Category Archives: Social Security Disability

President Signs 2010 Budget Bill – SSA Gets 10% Increase

Written On January 18, 2010 By Bob Kraft

Congress has passed an omnibus appropriations bill for fiscal year (FY) 2010, which was signed into law by President Obama. As expected, the Social Security Administration will receive a 10% increase over the FY 2009 appropriation.
This increase will allow SSA to proceed with its ODAR hiring plans: 226 new Administrative Law Judges (ALJs), 950 support [...]

Posted in Government, Social Security, Social Security Disability

Can An 18-Year-Old Full-Time Student Still Get Social Security Child’s Benefits?

Written On January 15, 2010 By Bob Kraft

Colorado attorney Tomasz Stasiuk wrote one of his usual great posts this week at the Colorado Social Security Law blog. Please read his entire post. Here are some of the highlights:
According to the regulations, an 18 year old full time student can draw benefits through the 12th grade. The regulations, at 20 C.F.R. §404.350, indicate [...]

Posted in Social Security Disability

How Does Social Security Evaluate Disability Claims?

Written On January 11, 2010 By Bob Kraft

There is a five-step process set out in the Code of Federal Regulations that determines how disability claims are to be evaluated. 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520 and 416.920 (2009). If an individual is found disabled or not disabled at any point in this five-step process, the analysis stops and is conclusive on the issue of [...]

Posted in Disability, Social Security Disability

Substantial Gainful Activity Amounts for 2010

Written On January 8, 2010 By Bob Kraft

When Social Security evaluates a disability claim, the first issue they resolve is whether you are engaged in substantial gainful activity (SGA.) As an employee, the amount of monthly earnings are considered. Each year the earnings threshold changes by regulation. The SGA amount for 2010 is $1,000 per month.
If you are an employee earning more [...]

Posted in Social Security Disability

More Texans Apply for Social Security Disability Insurance — and Wait for Benefits

Written On January 4, 2010 By Bob Kraft

The Watchdog column in the Fort Worth Star Telegram recently had a good article about the hardship of the long waiting time for Social Security disability applicants. This has been a problem for all the years our firm has been representing Social Security disability claimants, and while it is somewhat better now than at times [...]

Posted in Disability, Social Security Disability

Fast Facts About Arthritis

Written On December 17, 2009 By Bob Kraft

We recently attended the Commitment To A Cure Arthritis Breakfast in Dallas hosted by the Texas Chapter of the Arthritis Foundation. Their public health, public policy, and research goals are aimed at finding a cure for the 46 million individuals suffering from arthritis.  In keeping with our goal to educate our readers, we would like [...]

Posted in Arthritis, Disability, Social Security Disability

Sleep Apnea and Social Security Disability

Written On December 14, 2009 By Bob Kraft

Many of our Social Security Disability clients suffer from sleep apnea. Individuals suffering from this disorder frequently experience:

excessive daytime sleepiness (e.g., falling asleep easily and inappropriately),

memory problems, and

frequent awakenings during the night, often with snoring.

The course of prescribed treatment can include positional therapy (e.g., not sleeping on the back), oral or dental appliances [...]

Posted in Disability, Social Security Disability

Social Security Sending Corrected Benefit Notices

Written On December 11, 2009 By Bob Kraft

This press release was posted today by the Social Security Administration:
The Social Security Administration earlier this month mailed notices that contained incorrect January 2010 payment dates.  These erroneous notices went to about 6 million beneficiaries who receive their payments on either the second, third, or fourth Wednesday of each month, and are part of the [...]

Posted in Social Security, Social Security Disability

Parkinson’s Disease and Social Security Disability

Written On December 8, 2009 By Bob Kraft

A number of our Social Security Disability clients suffer from Parkinson’s disease. Individuals suffering from this disorder frequently experience the following symptoms:
∙    tremors or shaking,
∙    slow movement, and
∙    difficulty balancing.
The course of prescribed treatment varies depending on which symptoms are most troubling. Medications such as Stalevo are often used, and dosages are frequently modified with [...]

Posted in Disability, Social Security Disability

Commitment To A Cure Arthritis Breakfast Is This Week in Dallas

Written On November 30, 2009 By Bob Kraft

A few weeks ago we reminded everyone about the upcoming Dallas Arthritis Walk to be held in North Dallas on Saturday May 15, 2010, at 12700 Park Central Drive. We would like to take this opportunity to notify everyone about the Commitment to a Cure Breakfast to be held this Wednesday morning, December 2, 2009.  [...]

Posted in Arthritis, Disability, Social Security Disability

Featured Link – National Osteoporosis Foundation

Written On November 10, 2009 By Bob Kraft

The goal of the National Osteoporosis Foundation is to make bone health a reality and a lifelong priority for all individuals. This group has much helpful information on their Web site. If you or a loved one suffer from osteoporosis I encourage you to visit this site.
Osteoporosis is a disease in which bones become fragile [...]

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

Arthritis, Social Security Disability, and Supporting a Good Cause

Written On November 5, 2009 By Bob Kraft

A number of our Social Security Disability clients suffer from arthritis. Individuals suffering from this disorder experience the following symptoms:

joint pain,
swelling, and
limited range of motion.

The course of prescribed treatment can include medications, physical therapy, and surgery. Not all individuals who have been diagnosed with arthritis will be found disabled under Social Security rules. One source [...]

Posted in Arthritis, Disability, Social Security Disability

Addison’s Disease and Social Security Disability

Written On October 20, 2009 By Bob Kraft

A number of our Social Security Disability clients suffer from Addison’s disease. Individuals suffering from this disorder frequently experience the following symptoms:

fatigue,
dizziness, and
muscle weakness with difficulty standing up.

The course of prescribed treatment can include hydrocortisone tablets or prednisone to replace missing cortisol, fludrocortisone to replace missing aldosterone. While not all individuals who have been diagnosed [...]

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

Obama Proposes Extra One-Time Payment to Social Security Recipients

Written On October 15, 2009 By Bob Kraft

As a follow-up to the last post, the press is reporting today that President Obama is proposing a one-time payment of $250 to Social Security recipients and others to partially make up for the lack of a cost-of-living-adjustment in 2010. The payments would be made sometime next year, and would go to all Social Security [...]

Posted in Government, Social Security, Social Security Disability, Veterans Benefits

No Social Security COLA for 2010?

Written On October 15, 2009 By Bob Kraft

This is a press release from the Social Security Administration:
Prompt Passage of Economic Recovery Act Payment for 2010 Needed

With consumer prices down over the past year, monthly Social Security and Supplemental Security Income benefits for more than 57 million Americans will not automatically increase in 2010.  This will be the first year [...]

Posted in Government, Social Security, Social Security Disability

Battling the Backlog in Social Security Disability Claims

Written On October 8, 2009 By Bob Kraft

“Justice Delayed is Justice Denied”
Most of us are familiar with the phrase first coined by the British Politician William Gladstone. Our clients awaiting their day in court on Social Security Disability claims endure a lengthy delay, as do the nearly 750,000 others in the backlog of pending cases. The national average waiting period for a [...]

Posted in Social Security Disability

Winning Social Security Disability Benefits After Age 50

Written On October 5, 2009 By Bob Kraft

This guest post is by Colorado Social Security disability attorney Tomasz Stasiuk, who writes the wonderful Social Security Insider blog.

If you are applying for Social Security disability benefits and you
are over 50 years old, isn’t it a relief to know that Social Security
finally gives you a break and makes it easier for you to win [...]

Posted in Social Security Disability

Increasing Demand and Declining Funds for the Mentally Ill in North Texas

Written On September 21, 2009 By Bob Kraft

The current economic crisis has resulted in many more North Texans seeking taxpayer-funded mental health care as people lose both their jobs and, with it, health insurance.  At the same time, the company that runs the state program is preparing to cut its budget. Demand has increased by about 17 percent since July 2008 and [...]

Posted in Disability, Social Security Disability

ALS and Social Security Disability

Written On September 15, 2009 By Bob Kraft

A number of our Social Security Disability clients suffer from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) or Lou Gehrig’s Disease. Individuals suffering from this disorder frequently experience the following symptoms:

weakness in the hand, foot, arm, or leg,

difficulty speaking and swallowing, and

difficulty walking.

The course of prescribed treatment can include night-time breathing assistance, a prescription of Riluzole [...]

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

PTSD and Social Security Disability

Written On September 2, 2009 By Bob Kraft

A number of our Social Security Disability clients suffer from post-traumatic-stress-disorder or PTSD. Individuals suffering from this disorder frequently experience the following symptoms:

re-experiencing symptoms (for example, a car backfire reminds a veteran of gunfire from battle),

avoidance of situations that remind a person of the traumatic event (for example, avoiding television shows with natural disasters [...]

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