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When you decide it is time to file for Social Security disability benefits because you are unable to work it is important to know that the process can have impacts on other parts of your life, both good and bad. On the negative side of things, the amount of income you and other members of… Read more »

 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 »

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 »

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 »

Most years the Supplemental Security Income maximum  benefit increases. Supplemental Security Income benefits automatically increased in 2013 because there was an increase in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) from the third quarter of 2010 to the third quarter of 2012.  As of January 1, 2013, the federal benefit rate is $710 for an individual and… Read more »

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 »

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 »

Earlier this month an Amarillo, TX woman pled guilty in federal court to participating in a scam that allowed her brother-in-law to collect $42,000 worth of Social Security disability payments he was not eligible for because he was working. The woman, who co-owned a concrete business, hired and employed the man who was allegedly collecting… Read more »

According to the Social Security Administration if you are a U.S. citizen, you can travel to or live in most foreign countries without impacting your Social Security benefits, but there are a few countries where they cannot send Social Security payments. These countries include: Azerbaijan, Belarus, Cuba, Cambodia, Georgia, Kazakstan, Kyrgzstan, Moldova, North Korea, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine,… Read more »

Anyone who has been involved in a Social Security disability case has probably come across the term Substantial Gainful Activity. This blog is an attempt to explain what SGA is and how it impacts a Social Security disability case. As it relates to Social Security disability, SGA is the amount of money someone earns from… Read more »