A vocational expert plays a large role in any social security disability hearing. By definition, a vocational expert is a professional who provides impartial expert opinion evidence about a claimant's vocational abilities that a judge considers when making a decision...
Month: October 2019
Social Security Announces 2020 Cost of Living Adjustment
The Social Security Administration has announced a modest benefit increase next year for individuals receiving Social Security retirement, Social Security Disability Insurance, or Supplemental Security Income. Individuals receiving disability benefits will see a 1.6...
Pregnancy and Disability
Some individuals mistakenly believe that Social Security will pay them benefits if they miss work due to a pregnancy or childbirth. While pregnancy can greatly impede one's ability to maintain full time employment, it is generally not considered a disability under the...
The future is unclear after a traumatic amputation
If you have suffered a traumatic amputation in a car accident, a workplace accident or some other such incident, your first thought is likely for the future. What does this severe injury mean for you moving forward?Unfortunately, there is no clear answer that applies...
When do SSD payments begin after approval?
It takes time and effort on your part, but you eventually do get approved for Social Security Disability (SSD) benefits. What you're wondering, almost immediately, is when the payments actually start. When will you get the money they approved for you? When does that...
What Makes a Winning Disability Case?
By far the most common question clients have ahead of a disability hearing is whether they're going to win.Unfortunately, there's no magic bullet to predict whether or not you win once your case gets before an administrative law judge.However, there are several...
1 in 5 veterans has PTSD or major depression
Veterans were asked to put their very lives on the line, doing one of the most dangerous and courageous jobs the United States has to offer. This can have a profound impact on them. Many come back home with injuries and disabilities that will never heal, like lost...
How the SSA weighs the evidence
The Social Security Administration (SSA) recognizes a variety of medical professionals as acceptable medical sources for the purposes of evaluating the medical evidence in a disability claim. Traditionally, only the following types of medical providers constitute...
Are brain injuries or spine injuries more common?
Both brain injuries and spinal cord injuries can result in permanent disabilities when they are serious enough. These are difficult injuries for medical professionals to treat, as they do not always heal completely. Even with medical care, someone could experience...
SSR 19-4p and primary headache disorders
As of August 26, 2019, the Social Security Administration (SSA) adopted SSR 19-4p, a new regulation that discusses the evidence needed to establish primary headache disorder as a medically determinable impairment. This regulation also distinguishes between primary...
Injured At Work?
Find out if you can collect Work Comp benefits too