Midwest Disability, P.A.'s Blog

Correction Of An Earnings Record

On behalf of Midwest Disability, P.A. posted in Social Security Disability Benefits on Tuesday, January 26, 2021.

Your earnings record should reflect whether you have paid enough tax credits to be covered by Social Security and will also determine the amount of the benefits you or your family receives when you become eligible. Typically, the more you have earned over thirty-five years, the greater the benefit you will receive when you reach full retirement age or are found disabled. Missing wages or misreported earnings by an employer could also impact whether you are found disabled, as the first step in a disability claim involves showing that you are no longer engaging in substantial work activity.

At times, an employer may have reported earnings incorrectly, or reported earnings using the wrong name or Social Security number. Someone may also be illegally assuming your identity. When filing a claim for Social Security Disability Insurance benefits, it is important to go over your earnings record carefully with a knowledgeable representative or attorney.

Job Obsolescence

On behalf of Midwest Disability, P.A. posted in Return To Work on Monday, January 25, 2021.

Proving a disability claim before Social Security Administration essentially involves showing an inability to perform past work or any other substantial work that exists in the national economy due to a diagnosable medical impairment(s). Social Security Administration will deem that work exists in the national economy when there is a significant number of jobs that meet a claimant's physical, mental, and vocational limitations. While the job could exist outside the region you live, isolated jobs that exist in relatively few locations are not considered "work which exists in the national economy." 20 C.F.R. 404.1560.

ALS patients no longer face SSDI 5-month wait period

On behalf of Midwest Disability, P.A. posted in Social Security Disability Benefits for Illness on Friday, January 22, 2021.

Many Minnesota residents living with disabilities can sometimes feel as if they are facing setbacks at every turn. For instance, applying for Social Security disability benefits can be a long process, and even after approval, qualifying individuals have to wait five months before they are able to receive SSDI benefits. Fortunately, for individuals with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a new law is changing that requirement.

Because ALS can quickly affect a person's abilities, it is important to act just as quickly when it comes to getting these individuals the help they need. ALS advocates have been working for nearly a decade to bring the five-month waiting period to an end so that individuals with ALS can receive their SSDI benefits more quickly. Now, a new law does away with that waiting period for ALS applicants who qualify for benefits.

COVID-19 Long Haulers and Disability Benefits

On behalf of Midwest Disability, P.A. posted in Social Security Disability Benefits for Illness on Friday, January 22, 2021.

As the COVID-19 pandemic enters into its second years, there are still many things that we don't understand about the virus.

One of those phenomenon is "long haulers." While most people who contract the virus make a full recovery after a few weeks, long haulers continue to suffer from debilitating symptoms, such as fatigue, shortness of breath, and brain fog, for months after the initial infection.

When Will Social Security Offices Reopen?

On behalf of Midwest Disability, P.A. posted in Social Security Disability Benefits on Tuesday, January 19, 2021.

It's a new year, but there's still no sign of Social Security reopening offices to in-person disability hearings anytime soon.

This is not the situation anyone expected when offices closed in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Most attorneys and staff expected that we would be back to business as usual in a few weeks.

Avoid self-medicating after an SSDI denial

On behalf of Midwest Disability, P.A. posted in Denied Disability Claims on Thursday, January 14, 2021.

Living with a disability that essentially makes it impossible for a person to work can be difficult for any Minnesota resident. Though Social Security Disability Insurance benefits could help individuals in this type of situation, not everyone receives approval of their application. As a result, some people may think that they have no hope of receiving benefits after an SSDI denial and could think about self-medicating as a way to deal with their problems, which could have negative effects.

Self-medicating may seem appealing to individuals who cannot afford regular medical care for their disability because they lack the funds. They could also consider this route if they struggle with their disability in such a way that it leads to feelings of depression. After an SSDI denial, individuals may try to take over-the-counter medications to help deal with their pain or could even turn to questionable ways of getting prescription medication.

6 Reasons Why Disability Claims Are Denied

On behalf of Midwest Disability, P.A. posted in Denied Disability Claims on Monday, January 11, 2021.

If you are suffering from an injury or medical condition that promises to leave you unable to work for at least one year, you likely struggled to figure out how you would make ends meet during that time. This may be especially stressful if your doctor expects your condition to be chronic or to get worse.

Like many in Minnesota who are in similar situations, you filled out an application for disability benefits through the Social Security Administration. To your shock, the SSA denied your request, leaving you wondering why and what your next step should be. You may be surprised to learn that the SSA denies about 70% of all first-time applicants for disability benefits. If you understand why, you may have more success when you appeal the SSA's decision.

Can The SSA Stop Social Security Disability Benefits?

On behalf of Midwest Disability, P.A. posted in Social Security Disability Benefits on Friday, January 8, 2021.

Receiving financial help from the government can come as a great relief to Minnesota residents and those across the country who are struggling. In particular, individuals who have suffered an injury or have a condition that is considered a disability may feel grateful for Social Security Disability Insurance benefits that they receive. However, it is important to remember that these benefits are not always permanent.

The Social Security Administration often conducts reviews of case files periodically to determine whether benefits should continue. The timing of the review can depend on the nature of the disability and whether improvement is expected, possible or not expected. For those whose disability is expected to improve, the SSA will conduct a review between six and 18 months after the person begins receiving benefits. For a disability that could possibly improve, the review will occur at or after the three-year mark of receiving benefits, and the SSA will review cases at or after the seven-year mark for individuals not expected to improve.

Factors affecting Social Security disability benefits

On behalf of Midwest Disability, P.A. posted in Social Security Disability Benefits on Wednesday, January 6, 2021.

Not being able to work due to a disability can take a serious toll on any Minnesota resident and those across the country. They may continually find themselves tight on money and struggle to pay bills and meet their needs. Without the ability to generate an income through employment, they may need to rely on government assistance programs like Social Security Disability Insurance.

While SSDI can help certain individuals, there are qualification that they must meet, and the benefits provided have a limit per month. The amount that a person receives can depend on how much money was earned during one's working years before the disability made the individual unable to work. This may come as a surprise to some individuals who may have thought the amount was determined by the severity of the disability or on household income.

An Anxiety Disorder Can Have Paralyzing Effects

On behalf of Midwest Disability, P.A. posted in Social Security Disability Benefits for Mental Conditions on Monday, January 4, 2021.

While mental health has received a greater focus lately, many people in Minnesota and elsewhere still do not fully understand how certain mental illnesses can affect a person's life. If someone experiences anxiety over certain situations, others may simply think the person needs to calm down or not make a big deal out of it. However, an anxiety disorder could greatly affect how a person is able to live, often in a detrimental way.

Though anxiety is a natural response in all people, some individuals experience it to an extreme level that they cannot control. It can result in these parties being unable to function like people without this disorder would, particularly when facing stressful situations. Outside parties may feel that someone with anxiety issues is simply overreacting, but people with the disorder often cannot control how they react or the degree to which their anxiety affects them.