In September 2020 Social Security announced it would begin to offer Social Security disability claimants the opportunity to appear at disability hearings through a new online video format, but since then most hearing offices were not offering that option until recently. Below is a portion of the press release announcing the new option. The Social… Read more »
Categorized: Legal News
Those With Disabilities Should Have Ally In The White House Soon
For four years it seems that the Trump Administration has took steps to make qualifying for Social Security disability benefits more difficult. These steps include changing the criteria to Social Security’s medical determinations, increasing the number of Continuing Disability Reviews (CDR), which could result in more people being kicked off benefits, and new policies to… Read more »
Will Biden Rescind SSA Orders Implemented By Trump?
Two recent rules that will make it more difficult to qualify for Social Security disability benefits were enacted, but they could be short lived and rescinded by the incoming Biden Administration. The first new rule now allows for Administrative Appeals Judges (AAJs) to conduct and adjudicate Social Security disability cases. Prior to this rule Administrative… Read more »
Report Shows Too Many People Missing Out On Benefits
Mistakes are a natural part of life and certainly the Social Security makes its share of them, but a December 11, 2020 report from Social Security’s inspector general shows that the agency has continued to miss paying people the benefits they deserve. The report showed that Social Security did not pay more than 27,000 eligible… Read more »
Last Minute GRID Rule Changes Sought
Unless you are a Social Security insider you probably have no idea what the Social Security GRID rules are or why they are an important factor in the Social Security disability process. Even you don’t know what the GRID rules are, the news that the Trump Administration is interested in changing them with just a… Read more »
Social Security Transition Report Released To Incoming Biden Administration
During the transition phase into President-Elect Joe Biden, whose administration will take over January 20, 2021 Biden has been briefed about national security matters, economic matters and domestic matters and recently Social Security Works released its transition report to the incoming Biden Administration. Social Security Works is an advocacy group that works to protect Social… Read more »
Volume Of SSI Applications Significantly Down
The National Organization of Social Security Claimants Representatives (NOSSCR) recently did an analysis on the reduction of Supplemental Security Income (SSI) applications being filed since Social Security offices closed in mid March due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The analysis shows just how much the pandemic has impacted the ability to file applications. Since March the… Read more »
Man Pleads Guilty In White Powder Case
A New York man pled guilty in October of 2020 to sending letters and white powder claiming the substance was anthrax to federal offices, including multiple Social Security offices in upstate and central New York. Jason Pantone, 35, of Hyde Park, New York is facing up to 5 years in prison for his acts, but… Read more »
Social Security Must Consider If Long Term Effects Of COVID-19 Are Disabling
The United States has already lost 160,000 people to COVID-19. Most people know only a small percentage of people infected with the coronavirus succumb to the virus, but that doesn’t mean there are no long-term effects after someone has recovered from the virus. Because the virus is so new it is difficult to determine what… Read more »
When It Comes To Phone Hearings The Choice Is Yours
If you are not waiting for a Social Security disability hearing before an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) or you have not tried to visit a Social Security office within the last four months you are probably unaware that Social Security office have been closed since mid March due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This has created… Read more »
