Work may not be your life, but work is often how we pay for our lives as well as the lives of our loved ones. If something happens that means you have a new relationship with your work, it often means there are changed to financial affairs.
How do I get help with disability insurance?
Handling unfavorable medical expert testimony at your hearing
Social Security disability hearings will almost always involve the judge and the claimant's attorney taking testimony from the claimant and from a Vocational Expert (there are other blog posts here that discuss the role of the Vocational Expert in detail). However, you may also have to contend with the testimony of a medical expert. The medical expert (or "ME" in disability law circles) is a physician brought in by the Social Security Administration to review the medical records from your numerous providers and give an opinion on what the totality of the medical evidence supports as far as diagnoses and related limitations. Whether or not there is a medical expert present at your hearing depends in large part on which judge is assigned to hear your case. Some judges seem to find medical expert testimony very desirable, while other judges rarely make use of these experts. Medical experts are more common in cases that involve less common disabilities, where judges are more apt to feel that their understanding of the case can benefit from the expert's testimony.
Can cancer be a disability?
When you get a cancer diagnosis, it definitely changes your life. It's frightening, it requires extensive treatment and it makes you think hard about what life has in store for you.
The role of assistive technology after a disability
Technology has advanced a lot in the last 100 years, especially in the medical field. But it's not all about finding cures and treatments. Some advancements simply help people live better, fuller lives with the conditions that they suffer from.
Social Security Disability and Gaps in Medical Treatment
One of the key requirements of a successful disability claim is that an individual must suffer from an impairment that has lasted, or is expected to last, 12 consecutive months.
Could Social Security Monitor Your Facebook Posts?
Earlier this month, The New York Times ran an article detailing a proposal by the Trump administration to fund a program that would monitor the social media posts of individuals collecting Social Security disability payments.
Can I pursue disability benefits after a disabling car crash?
A car crash is always an unexpected event. If it renders one of the victims permanently disabled, it's even more unexpected. In some of these situations -- and depending on the nature and extent of the disability -- the problem could be a lifelong condition that prevents the injured party from working. In cases like this, you might be able to receive government benefits by pursuing a Social Security Disability (SSD) claim.
A history of the Social Security Disability program
The Social Security Administration is a vital aid to people with mental and physical disabilities. These individuals, if they are unable to have jobs and earn incomes, may be able to receive benefits to help them pay for their living expenses. In order to qualify for these benefits, however, applicants need to have worked and paid into the Social Security system an adequate number of years.
What are Social Security Disability work credits?
To qualify for Social Security Disability (SSD), workers need to have earned what are called "work credits." These are proof that you have worked a sufficient amount and paid a sufficient amount into the Social Security system to receive disability benefits under the law. Work credits are awarded at a maximum of four per year.
What's the 'date of onset' for my disability?
The onset date of your disability is important for determining how much you can receive in Social Security Disability (SSD) benefits. That's because, once you qualify for benefits, you can receive "back pay" for benefits that you didn't receive when you first became disabled.
