Critics of a proposed change in how Social Security conducts continuing disability reviews say that if a new rule is enacted, it could result benefits being terminated for millions of people.
Proposed Change in Disability Rules Could End Benefits for Millions
Disability Benefits and Student Loans
According to current federal government statistics, the total student loan balance of Americans stands at $1.6 trillion.
It Could Get Harder for Non-English Speakers to Get Disability
Many disability applicants understand that because Social Security takes into account age, education, and work history, it is easier for applicants over the age of 50 to obtain benefits.
Employment as a Fast Food Worker May Not Be Substantial Gainful Activity
I can never forget my first experience as a fast food worker. No matter what shift I worked or at what station, I always came home smelling of grease. I was occasionally burned by a hot grill or had fingers smashed unloading boxes of frozen food. Even as I continued through my twenties, full-time hours were never offered. I believe this was a common experience for many fast workers then, and still holds true today.
A Closed Period of Disability
A closed period of disability is a period with a beginning date and a definite ending date established by the adjudicator. A claimant may be entitled to a closed period of disability if the evidence shows he or she was disabled for a continuous period of at least 12 months but is no longer disabled at the time of adjudication.
Congenital Heart Disease and Disability Benefits
Under the regulations followed by the Social Security Administration, there are a two ways that an individual suffering from congenital heart disease may be approved for disability benefits.
Coping with Disability-Related Stress
Everyone copes with stress in their lives, but not everyone must deal with a disabling impairment. According to a 2010 survey by the U.S. Census Bureau, nearly 1 in 5 people in the U.S. have a disability (Americans with Disabilities, 2010). More than half of the adults reporting an impairment indicate that it is severe, with trouble concentrating or coping with stress being one predictor of severity (Id.). The report also showed Americans with severe disabilities are less likely to be employed and more likely to experience persistent poverty (Id.).
Disability Benefits for Children
There are two ways children under 18 can receive disability benefits. The first is if the child is disabled, they might be eligible for supplemental security income (SSI) if they are medically eligible. Children can receive SSI benefits based on both mental and physical health impairments. Children's claims are different from adults' claims. The standard is not if a child can work; instead, children's claim are based on several "domains" of functioning and development that include both physical abilities and limitation and mental abilities and limitations. As with an adult disability claim, it is important to be able to show through medical records the child's diagnoses and symptoms. If a child is successful with a disability claim and receives back pay, the government has strict rules on what that back pay can be spent on. If a child is found disabled, they are usually re-evaluated by the federal government when they turn 18 under the adult guidelines for disability.
Hearing Loss
As the parent of a deaf child, I often meet families of people with significant hearing loss. When they learn of my profession, a question I am commonly asked is whether they can receive disability benefits for their hearing loss.
What is an Unsuccessful Work Attempt?
Due to the lengthy process involved in seeking Social Security benefits, many claimants will at some point attempt to return to work in either a full time or part time capacity. Social Security, in order to encourage claimants in job seeking has built in a number of rules to deal with different levels of work activity.
