. At Greeman Toomey we ask that our clients arrive at our office 90… Read more »
The Reconsideration Level
In a previous post on this blog entitled “The Initial Level” we discussed the first of the four main levels of an application for Social Security disability benefits and/or Supplemental Security Income. This entry discusses the second level which is commonly referred to as the “Reconsideration Level.” If an individual’s application was denied at the… Read more »
What is an RFC? (SSR 96-9p Part I)
An RFC is important at several stages of the 5 step sequential evaluation process, but let’s start with a definition. RFC stands for residual functional capacity, and is an individual’s maximum remaining ability to perform sustained work on a regular and continuing basis. In other words, what can the person do 8 hours a day,… Read more »
Congressional Testimony by the Honorable D. Randall Fry, President of the Association of Administration Law Judges.
Click this link for Congressional Testimony by the Honorable D. Randall Fry, President of the Association of Administration Law Judges. He makes some more than fair points: noting the immensely short time judges have to review cases that are often hundreds of pages long, and that Administrative Law Judges have to do an immense balancing act… Read more »
Huntington’s Disease Added to Compassionate Allowance List
At present there are 113 medical conditions that qualify for ‘compassionate allowance’ status; an additional 52 conditions will be added in August 2013. Compassionate Allowances (CAL) include medication conditions that Social Security purportedly identifies and targets early in the process for expedited processing. The full list of conditions can be found here, and it includes… Read more »
Can I work and apply for Social Security disability at the same time?
Try going the better part of two years without the ability to earn a living and having no income to speak of. Many times this is exactly what someone who is going through the Social Security process is faced with. Because it can take a long time before an applicant is approved for Social Security… Read more »
“Slaves” Respond to Allen West
A couple of thoughtful responses to Congressman Allen West’s controversial comments that Social Security is akin to modern-day slavery can be found here and here.
Ask a Case Manager: I lost at my hearing! What are my options now?
If you are denied at the hearing level you will receive a Notice of Decision – Unfavorable from the Social Security Administration (SSA) Office of Disability Adjudication and Review (ODAR). If you receive a Notice of Decision – Unfavorable you have two options: one is to file an appeal with the Appeals Council or to… Read more »
