SSD – Social Security Disability Process And Benefits

Social Security disability hearings are typically pretty straightforward affairs for claimants. And administrative law judge will ask you about your work history, your recent medical treatment, and things you do on a typical day. But there is one aspect of these...

UPDATE APRIL 2020: In light of the current COVID-19 pandemic, we now recommend that our clients attend all hearings via phone or videoconference to help ensure their safety and the safety of others. More information.++++++++++At least once a month, I receive a phone...

Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is a diagnosable medical impairment where blood pressure in the arteries is chronically elevated. Blood pressure is expressed as a ratio of two measurements: the systolic (maximum) and diastolic (minimum) pressures. For most...

When an insured individual is no longer able to work due to a disability, it is important to file a Social Security Disability claim as soon as possible to avoid any potential loss of benefits. Insured status for benefits under Title II of the Social Security Act has...

Often, I see clients who are already receiving monthly benefits from the Veteran's Administration, and are now seeking Social Security Disability Insurance benefits.There is no legal issue with a veteran receiving both these benefits, but there are differences in how...

You were at work when you suffered a life-changing injury. You didn't think that it would impact you initially, but once you discovered that you wouldn't be able to walk, stand or move in the ways you used to, you found that you couldn't work.Chronic pain has become...

If a disability claimant is under the age of 50, he or she must prove that due to disability, there are no available jobs they could do in the national economy. That rule changes when an applicant reaches age 50 though. In fact, a judge could determine there are a...

A new year means changes to how the Social Security Administration calculates benefits and eligibility for its disability programs.Probably the biggest change for 2018 will be the amount that Supplemental Security Income recipients receive each month.SSI is a...

Everyone who applies for Social Security hopes for a fully favorable decision. Typically, adjudicators will issue either a fully favorable decision, or a denial. At times, however, an adjudicator may render a partially favorable decision. The partially favorable...

Hurricanes, 9-11, and mass school shootings, have all tragically claimed victims. Acute stress reactions are highly prevalent among survivors. In the aftermath of mass violence, terror, or disaster, most people can fully recover from even moderate stress reactions in...

A working paper by researchers from Temple University, Johns Hopkins University and the University of Cincinnati has found an unusual connection between disability claims and states that have legalized medical marijuana. The study found that Social Security Disability...

Claimants who have been denied Social Security Disability benefits can wait months or even years to plead their case before an administrative law judge. When a hearing is finally scheduled, attendance is important. The hearing office is required to provide at least 75...

You've probably heard that the state of Illinois is not in great shape economically. In fact, nearly 40,000 people moved out of the state last year. So since almost all of the disability cases I handle are in Illinois, it's not surprising that the question I'm asked...

At step three of the sequential evaluation process, the adjudicator must determine whether the claimant's diagnosable medical impairments meet or equal a Listing of Impairments. The Listing of Impairments describes the medical criteria for each body system considered...

Many claimants are understandably nervous when it's time for a disability hearing. For most people, it's the first real experience they've had with a judge and attorneys. While Social Security disability hearings aren't quite like any court scenes you might have seen...