You received the bad news recently from your doctor that the condition from which you're suffering is terminal. Now, your main focus is how you can quickly access whatever Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits to which you may be eligible.
I'm dying. How can I access benefits quickly?
Lawsuit Seeks to Ease Social Security Signing Requirements
One thing that becomes quickly apparent when dealing with the Social Security Administration is just how many of its practices exist for no real reason other than because these things have always been done in a certain way.
Should You Bring a Witness to Your Disability Hearing?
One thing that clients bring up when I first speak with them is that they have a witness, or witnesses, that they want to testify at their hearing.
Signs of liver cirrhosis
Liver disease progresses through five main stages: A healthy liver, a liver with fibrosis, a liver with cirrhosis, a liver with cancer, and liver failure. While there are treatment options, there are not always cures.
How long a disability has to last for SSDI benefits
One option that injured workers sometimes have is to claim benefits through Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). This is different than other benefits in a few key ways, one of which is the relatively narrow scope of the qualifying injuries. Another difference is how long that disability is expected to last.
Is the war in Afghanistan over?
There has been no war in the history of the United States that has lingered for as long as the war in Afghanistan. Many famous wars were actually relatively short. The U.S. entered World War Two in 1941, for example, and it was over by 1945. The war itself was longer, of course, since the U.S. entered late, but American involvement only ran for four years.
Veterans may have invisible, internal injuries
If you ask the average person what types of injuries veterans suffer, they're probably going to mention two things: Amputation injuries and traumatic brain injuries. These do happen often in such a dangerous line of work, and they often fit the profile that people have in mind of an injured military member.
Age: Not Just a Number in Social Security Disability Benefits
The Social Security Administration has a strict set of laws and regulations that determine how disability cases are decided and awarded. It is important to note that age will not disqualify someone from applying or receiving disability benefits. However, an individual's age is factored into how the Social Security Administration views the case. There are four basic age categories that are considered by Social Security. First, there is the category of younger individuals. Younger individuals are individuals who are anywhere from 18 years old to 49 years old. Second, there is the category of individuals closely approaching advanced age. These individuals are anywhere from 50 years old to 54 years old. Third, there is the category of individuals of advanced age who are 55 to 59. Lastly, there are individuals approaching retirement age who range from 60 to 65 years old. As a young individual, age generally does not come into play but instead the individual must show they are unable to perform any full-time work in the national economy. However, once an individual is 50+ years old, the burden of proving disability shifts somewhat. These age groups used by the Social Security Administration are examined along with an individual's past work, educational background, and residual functional capacity. For example, say an individual is 52 years old, has a high school education, and past work as a truck driver and machine operator. If this individual was found to be limited to "sedentary" work due to severe back pain issues then this individual wound likely be found disabled per the vocational grid rules. This finding would be contingent upon verifying the individual has no transferable skills to sedentary work. Overall, as an individual ages the burden for proving disability lessens a bit. However, due to the complexity of the vocational grid rules and the individual issues in each case, it is important to speak with an experienced attorney about your specific case and circumstances. An experienced attorney will help you understand more on how your age may affect your case in getting approved for benefits.
