Massachusetts Social Security Disability Lawyers Blog

August 11, 2016

Will Social Security Disability Benefits Reduce My Eventual Retirement Benefits?

When people talk about Social Security, they are often talking about the benefits you get when you reach the designated age of retirement. This age of retirement is determined by the year in which you were born, because Congress has raised the retirement age on sliding scale several times over the years as way to save money on the program, which is often running short of funds.

The retirement program is technically called the Old Age and Retirement Benefits program and is administered by the United States Social Security Administration (SSA). This is the same agency that runs the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits program and the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program. Continue reading

August 8, 2016

SSDI Solvency Spotlighted in 2016 Annual Report

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

The Social Security Administration (SSA) provides benefits to some 60 million people, including 43 million retired workers and their dependents, 6 million who have survived deceased workers and another 11 million disabled workers and their dependents.

That last category is known as Social Security Disability Insurance, or SSDI. A recent annual report from the SSA – all 272 pages of it – highlights some of the issues the program is facing. Specifically, it takes a look at solvency.

First, it’s important to understand that the Social Security Trust Fund, which is fueled by payroll taxes on wage, is not being totally depleted of money. Continue reading

August 5, 2016

SSDI Backlog Creates Long Wait Times for Hearings

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

The Social Security Administration’s growing backlog of disability cases has ballooned in recent years, from about 695,000 in 2010 to more than 1.1 million in 2016.

According to the Office of the Inspector General, that means the average processing time on Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) hearings went from 415 days up to 498 days. It’s not uncommon to hear of people waiting up to two years – just to get a hearing to decide whether they are eligible for benefits.

Congress has promised to take steps to reduce that backlog, but they have been saying that for years and the problem continues to worsen. Continue reading

August 2, 2016

So Your Boston SSDI Benefits Got Cut Off…

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

Recipients of Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits in Boston know what an uphill battle it can be to secure payments. What they may not realize is that once benefits are obtained, that isn’t the end of the story.

The fact is, all SSDI benefits claims are periodically reviewed upon approval. How often and with what degree of scrutiny will depend on the type of illness claimed and the stated prognosis at the time benefits were awarded.

For some facing an upcoming review of benefits, it’s advisable to consult with an attorney, just to make sure you aren’t overlooking any aspect that could jeopardize future payments. Continue reading

July 30, 2016

CATO Institute Argues Against Using Social Security Administration to Stop Gun Purchases

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

We have been hearing a lot about guns in the news lately. Following the horrific shooting at the Orlando nightclub, many have renewed their fight to ban assault weapons. There are, of course, those on the other side who feel that there should be not be any restrictions on the right to purchase firearms, as that would violate a citizen’s Second Amendment right.

Regardless of where you come down on this issue, one of the ways that some are trying to accomplish this is by having the United States Social Security Administration (SSA) have the power to deny a person who is collecting disability benefits for mental health reasons from purchasing a firearm.

July 27, 2016

Social Security Disability Judges Allegedly Used Racial and Sexual Terms on Claimants’ Applications

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

When you apply for Social Security disability benefits, you first have to decide which type of benefit is appropriate. In many case, if you have a work history and have become disabled, you will be applying for what are known as Social Security Disability Income (SSDI) benefits. This program requires that you have worked for a certain number of quarters prior to applying for benefits. The exact number of benefits will be dependent upon your age.

For example, a 21-year-old worker how has been employed for a few years prior to becoming disabled would not need to have worked as long as a 30-year-old worker in most cases. The way the system is designed is to function much like private long-term disability insurance in which you pay into the system through your federal tax withholding. With a private disability insurance plan, either you or your employer would pay a premium to obtain coverage like you do with any other private insurance plan. Continue reading

July 25, 2016

Attmore v. Colvin: SSDI Appeals

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

In Attmore V. Colvin, a case from the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, a claimant applied for and was awarded benefits based upon her being diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Bipolar disorder is a condition for which the United States Social Security Administration (SSA) will consider a claimant to be disabled within the meaning of the agency guidelines.

In this case, claimant worked last in April 2007. She was no longer able to work and quit after she had several breakdowns that did not allow her to get out of bed and go to work. The following year she was in the hospital on three occasions because of her bipolar disorder. In one of these cases, she allegedly tried to commit suicide and was in the hospital for around two weeks. Continue reading

July 23, 2016

Why Was My Social Security Disability Claim Rejected?

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, nearly 57 million people – or 1 in 5 – have some type of disability. More than half of those conditions are categorized as “severe.”

In some cases, when disability onset occurs after years of working, disability insurance coverage can help a person to keep their heads above water until they can return to work. However, those suffering from a more severe condition that will result in a year or more off work are going to need more help than that. This is where Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) can help. These benefits can provide long-term financial relief for those coping with severe, ongoing disabilities. However, they must first qualify.

Although the number of SSDI applicants has more than doubled in the last 20 years, approximately two-thirds of applicants are denied. Whereas about half of applicants were approved in 1999, only about one-third were in 2014. This does not mean you should not bother applying. What it does mean is you’ve got to be prepared to make the best case possible before the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ). This is why having an SSDI attorney can be so valuable. It also means you need to understand the common reasons people’s SSDI claims are denied. This can help you avoid some common errors. Continue reading

July 21, 2016

Social Security Disability Insurance: Myth v. Fact

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

Much is misunderstood when it comes to Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). Some refer to it as an “entitlement program” or a type of “welfare,” when in fact recipients pay into it the whole time they are working. Others think it’s ridiculously easy to attain benefits, when the truth of the matter is many claimants wait months or even over a year, and often have to endure multiple levels of appeal.

Still, if you have been reluctant to apply for SSDI because you have been disheartened by some of the horror stories, know that your chances are much better when you’ve got an experienced, dedicated advocate on your side. In most cases, that help can be secured with a contingency fee arrangement, which means you don’t pay anything up front.

Here, we’ve complied a list of some of the most common SSDI myths we routinely here, and offer you some cold, hard facts to help you make an informed decision about whether to move forward on a case. Continue reading

July 17, 2016

SSDI Can Affect Long-Term Disability Insurance

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

When people play into a long-term disability insurance plan through their work, they expect that this will help them remain financially stable in the event of a serious injury or illness that renders them unable to work for extended periods. They may also understand that they are entitled to collect benefits through other avenues, such as workers’ compensation and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). What may be less obvious is the way in which these benefits can counteract one another.

Recently, a news station in Nebraska outlined what can happen when people try to stack coverage from other sources.

According to WOWT NBC-6, the couple in question were both happy and seemingly healthy for years. Married for 27 years, they both worked full-time. But then, the 53-year-old husband suffered a stroke. Suddenly, he was unable to walk or talk or complete basic tasks. He’s learning now to feed and bathe himself and how to communicate. His wife had no choice but to quit her job to care for him 24-7.

“I can’t go to work because he needs me the whole time,” she told the reporter. Continue reading