Social Security’s trust fund was expected to be depleted by 2035, according to the latest report, but the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in millions of Americans losing their job and people are not paying Social Security taxes when they don’t work so it is expected that the depletion of the trust fund may happen sooner…. Read more »
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Beware Of Scammers Targeting Stimulus Payments
Any crisis, like the COVID – 19 pandemic we are all experiencing, comes with the bad and the good. The pandemic has taken close to 100,000 American lives, but it has also brought many of us together to understand we are not alone. Every time we face a natural disaster or other event that threatens… Read more »
A Guide For Social Security Recipients To Receive Their Stimulus Payments
Weeks went by where it seemed the rules were changing on a daily basis as to whether Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients would be eligible for the economic stimulus payments issued by the government during the COVID – 19 pandemic and how they would receive those payments. There were… Read more »
Ability To Communicate In English Will No Longer Be A Factor In Disability Claims
The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approved a new Social Security rule that would remove the inability to communicate in English as criteria in determining a disability case. Previously the inability to communicate in English was taken into consideration in obtaining work in a disability case. Below is the final rule that will eventually… Read more »
Disability Telephone Hearings Will Remain Through August
Social Security announced near the end of April that the agency would continue to conduct disability hearings via phone and no in-person hearings would be allowed at Social Security offices through August 2020. This is not a complete surprise as Social Security has been conducting phone only hearings in April, May and it was expected… Read more »
Reminder Social Security Offices Are Closed
There have been news reports of Social Security customers visiting agency offices in pursuit with a benefits matter, but when these customers, many of them elderly or disabled, arrive they find Social Security’s doors closed and are unable to get any assistance. Obviously this is frustrating, but it is important to understand the current environment…. Read more »
Social Security Will Allow For Video CEs
Since Social Security closed its doors due to the Coronavirus pandemic the agency has cancelled Consultative Exams (CEs) for Social Security disability applicants, but they now might resume through the use of video technology. Social Security issued new instructions to allow for video CEs to consider mental health disabilities. This allows for CEs to be… Read more »
Minnesota Lawmakers Work To Extend Stimulus To Adult Dependents
Most people are aware of the rules regarding who receives the stimulus payments from the government. Social Security recipients and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients are eligible for these payments and children under the age of 17 also qualify for an additional $500 payment, but there are many young people who are being left out… Read more »
Productivity Is Up For Social Security Employees Working From Home
Working from home comes with additional distractions you typically don’t have in an office environment. When someone is working from home they can be distracted by children, by pets, entertainment options and the temptation to perform household chores, but working from home is what is needed with pandemic on the loose. Many businesses have to… Read more »
SSI Recipients With Children Under 17 Need To Act Now
The deadline for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients with qualifying children under the age of 17 is fast approaching and these recipients need to act now if they want to collect the $500 payment per child as part of the economic stimulus bill passed by Congress last month. Social Security is attempting to alert the… Read more »
