Each year the Social Security Administration (SSA) will determine whether they can increase monthly Social Security Disability and Supplemental Security Income benefits for disabled Americans based on an increased cost of living.  This is known as the Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA). Earlier this month, SSA stated in their blog[1] that more than 67 million… read more

The Social Security Administration (“SSA”) will hold a National Disability Forum on October 30, 2018, at the Capitol Visitor Center in Washington, D.C. The topic of this forum will be “Advance Designation of Representative Payees.” The morning session of the forum will have panelists discussing how advance designation can improve future financial management. The afternoon… read more

This October, we are proud to support National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Breast cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer in the United States. According to leading statistics, approximately 1 in 8 women in the United States will develop breast cancer at some point in their lifetime. A diagnosis of breast cancer… read more

September is National Leukemia, Lymphoma, and Myeloma Awareness month. Currently, there are approximately 1.3 million people in the United States living with or in remission from a “hematologic malignancy”, or blood cancer. In fact, blood cancers are the third leading cause of cancer death in America, with a new diagnosis being made every 3 minutes. September… read more

People often wonder how the Social Security Administration (“SSA”) selects the Judges to hear their disability claim. Up until July 10, 2018, Administrative Law Judges (“ALJ”) were hired through a competitive process that was conducted by the Office of Personnel Management. It involved an application and series of online and in-person tests that took place… read more

If you are a United States citizen, you can travel or live in most foreign countries without affecting your eligibility for Social Security benefits. However, if you reside in Cuba or North Korea, you cannot receive your Social Security benefits because of U.S. Treasury Department payment restrictions.  If you go to any of the following countries,… read more

For over 80 years, the Social Security Administration (SSA) has been committed to maintaining the accuracy of earnings records used to determine benefit amounts. The SSA relies on employers and workers for much of this vital information. The agency keeps a record of workers’ earnings to ensure people get the benefits they have earned. Employers are… read more

The Social Security Administration (SSA) has a compassionate allowance program.  This program is designed to provide an expedited case processing for individuals who file for Social Security Disability benefits and who are diagnosed with a medical impairment that qualifies for a compassionate allowance.  SSA has compiled a list of medical conditions[1] that are considered severe… read more

On August 15, 2018, the Social Security Administration (SSA) published a notice in the Federal Register that it is making the attorney advisor program permanent. As the notice says “The attorney advisor initiative permits some attorney advisors to develop claims, including holding prehearing conferences, and, in cases in which the documentary record clearly establishes that… read more

On April 13, 2018, The Strengthening the Protections for Social Security Beneficiaries Act of 2018 (H.R. 4547) was signed into law. A few key points from the new law: Section 101 of the Act strengthens oversight of representative payees by requiring additional types of on-site reviews, improving the effectiveness of the reviews, and providing for… read more