Articles Posted in Social Security Disability Insurance

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In, Morgan, Jr. v. Colvin, a case from the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, claimant applied for both Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits. Claimant became disabled after he suffered a serious injury. He was working as an auto glass technician and was replacing a window on a semi tractor-trailer cab when he fell off and hit the ground. When he fell, he injured his back, shoulder and legs and was unable to work.

When he applied for disability benefits, the United States Social Security Administration (SSA) denied his application for benefits. SSA is the federal agency that runs disability programs. Following his initial denial, he requested a hearing before an administrative law judge (ALJ). An ALJ is supposed to be an independent judge who hears both sides of the case and decides if claimant is disabled. However, since SSA employs all ALJs, and they have offices at SSA facilities, it is not surprising that more often than not, they side with SSA and deny benefits. Continue reading

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According to a recent news article from Mother Jones, the United States Affordable Care ACT (ACA), more commonly referred to as Obamacare, may be able to offer assistance to those struggling with the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits application process.

673854_doctor_patient_relationshipOne man interviewed for the news feature was diagnosed with a very rare medical condition that was also very expensive to treat.   He had just lost his job and knew that it was not worth looking for another one, because, with his medical condition, he would not be able work enough hours at a low paying job to come anywhere close to being able to support himself. Instead, he decided it would be better to apply for Social Security Disability Insurance benefits. Continue reading

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For at least the past year, we have been hearing a lot from the media and politicians running for presidential nominations about how the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits program and the Supplemental Security Income programs would run out of money in late 2016, resulting in a reduction of benefits by 19 percent across the board.   This across the board 19 percent budget cut would mean for the nearly 10 million Americans currently collecting disability benefits, their respective checks would be cut by 19 percent, leaving many of them below the federal poverty line with no way to take care of themselves and their families.   The United States Social Security Administration (SSA) runs both disability programs, as well as the Old Age and Retirement Program of which most people are familiar.

writing-a-check-2-701013-mWhile this budget crisis was getting closer, many politicians, mostly Democrats, were advocating for a reallocation of resources from the Social Security retirement program to the disability benefits programs. Even though Social Security Administration runs both the disability and retirement programs, the money comes from different funds, because they are not designated for the same purpose in terms of who the beneficiaries are. This would be relatively easy to do, since the retirement program is funded through the year 2034, according to most estimates, and it would only take enough money to reduce that number by one year to fully fund the disability program for at least the next 15 years. Continue reading

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Senator Rand Paul has been vocal on the campaign trail about what he considers problems with the Social Security disability benefits program, and how, as he likes claim, the majority of Americans receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits are not really disabled, but instead are somehow “gaming the system,” because they like sitting a home and getting a check.

money-choise-concept-1439274-mA recent article from Huffington Post takes a closer looks at Paul’s claims and determines them to be “falsehoods” which are also a “disservice” to our nation. With Paul falling farther behind in the polls to win the Republican Party nomination to run for president, Paul has attempted to reignite his campaign by attacking Senator Bernie Sanders and his ideas about the Social Security Disability Insurance program. He does this by attacking those receiving benefits. Continue reading

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There has been a lot of talk lately that Social Security Disability Insurance (SSI) benefits and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits will have to be cut by nearly 20 percent by late 2016 if Congress does not decide to fund the program soon. This would obviously be devastating to roughly 10 million Americans, and this is simply not acceptable. However, in addition to how much money is being spent on disability benefits in the United States, according to a recent article from the Boston Globe, a national panel is calling for additional investigation into how that money is being distributed.

1088940_2_annual_reports__3This was the recommendation in national report on the subject, which found some pretty striking issues about how SSA is awarding benefits. For example, the report found that in Hawaii, North Dakota, and Colorado, less that one percent of all indigent children were awarded benefits for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), as well as various other mental health conditions, while in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, more than five percent of indigent children are receiving Supplemental Security Income benefits for the same medical conditions. Continue reading

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Everyone who has suffered a disability and is contemplating filing for Social Security Disability Insurance (SDDI) benefits is probably aware that it is often a difficult process to get their applications for benefits approved by the Social Security Administration (SSA). And the process takes a long time to complete.

1100587_hospital_handIt would make sense that people who are terminally ill and may not have a long time left to live would be given priority to obtain approval for their SSDI benefits, and SSA even has some specific cases where this occurs, but the reality of the situation is that most people, including the terminally ill, have at least six months of waiting before getting approved for benefits. This is assuming they get approved, which, for many unrepresented claimants, is also no easy task. Continue reading

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It is an unfortunate reality that mass shootings happen across the United States. These horrible events happen without warning, result in the death or injury to many innocent people and capture the nation’s collective attention. There have been numerous reports of these shootings this year alone, including the incident involving the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) church in Charleston, South Carolina and the shootings at two military installations in Tennessee.

gun-1503923Following these events, there is often much debate about whether the federal government should be doing more to prevent guns from falling into the hands of the mentally ill, or, on the other hand, whether the government will use events like this as some type of justification to deprive people of their Second Amendment rights. This is not a debate that will be solved anytime soon, as both camps are very firm in their respective positions. Continue reading

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There has been a lot of news lately about the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program and the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) programs, which are both facing a major budget shortfall. It is estimated that if Congress does not agree to reallocate funds from the Social Security retirement system by the end of 2016, the program will be out of money and unable to operate at full capacity.

tightened100dollarrollIn other words, by late 2016, over 9 million Americans will have their Social Security disability benefits cut by nearly 20 percent. Many of these disabled Americans will not be able to make ends meet or take care of themselves and their families with only 80 percent of their benefits. It should be also be noted, the system was designed so people could not make as much sitting at home and collecting benefits, so even at 100 percent of their benefits, a disabled individual is only making around two thirds of what they made before becoming disabled.

According to a recent report from Bloomberg, the program itself has various issues that should be corrected, aside from seeking money from Congress.   First, the author looks at the history of the Social Security disability program. The United States Social Security Administration (SSA) and the Social Security Retirement program was already up and running, as it had been created by Roosevelt as part of the New Deal plan to get out of the Great Depression when Eisenhower added a disability benefits program in 1956. Continue reading

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The first day of June each year is National Cancer Survivors Day across America. Many of these cancer victims have managed to survive the deadly disease but are still unable to return to work. Even after cancer has been removed and patients have gone into remission, many are left with significant health issues from surgical complications and weakened or non-existent immune systems from chemotherapy and radiation treatments necessary to remove and kill tumors.

1100587_hospital_handAccording to a recent news feature from The Daily Courier, many of these cancer survivors must turn to the Social Security Administration and their Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits to economically after they have survived cancer. Continue reading

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Johnson v. Colvin, a case from the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, involves claimant who suffered from a variety of serious medical conditions including, morbid obesity, chronic asthma, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and intellectual functioning impairment.

952313_gavelClaimant has never been employed and only completed school through ninth grade. She never obtained a GED and never learned to drive a car nor obtained a license to drive. When she applied for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits, the United States Social Security Administration (SSA) required her to undergo a series of cognitive and behavioral tests performed by a Ph.D. of their choosing. Continue reading

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