When assisting Social Security disability applicants a frequent question is “how long will that take?” Not only is the question asked frequently by the majority of applicants, but it is asked multiple times by the same applicant. The reason this is the case is because there is a lot of waiting time involved with either… Read more »
Blog
A Closer Look Inside The Social Security Administration
Most people realize that the Social Security Administration provides disability and retirement payments to millions of Americans every year, but few people have any idea how the agency is organized. In all, Social Security has more than 1,400 offices across the country and has a presence in United States embassies all over the world. At… Read more »
What Is Interim Assistance Related To SSI?
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a needs-based program for disabled individuals with low income and asset thresholds. The program should not be confused with Interim Assistance, which is public assistance from the state and not the Social Security Administration, but many times an applicant for one these programs ends up being eligible for the other…. Read more »
Social Security Disability Benefits for Terminal Illness (TERI)
To combat the backlog of nearly 700,000 claims and counting that are waiting for a hearing before the Social Security Administration (SSA), the federal agency has launched a number of initiatives to expedite Social Security Disability Insurance benefits to thousands of individuals. The requirements for disability benefits for a person with a terminal illness are… Read more »
Social Security Extends Access to Benefit Verification Letters
In a recent press release issued on July 17, 2014, the Social Security Administration (SSA) announces that it will continue to provide benefit verification letters at the local field offices. The SSA has started providing many services online in recent years; however, the SSA has decided that this service will continue to be provided at… Read more »
State to State Social Security Process Can Be Different
As if the Social Security disability process wasn’t confusing enough, the federal agency, for some time now, has operated differently in deciding disability claims depending on which state a claimant lives in. This doesn’t sound logical, considering Social Security disability is a federal program, but it is true. The standards in which Social Security makes… Read more »
The Appeals Council Process
We have talked many times about the Social Security disability process from the initial application stage to a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ), but we don’t often talk about something that may come after the ALJ hearing, the Appeals Council. Many people have misinformation or no information about what the Appeals Council’s function… Read more »
The Future of Social Security Disability Benefits
Each year, the trustees of the Social Security and Medicare trust funds draft an annual report detailing the current and projected financial status of the Social Security program. The purpose of the report is to advise Congress on issues facing the program. In the most recent “Annual Report of the Board of Trustees of the… Read more »
Is It Time To Panic About Disability Insurance Trust Fund?
The Social Security Board of Trustees recently released its annual report on the long-term financial status of both the retirement and disability trust funds indicating there was no change in the projected year of trust fund reserve depletion. Is this good news or bad news? I guess it depends on if you are a cup… Read more »
Spinocerebellar Ataxia (SCA) POMS: DI 23022.500
Ataxia is the scientific term for a lack of coordination or clumsiness. The part of the brain most commonly associated with coordination is the cerebellum. According to Social Security, Spinocerebellar Ataxia (SCA) refers to a group of genetic disorders characterized by slowly progressive difficulties with gait, hand movements, speech and abnormal eye movement. Spinocerebellar ataxia is… Read more »
