SSDI Boston

August 5, 2016

SSDI Backlog Creates Long Wait Times for Hearings

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

July 9, 2016

Successfully Applying for Social Security Disability Insurance

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

Successful application of Social Security Disability Insurance benefits is a multi-pronged process. It can seem daunting to many people, and in truth, it can be a tedious, drawn-out process.

The good news is that with an experienced Boston SSDI attorney, it can be a much less arduous journey.

Still, there are some things you should understand about the process, given that the Social Security Administration reportedly received almost 2.7 million applications to the program in 2013 and coffers are expected to dry up by 2022, unless an alternate funding source is identified. That means the agency is growing increasingly choosy with who it approves. In fact, only about 36 percent of claims filed between 2004 and 2013 were approved. Of those:

25 percent were approved on initial claim;
2 percent were approved on appeal;
11 percent were approved at hearings.

April 11, 2016

SSDI vs. SSI – Boston Disability Attorneys Explain the Key Differences

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

Learning about federal benefits can feel a bit like stirring a bowl of alphabet soup: SSI, SSA, SSDI, SSN and more.

Many people are overwhelmed when they first start to sift through pamphlets and informational websites. Sticking with it is worth it, though, because you never know when disability may afflict you or your loved one. Knowing which benefits you are eligible for and how to obtain them are critical.

Two of those that are routinely confused: SSDI and SSI. Not only are they similar acronyms, but they serve somewhat similar purposes. Both provide financial aid to persons who are disabled and, in some cases, their families. The main difference is how eligibility is determined. Continue reading