Category Archives: Social Security Disability

SSA Extends Spanish Language Online Services

Written On December 19, 2011 By Bob Kraft

The Social Security Administration (SSA) has announced improvements to its Spanish-language Web site, www.SeguroSocial.gov, with expanded online services available in Spanish. The Web site now includes the ability to apply online for retirement benefits and for Medicare. Those who already receive Medicare also can apply for “Extra Help” for the Medicare prescription drug program. An individual cannot yet file an online application in [...]

Posted in Social Security, Social Security Disability

Three Tips for Security Social Security Disability Benefits

Written On December 15, 2011 By Bob Kraft

This guest post is from the Pennsylvania injury attorney law firm of Console and Hollowell.
The Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program is an involuntary insurance program, meaning that FICA taxes are automatically taken out of your paycheck to cover disability benefits should you become injured in an accident and no longer able to work.
Since you [...]

Posted in Social Security Disability

Featured Link — The Social Security Laws

Written On December 8, 2011 By Bob Kraft

Have you ever wanted to read the actual Social Security laws? No, I didn’t think so. That’s what lawyers are for, right? But just in case you ever have a need for some late-night reading material, here is the Table of Contents for the whole Social Security Act. Have fun!

Posted in Featured Link, Social Security, Social Security Disability

Social Security Disability Harder To Get As Baby Boomers Raise Number of Applications

Written On December 6, 2011 By Bob Kraft

Despite the uninformed opinions of some people, it has never been easy to get Social Security disability benefits. Yes, some unqualified applicants do slip through system, but many more qualified applicants are denied benefits — especially if the applicants are trying to maneuver through the process without the assistance of a qualified Social Security disability [...]

Posted in Social Security Disability

Doctor Revolt Shakes Social Security Disability Program

Written On November 29, 2011 By Bob Kraft

In almost every Social Security disability claim, at some point, the Social Security Administration will call in an “independent” doctor to review the claimant’s file and to make a decision regarding the claimant’s disability. These doctors are paid a low amount of money to review a large volume of cases. That’s obviously a bad situation, [...]

Posted in Social Security Disability

Not Your Grandfather’s Social Security Office?

Written On November 28, 2011 By Bob Kraft

The wonderful columnist Tom Margenau, a longtime veteran of the Social Security Administration, responded recently to a question about an e-mail that has been circulating on the Internet. The gist of the e-mail is that illegal immigrants are filing for Social Security disability and thereby draining resources from the system. Of course this is not [...]

Posted in Social Security, Social Security Disability

Social Security Disability: What Every Lawyer Should Know

Written On November 21, 2011 By Bob Kraft

This article was written for the American Bar Association to serve as a brief guide when a lawyer who does not practice Social Security disability law receives an inquiry in that field. I hope you find it helpful.

Learn how to collect the proper data to give an informed referral
Learn how to distinguish among types of [...]

Posted in Practice Tips, Social Security Disability

Laid-Off Workers Push Social Security Disability to Verge of Insolvency

Written On August 22, 2011 By Bob Kraft

A disturbing article about Social Security disability was published yesterday by the Associated Press. The gist is that the disability program is close to insolvency, due to the increase in claims filed by people who cannot find a job is this bad economy. Here are excerpts:
Laid-off workers and aging baby boomers are flooding Social Security’s [...]

Posted in Social Security Disability

New Social Security Disability Policy Is Bad News

Written On August 1, 2011 By Bob Kraft

The National Organization of Social Security Claimants Representatives (NOSSCR) issued a press release July 28, 2011, explaining the details of a new and troubling policy of the Social Security Administration. In a nutshell, the new policy is that a person whose claim for Social Security disability has been denied cannot file a new claim while [...]

Posted in Social Security Disability

Social Security Field Offices to Begin Closing a Half Hour Early

Written On July 28, 2011 By Bob Kraft

Federal budget cuts are causing the Social Security Administration to reduce the hours field offices are open to the public. Here is the official press release from the Social Security Administration:
Effective August 15, 2011, Social Security field offices nationwide will close to the public 30 minutes early each day.  For example, a field office that is [...]

Posted in Social Security, Social Security Disability

Social Security Announces New Compassionate Allowances Conditions

Written On July 19, 2011 By Bob Kraft

The Social Security Administration announced last week several additions to the list of compassionate allowances conditions. This is good news for anyone unfortunate enough to suffer from one of those conditions. Here is the press release from the Social Security Administration:
Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security, today announced 12 additional Compassionate Allowances conditions involving [...]

Posted in Social Security Disability

How Filing for Bankruptcy Can Affect Social Security Disability Benefits

Written On June 3, 2011 By Bob Kraft

This guest post is from the Oak View Law Group.
It is unfortunate that people who are disabled and incapable of earning adequately often face difficulty in mitigating their financial obligations. Those who are recipients of Social Security disability benefits often opt for debt settlement services in order to deal with their alarming debt issues. However, [...]

Posted in Social Security Disability

Social Security Says Goodbye to Paper Checks

Written On May 19, 2011 By Bob Kraft

You may have heard that the Social Security Administration is switching from paper checks to direct deposits for all people who receive benefits from the agency. New beneficiaries had to switch as of May 1, 2011. Those currently receiving benefits have until March 1, 2013, to make the change.
The Social Security Administration has a page [...]

Posted in Social Security, Social Security Disability

SSA Holds Compassionate Allowance Hearing on Autoimmune Diseases

Written On April 20, 2011 By Bob Kraft

The National Organization of Social Security Claimants Representatives (NOSSCR), recently published an article about compassionate allowances by the Social Security Administration for claimants suffering from autoimmune diseases:
Impairments that are on SSA’s list of Compassionate Allowances are those that provide almost a 100% guarantee that the person will be found disabled. Individuals with these conditions are not expected [...]

Posted in Social Security Disability

Medicare Rise Could Mean No Social Security COLA

Written On March 31, 2011 By Bob Kraft

For the past two years Social Security retirees and Social Security disability recipients have had no cost of living allowance increases because the COLA is tied to inflation and inflation has been very low.
This coming year inflation might be high enough to justify a COLA adjustment, but now there’s another problem — the cost of [...]

Posted in Medicare, Social Security, Social Security Disability

What’s With the Disability Bashing?

Written On March 14, 2011 By Bob Kraft

Tom Margenau is a retired Social Security Administration employee who writes a syndicated column about retirement and disability benefits. He always has excellent information, writes in an easy-to-understand style, and has an extensive knowledge of his subject matter. I really enjoy his columns in my local newspaper.
His latest was on the subject of Social Security [...]

Posted in Social Security Disability

Will Payroll Tax Cut Affect Social Security Payments?

Written On February 23, 2011 By Bob Kraft

The short answer to that question is no. Here is a more complete explanation from the National Organization of Social Security Claimants representatives:
The tax bill signed into law in December 2010, the “Tax Relief, Unemployment Reauthorization and Job Creation Act of 2010,” included a one-year reduction in the FICA payroll tax paid by employees from 6.2 percent [...]

Posted in Social Security, Social Security Disability

No Social Security Cost-of-Living Increase for 2011

Written On November 17, 2010 By Bob Kraft

As I’ve written before, there will be no cost-of-living increase in Social Security benefits in 2011. This is the second year in a row with no increase. Of course the reason is that inflation did not rise enough to trigger an automatic increase.
The actual rule is a bit complicated: the COLA is determined by comparing [...]

Posted in Government, Social Security, Social Security Disability

Social Security Unveils New Home Page to Make Finding Services Easier

Written On November 16, 2010 By Bob Kraft

The Web site of the Social Security has a new look, as of yesterday. Here is the announcement from SSA:
Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security, today unveiled the agency’s newly redesigned home page at www.socialsecurity.gov that will help visitors more quickly and easily find the information and services they need. One of the [...]

Posted in Social Security, Social Security Disability

Parsonage-Turner Syndrome and Social Security Disability Benefits

Written On November 15, 2010 By Bob Kraft

We recently successfully handled a case where our client suffered from severe Parsonage-Turner syndrome. Individuals suffering from this disorder experience severe shoulder or arm pain followed by weakness and numbness. This is a rare idiopathic syndrome with symptoms resulting from inflammation of unknown an etiology of the brachial plexus nerve network through which the impulses reach the arms, shoulders, and [...]

Posted in Disability, Social Security Disability