When the English arrived in the colonies they brought with them many practices and cultures, this included an interest in providing support to the poor through the English Poor Law of 1601. Although the Poor Law was extremely primitive, it did in part lead to more economic security and can be considered an ancestor to… Read more »
Blog
Advisory Board Urges Social Security To Examine Abandoned Appeals
Social Security does not always process applications and appeals people file for disability claims. Even though claims are begun online through Social Security’s website, many times the applications or appeals are never completed. Recently the Social Security Advisory Board asked Social Security to examine these “abandoned” appeals and incomplete applications to determine if a claimant… Read more »
The Latest With Social Security
We realize it may be a stretch for ordinary people to want to keep up with the comings and goings of the Social Security Administration, but sometimes circumstances permit where someone does want to follow the latest news regarding the agency due to a possible retirement or disability interest. This blog is an ongoing piecemeal… Read more »
Congress Stops SSA From Closing Offices When Policy is Under Review
A previous blog reported that Social Security had plans to close one of its field offices in Milwaukee due to heating issues, a broken elevator and increased crime in the area, but Congress has now informed Social Security, at least temporarily, it can’t close the Milwaukee office. Congress passed a $1.3 trillion spending package and… Read more »
It’s Not What You Have It’s How Severe It Is
Many Social Security disability claimants get caught-up with what conditions they have been diagnosed with. A diagnosis of a serious condition is an important part of the disability process, but what is more important is how severe the impairment is and how it impacts a claimant’s ability to work. Here is some information about how… Read more »
Understanding Social Security’s Trial Work Period
People receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits face a difficult decision if they feel they would like to try and work. Do they go to work and risk making too much money, which would cutoff their disability benefits, or do they decide not to work and continue collecting benefits? Luckily people don’t have to… Read more »
Social Security’s 4-Year Strategic Plan To Improve Services
Social Security has released its strategic plan for fiscal years 2018 to 2022. The document, which you can find here, is 19 pages long, but one of the main topics, and focuses of the plan, is to deliver more services effectively and to improve the delivery of services. There is no doubt this should be… Read more »
Is Overtime The Way To Decrease The Backlog?
A budget deal was finalized last month and despite what some people wanted, Social Security’s operating budget was not slashed, in fact, certain agencies were given the authority to increase discretionary spending because the budget deal was an appropriations bill. Discretionary funding is an optional part of fiscal policy, in contrast to entitlement programs, which… Read more »
Who DDS Is And What They Do
Disability denials issued at the initial application level and the first appeal level are sent out by Social Security, but many people do not understand that Social Security does not make the decision of whether or not someone is disabled, that is decided by a state agency known as Disability Determination Services (DDS). Understanding who… Read more »
ABLE Accounts Are A Step In The Right Direction
Disabled people who are eligible for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) live on extremely modest means. The become eligible for SSI if they meet the medical rules of disability, but also only if they show the financial need for SSI benefits. An individual must show he or she has less than $2,000 in combined assets, and… Read more »
