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If you are eligible for DIB benefits, your claim will be transferred to one the SSA’s payment centers. The payment center will calculate what your monthly benefit is and how much you are owed in back pay. The benefit value is based on what you have paid into the SSA. There is a five month… Read more »

Many people approaching the early Social Security retirement age of 62 wrestle with whether they should apply for early retirement. If a person is suffering from impairments that they believe limits their ability to work they also may consider applying for Social Security disability. This is brief article about making the decision is bit easier…. Read more »

Some individuals have conditions that are considered so serious that the Social Security Administration (SSA) will fast-track their application for benefits.  The Compassionate Allowance Initiative identifies these conditions via public outreach hearings and consultation with various medical and scientific authorities. There are over 200 conditions that are considered as Compassionate Allowance (CAL ) conditions.  Although an individual… Read more »

The Social Security Administration is getting serious about cracking down on fraud within Social Security disability programs. Late last month Carolyn Colvin, the agency’s acting commissioner, announced that Social Security would establish a centralized fraud prevention unit in New York City. This new unit will identify potential fraud trends within Social Security disability programs. It… Read more »

August 8, 2013 Carolyn W. Colvin, Acting Commissioner of Social Security publically stated: “I am pleased to announce that Social Security is now processing some retirement spouse claims for same-sex couples and paying benefits where they are due.  The recent Supreme Court decision on Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act, made just over… Read more »

While individual Disability Insurance Benefits (DIB) are determined based on the amount individuals have paid into the system over time, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is need based, and cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) in maximum amounts are determined based on a formula set by Congress. There have recently been proposals to change the way this COLA is calculated. The formula set… Read more »

The Social Security Administration (SSA) has made numerous efforts to connect with people by using social media to provide information regarding the agency and the services it offers. For people looking for information on Social Security Retirement, Disability, or Survivors benefits the SSA now offers downloadable podcasts and webinars featuring different topics. The webinars offer… Read more »

The Social Security Administration recently added a new service that would allow Social Security disability representatives to determine the status of an Appeals Council case. If a claimant’s Social Security disability case is denied by an Administrative Law Judge, that decision can be appealed to something known as the Appeals Council. The Appeals Council is… Read more »

These days we don’t receive a lot of positive information or news from the mail. Typically we receive bills or junk mail, but no longer do we receive letters, postcards or even checks in the mail like we used to. This has all been replaced by e-mail, text messaging, Twitter, Facebook and direct deposit. It… Read more »

There are two main types of disability programs Social Security offers for people who are disabled and unable to work. These programs are Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Social Security Disability Insurance pays disabled workers monthly benefits based on how much they have paid into Social Security through taxes, while… Read more »