The Social Security Administration (SSA) administers several programs that pay disability benefits to individuals. These include Title II (“covered” or insured employment) and Title XVI, covering individuals with limited income and resources. Social Security uses Medical Experts (MEs) and Vocational Experts (VEs) to provide evidence at hearings before an administrative law judge (ALJ). At this… Read more »
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Keeping Your Medical Records Confidential
A successful Social Security claim relies on medical evidence, which comes from medical records. No matter who obtains and reviews your medical records, this information, by law should be made confidential. To obtain a claimant’s medical evidence, either an authorized representative or Social Security needs a signed release form to obtain this information from medical… Read more »
Low Birth Weight And Failure To Thrive Listings
Social Security’s listings of impairments not only apply to adults for the sake of disability benefits, but also to children. Because children are not expected to work, Social Security looks at childhood impairments differently than adult listings. The listings for small children and infants focus on a number of things, but mainly birth weight and… Read more »
Non English Speaking Claimants
Many people who were not born in American call the United States home today. Just like through our country’s history, many people from different countries and cultures set off for America for a better life. Many of these people knew no or very little English. This obstacle should not prevent anyone from obtaining their rights… Read more »
Medicare Trust Fund Not Doing So Well
As a contrast to the improved outlook of Social Security’s retirement and disability Trust Funds, the future of the Medicare Trust Fund is not so optimistic. Medicare’s Hospital Insurance Trust Fund deteriorated last year and the Medicare Trust Fund will be depleted by 2026 according to officials from the Trump administration. Last year the government… Read more »
Disability Trust Fund Solvent Until 2032
Last year the Social Security Board of Trustees estimated that the Disability Insurance (DI) Trust Fund would become depleted by 2028, but just a year later things have improved and now the estimate is the fund would not be depleted until 2032. Over the past few years both the DI Trust Fund and the Old-Age… Read more »
The Information That Is In A Consultative Exam Report
Social Security stresses that a complete consultative exam (CE) report “will involve all the elements of a standard examination in the applicable medical specialty,” but many times there are significant elements missing from the report. Social Security sets-up CE examines with a doctor of the agency’s choosing if there does not appear to be enough… Read more »
Documenting Migraine Headaches For A Disability Claim
Many people experience debilitating migraine headaches that prevent them from functioning during these episodes. Despite the fact that Social Security does not identify migraine headaches on its list of impairments that are considered part of a disability claim, this condition will be considered in a person’s ability work during a disability claim. A migraine headache… Read more »
How Evidence Is Considered In A Disability Case
Evidence in a Social Security disability case largely refers to medical proof that someone is limited by impairments and unable to maintain fulltime work. Evidence to prove such a claim comes from medical records and opinions from trained medical professionals. To understand how Social Security determines if someone is disabled and entitled to benefits you… 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 »
