Every once in a while Social Security will conduct a Continuing Disability Review (CDR) to determine if a Social Security disability beneficiary remains disabled and is still entitled to benefits, but due the Coronavirus outbreak Social Security is suspending the CDR process. All CDRs will be put on hold during these uncertain times and beneficiaries… Read more »
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Direct Payments Will Now Be Sent To SSI Recipients
The procedures put in place to get Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients stimulus payments have had more ups and downs than a soap opera script, and in yet another turn of events the administration is now indicating SSI recipients will receive automatic payments without having to jump through a bunch of different hoops as was… Read more »
How Disability Cases Are Assigned To Judges
The Social Security disability process allows claimants to follow an appeal process that many times leads to hearings before an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ). Each hearings office around the country has multiple ALJs that adjudicate cases, but what judge you get on your case can make all the difference. Some judges have higher approval numbers… Read more »
Latest Trustee Report Extends Life Of Disability Insurance Fund
The Social Security Board of Trustees released its annual report, April 22, 2020, on the status of the Social Security Trust Funds, and although little has changed with the retirement trust fund, the disability trust fund seems to be in good shape with a 13-year extension added before the trust fund is expected to be… Read more »
OMB And OPM Issue Memo To Federal Employees About Opening Up
The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) issued a joint memo to federal workers about the steps that need to be taken in an effort of opening up federal agencies and allowing government employees to return to work. The memo, which can be found here, indicates that not… Read more »
When Will Social Security Open Again?
Most people are aware that Social Security offices across the country remain closed during the Coronavirus outbreak with no news of when Social Security might open for business again. Social Security has not closed down completely, Administrative Law Judges (ALJs) are still conducting disability hearings via phone, and Social Security is still assisting customers by… Read more »
Who Makes The Disability Determination?
Determining whether someone is disabled and entitled to Social Security disability process is not a quick one. Prior to a decision being offering the persons responsible for making a determination will go through several different steps while considering a claimant’s age, work history and other contributing factors. Below is a description from Social Security about… Read more »
Organization Opposes Mandatory Phone Hearings
During the last several weeks Social Security has closed all of its field offices and hearing offices to the public due to the Coronavirus outbreak. This has required customers to access Social Security’s website or to reach out to the agency by phone to get assistance, but what happened to all the people who had… Read more »
Updates On Stimulus Payments For SSDI And SSI Recipients
The federal government has been waffling on whether or not Social Security recipients need to have file a tax return in either 2019 or 2018 to receive the one-time stimulus payment and now a final decision has been made requiring Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients to take extra action before they are eligible to receive… Read more »
Social Security And Unemployment Benefits
Since the coronavirus outbreak several weeks ago, which has required many businesses to stay closed, the number of people applying for unemployment insurance benefits has skyrocketed. Some people who are out of work because of stay-at-home orders were also collecting Social Security benefits while working, which leaves an interesting question – do these people qualify… Read more »
