Blog

Social Security Disability and Retirement Benefits

On occasion we will get a call from a person who is already receiving Social Security retirement benefits who wishes to file for Social Security disability benefits. These inquires have come from people who are well past the current retirement age of 66. Unfortunately what some people do not know is that you cannot collect… Read more »

How SSA Retirement Benefits Can Impact Disability Benefits

 The Social Security Administration has many rules and regulations when it comes to Social Security disability and retirement benefits. These are two programs closely related, but an individual cannot receive both at the same time. This is something many people are confused about, but the rules are pretty clear. If you are at full retirement… Read more »

Social Security Part of Goal to Improve Customer Service

Generally government agencies have not been the leaders when it comes to customer service. The reasons for this vary, mainly that most government agencies, like the Social Security Administration, are overwhelmed with requests and lack the workforce so that overall customer service remains high. Anyone who has ever tried to call the Social Security Administration,… Read more »

What is Deemed Income by Social Security Administration for Supplemental Security Income Program (SSI)?

According to the Social Security website: Earned Income: are wages, net earnings from self–employment, certain royalties and honoraria, and sheltered workshop payments. Unearned Income: is all income that is not earned, such as Social Security benefits, pensions, state disability payments, unemployment benefits, interest income, and cash from friends and relatives. In–Kind Income: is food or shelter that you get for free… Read more »

An Insider’s View On Social Security Disability Going Broke

News that the Social Security disability trust fund is set to run out of money by next year, which could result in disabled workers receiving a 20 percent pay reduction in monthly benefits, has encouraged politicians, policy experts and everyone else to speak-up about what should be done about the pending crisis. Jason Fichtner, a… Read more »

A Closer Look At Social Security Proposals For 2016

Social Security recently released its proposed budget for 2016. Part of the budget discusses certain legislative proposals in 2016. A closer look at some of these more interesting proposals may give us some indication of what changes may be coming for Social Security in the near future. Social Security benefits to same-sex couples: Currently, Social… Read more »

Social Security Benefits for People who are Blind or Have Low Vision

The Social Security Administration (SSA) provides disability benefits to those who are blind and are unable to work. If you are blind and have worked in the past under the SSA’s rules you may qualify for Disability Insurance Benefits (DIB). If you are blind and do not qualify for DIB benefits, you may still be… Read more »

COLA Versus ‘Chained’ CPI

President Barack Obama and congress have both offered plans that would change the calculation of annual Social Security payment increases. When Social Security began in 1935 there were no provisions for annual increases in payments for theQ first 15 years of the program. Since 1950 the Social Security Administration uses Cost of Living Adjustments (COLA)… Read more »

Social Security’s Listing Of Impairments

Almost daily, employees of Social Security disability law offices are bombarded with client questions about why a client received a denial letter in the mail when their conditions and impairments should’ve qualified them as disabled, but Social Security decided they were fit enough to work. Honestly, it is a question that does not have a… Read more »