Category Archives: Disability

Texas – A State Of Neglect

Written On January 6, 2009 By Bob Kraft

I was born and raised in the Great State of Texas, and have never been outside its borders for more than about a week at a time. I've been enormously proud to be a Texan, but not so much in recent years as in the past. For the last dozen years or so Texas has [...]

Posted in Disability, Government, Insurance Company or Government Misconduct, Political and/or Judicial

If I’m Found Disabled, How Long Until I Get Medicare?

Written On December 31, 2008 By Bob Kraft

Our Social Security disability clients are usually dismayed when they learn they must wait two years after being found to be disabled before they can qualify for Medicare health benefits. This is a terribly unfair aspect of Social Security disability, and is explained well in an online article by AP News.
The article explores the ramifications [...]

Posted in Disability, Government, Medicare, Social Security Disability

Choosing A Home Health Care Agency

Written On December 30, 2008 By Bob Kraft

Many of our personal injury clients and Social Security disability claimants require home health care. One of the best companies providing this service in the Dallas and Fort Worth area is Nurses Today, owned and operated by Ms. Anita Porco, R.N. This information about choosing a home health care agency is from the Nurses Today [...]

Posted in Disability, Medical and Health Resources, Social Security Disability

Technology, Disability, And The Americans With Disabilities Amendments Act

Written On December 29, 2008 By Bob Kraft

The disabled, under Social Security, must generally prove they are unable to perform their prior jobs going back 15 years. To do this, individuals must show they cannot perform those jobs as they actually performed them or as the jobs are generally performed. Technology can make certain jobs easier to perform. For those who cannot [...]

Posted in Americans with Disabilities Act, Disability, Social Security Disability

Social Security Disability, Medicaid, And The Economy

Written On December 24, 2008 By Bob Kraft

Many of our clients who are granted disability by the Social Security Administration will qualify for Medicaid benefits. For those who are not disabled but rely on Medicaid because they qualify based on income, the worsening of the economy means more people may begin to rely on Medicaid alone for their health insurance. This situation [...]

Posted in Disability, Medicaid, Social Security Disability

Spina Bifida And Social Security Disability

Written On December 22, 2008 By Bob Kraft

Among our Social Security Disability clients have been individuals with spina bifida. The disease, according to the Spina Bifida Association (SBA), is the most common permanently disabling birth defects in the United States. I encourage you to visit SBA’s Web site, where you will find an abundance of information including factsheets. Among the factsheets is [...]

Posted in Disability, Medical and Health Resources, Social Security Disability

Advocates Debate Ways To Close Some Texas Schools For The Disabled

Written On December 9, 2008 By Bob Kraft

I wrote a few days ago about the U.S. Justice Department report blasting the deplorable conditions in Texas schools for the disabled. Now the Dallas Morning News has a front-page article discussing the possibility of improving state schools by closing some schools and concentrating resources in the remainder. Here are excerpts from the article:

For the [...]

Posted in Disability, Insurance Company or Government Misconduct, Political and/or Judicial, Social Security Disability

EEOC Notice Concerning The ADA Amendments Act Of 2008

Written On December 8, 2008 By Bob Kraft

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) recently published a notice about the changes to the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) that become effective January 1, 2009. The ADA will undergo some rather significant changes. Full details are available at the ADA Web site. Here is the EEOC notice:
On September 25, 2008, the President signed the [...]

Posted in Americans with Disabilities Act, Disability, Government

Justice Department Blasts Texas State Schools For The Disabled

Written On December 6, 2008 By Bob Kraft

The politicians in charge of Texas government for the past decade or so have effectively starved the beast to the point there’s no money available for many essential services. One of the services many of us consider essential is proper care for disabled Texas residents. A recent article in the Dallas Morning News detailed the [...]

Posted in Disability, Insurance Company or Government Misconduct, Social Security Disability

Can Any Disease Be Disabling For Social Security? Almost.

Written On December 6, 2008 By Bob Kraft

In our Social Security Disability practice, we have found that almost any disease or disorder can be disabling.  We have recently won cases for individuals with severe sarcoidosis, a disease of unknown cause.
According to Merck Source, sarcoidosis (sahr″koi-dósis) is: “a chronic, progressive, generalized granulomatous reticulosis that may affect any part of the body but [...]

Posted in Disability, Social Security Disability

Featured Link – Benefit Eligibility Screening Tool (BEST)

Written On December 5, 2008 By Bob Kraft

The Social Security Administration has a new feature on their Web site. In their words:
The Benefit Eligibility Screening Tool (BEST) helps you find out if you could get benefits that Social Security administers. Based on your answers to questions, this tool will list benefits for which you might be eligible and tell you more information about how to [...]

Posted in Disability, Featured Link, Government, Social Security, Social Security Disability

Featured Link – IAVA.org

Written On December 2, 2008 By Bob Kraft

Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America is the nation’s first
and largest group dedicated to the Troops and Veterans of the wars in
Iraq and Afghanistan, and the civilian supporters of those Troops and
Veterans. Please visit the site and consider making a donation.

Posted in Disability, Featured Link, Veterans Benefits

Featured Link – ALS Association

Written On November 13, 2008 By Bob Kraft

The ALS Association is dedicated to
fighting the disease of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), a motor
neuron disease. The disease is frequently referred to as Lou Gehrig’s
disease, after one of its most prominent victims. The Web site has a
tremendous amount of information about the disease, and links to health
resources. Here is their Mission Statement:

OUR MISSION

To lead the [...]

Posted in Disability, Featured Link, Medical and Health Resources, Social Security Disability

Older Or Disabled Clients Have Health Care Insurance Options

Written On October 7, 2008 By Bob Kraft

Many of our older or disabled clients become understandably confused by their health care insurance choices. One company that offers help in this area is Informed Choice. They offer side-by-side comparisons between your health policy and others
available.
If you’ve been on disability for more than 24 months, you might have more health care options than you [...]

Posted in Consumer Information, Disability, Insurance Information, Social Security Disability

Featured Link – Family Caregiver Alliance

Written On September 23, 2008 By Bob Kraft

The Web site of the Family Caregiver Alliance is a very good resource for people who are responsibile for loved ones who are disabled or otherwise unable to care for themselves. Here you’ll find articles, tips, and links to other sites. This is the mission statement of the Alliance:
Family caregiving is typically at the core [...]

Posted in Disability, Featured Link, Medical and Health Resources

New York Railroad Gives Disabled Workers A Bad Name

Written On September 21, 2008 By Bob Kraft

A disturbing story about disabled railroad workers
appeared today in the New York Times. The implication of the article is
that many, if not most, of the retired employees of the Long Island
Rail Road are faking disability claims. The sad thing is that the Times
appears to be correct. This makes claims harder to make for truly
disabled workers. [...]

Posted in Disability

Sleep Disorders And Social Security Disability

Written On September 18, 2008 By Bob Kraft

Many people suffer from various sleep disorders. The Social Security Administration recognizes a variety of causes for sleeping disorders including: Sleep Apnea, Bi-Polar Disorder, and Narcolepsy. 
The first listing is 3.10 for Sleep Related Breathing Disorders. Generally this will be sleep apnea. To establish a disability under this listing Social Security is looking for one [...]

Posted in Disability, Social Security Disability

Featured Link – HandicappedFraud.org

Written On September 10, 2008 By Bob Kraft

One thing that angers and irritates many of us is the fraudulent use of handicapped parking spaces. So many people have access to real or counterfeit handicapped placards that I’ve become suspicious of almost anyone parked in a handicapped spot these days.
Some people get upset enough about this abuse to do something about it. One [...]

Posted in Disability, Featured Link, Social Security Disability

Muscular Dystrophy And Social Security Disability

Written On August 28, 2008 By Bob Kraft

Muscular Dystrophy (MD) is one area of a broader group of diseases known as Neuromuscular Diseases. Neuromuscular Diseases include not only the group of Muscular Dystrophies, but also  Motor Neuron Diseases, Metabolic Diseases of Muscle, Diseases of the Peripheral Nerves, Inflammatory Myopathies, Diseases of the Neuromuscular Junction, Myopathies due to Endocrine Abnormalities, and a few [...]

Posted in Disability, Social Security Disability

Basic Information For Handicapped Drivers In Texas

Written On August 18, 2008 By Bob Kraft

If you live in Texas and have a disability that requires better parking locations wherever handicapped spots are available, there are designated license plates that enable you to park as close to your destination as possible. Since these parking spaces are in close proximity to facility entrances, it reduces the distance that you must travel [...]

Posted in Disability, Vehicle Law or News