One of the biggest hurdles in many individuals’ claims for Social Security disability benefits is gathering all of the relevant medical records. No matter how severe your conditions are, your claim may be denied for lack of medical evidence. Many states have laws that waive or limit the amount of money medical providers can charge… read more

The Social Security Administration (SSA) announced earlier this month the addition of three new Compassionate Allowances conditions to their Compassionate Allowances program. This brings the total number of conditions on the list to 228 impairments. Disabilities included on the Compassionate Allowance list represent the most serious disabilities that affect individuals. The purpose of the program… read more

More than 1 million Americans are awaiting a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge to determine whether they qualify for disability benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA), with the average wait time being nearly two years – longer than some of them will live. About 10.5 million people receive disability benefits from the SSA.… read more

While no one likes to think about the prospect of becoming disabled, it is important to understand disability coverage under the civil service retirement programs as well as under the Social Security program. The civil service and Social Security disability programs have been integrated to an extent. This means that those who become disabled may not… read more

Hurricane Harvey has devastated much of southeastern Texas, leading to the temporary closure of many SSA (Social Security Administration) and ODAR (Office of Disability Adjudication and Review) local offices. The San Antonio South office has even been closed indefinitely. Forecasters expect strong winds, heavy rain, flooding, and power outages to continue in both Texas and… read more

A hearing in front of an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) is the last administrative stage in a Social Security Disability Insurance or Supplemental Security Income appeal and is called the Administrative Hearing. Depending on where you live, it can take well over a year, possibly more, to be scheduled for a hearing after one is… read more

The Social Security Administration (SSA) delivers services through a nationwide network of over 1,400 offices that include regional offices, field offices, card centers, teleservice centers, processing centers, hearing offices, the Appeals Council, and their State and territorial partners, the Disability Determination Services. They also have a presence in U.S. embassies around the globe. The Social… read more

Retroactive benefits (or back-pay) are the benefits that accrue while you wait for your Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and/or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) claim to be granted. In theory, you will begin receiving your monthly benefits and then the retroactive benefits are released within the next three months. However, we have been seeing extreme… read more

On July 13, 2017, the Social Security Board of Trustees released its annual report on the current and projected financial status of the Old-Age and Survivors Insurance (OASI) and Disability Insurance (DI) trust funds. The combined asset reserves of the OASDI trust funds are projected to become depleted in 2034, the same as projected last… read more

If you are denied benefits and decide not to appeal your claim – or if you miss the deadline for your appeal – then the Social Security Administration (SSA) will close your case. However, you may be able to have the claim reopened at a later date if you file a new claim and it… read more