The Social Security Administration has announced its cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for 2020. Each year, federal benefit rates increase when the cost of living rises, as measured by the Department of Labor’s Consumer Price Index (CPI-W). The CPI-W rises when inflation increases, making your cost of living go up. This means prices for goods and services,… read more
The Social Security Administration and its Office of the Inspector General (OIG) announced the expansion of its anti-fraud initiative, the Cooperative Disability Investigations (CDI) Program. CDI Units identify, investigate, and prevent Social Security disability fraud. Three new statewide offices recently opened in Bismarck, North Dakota; Boise, Idaho; and Helena, Montana. In addition, the Puerto Rico… read more
While many car accidents result in only minor injuries, some accident-related injuries can have a lasting impact on your life. If your injury prevents you from working and is expected to last for a significant amount of time, you may consider pursuing Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and/or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) to help cover… read more
The “worn out worker” rule, a little-known provision of the Social Security regulations, applies to some disability applicants whose employment history consists of many years of unskilled physical labor. The worn-out worker rule allows for eligible disability claimants who would otherwise have their disability claim denied to be awarded Social Security benefits. To qualify, the… read more
Four new Compassionate Allowance conditions have recently been added to the list of claims that receive expedited decisions. They are: CDKL5 Deficiency Disorder, Pitt Hopkins Syndrome, Primary Peritoneal Cancer, and Richter Syndrome. The Compassionate Allowance List is a program to quickly identify severe diseases and medical conditions that meet Social Security’s standards for disability benefits. The… read more
Sunday, September 8, 2019 marks the beginning of National Suicide Prevention Week. During this week, organizations and individuals will be drawing attention to the issue of mental illness and suicide. In particular, strategies for suicide prevention will be discussed. At Premier, we encourage any of our clients who are struggling with mental illness to take… read more
If you suffer from seizures that impact your ability to work, you may be eligible for Social Security disability benefits. Seizure disorders are caused by uncontrolled electrical activity in the brain. In order for an individual to have normal brain functioning, there needs to be an orderly, coordinated discharge of electrical impulses. When the electrical… read more
The Social Security Administration (SSA) has imposed a hiring freeze on its headquarters in Woodlawn, Md., and in regional offices, while generally exempting positions involving direct service to the public. The freeze is one of the first actions by newly-confirmed SSA Commissioner Andrew Saul and reflects the approach that President Trump took in imposing a… read more
We all know that health care is expensive. The Affordable Care Act has made care more affordable for many lower-income patients over the past three years through cost-sharing reductions and tax credits on the health insurance marketplaces and through Medicaid expansion. However, 18 states have chosen not to expand Medicaid, leaving many people in a… read more
If you are applying for benefits from the Social Security Administration, chances are you are hearing or reading some unfamiliar terms and acronyms that can feel like a whole new language. Social Security employees are supposed to explain benefits using easy-to-understand, plain language. But if a technical term or acronym that you don’t know slips… read more
