Articles Posted in Social Security Disability Insurance

In February of 2013, Congress introduced the ABLE act. ABLE stands for The Achieve a Better Life Experience Act. The Act had more than 400 co-sponsors in the House and the Senate, and disability advocates spoke out in favor of it. Unfortunately, the Congressional session ended last year before the bill could be considered.

Disability advocates are now urging Congress to act this year and move forward with the legislation. According to CNN, more than 230,000 people have signed a petition urging Congress to take action. The bill was also discussed at an annual event at Capitol Hill hosted by the National Down Syndrome Society. If passed, the bill would make it possible for people receiving disability benefits to save money and attain more financial security without putting their disability benefits at risk.
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When an application for disability benefits is denied, there are several different stages of appeal for which a Boston disability benefits attorney can apply. The first step is to put in a request for reconsideration and have your claim reviewed again.

Unfortunately, if this is unsuccessful, you will need to move on to a disability benefits hearing. You can expect a long wait for this hearing to occur and new information indicates that the wait for a hearing is likely to be even longer in 2014.
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In 2012, nine million disabled individuals in the United States received around $120 billion in federal disability benefits through Social Security Disability (SSD). The large expenditures have led to calls for reform of the SSD system, but it is important to realize that spending was not uniform across the United States. As the Washington Post notes, certain counties have much higher rates of disabled individuals obtaining benefits than others and this geographic difference may be the key to improving the system.

Disability benefits are notoriously difficult to qualify for throughout the entirety of the United States, with more than half of all applicants nationwide seeing their petitions denied. Disability benefits attorneys in Massachusetts can help those who are in need of disability income to make a claim or to appeal a denial of benefits so they can receive the income that they need if they cannot work.
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Applying for Social Security Disability (SSD) benefits can be a complicated process because more than half of all claims are initially denied. This leaves workers going through a four stage appeals process, which begins with a request for review and then progresses to a disability benefits hearing.

Appealing a benefits denial is often your best choice for getting the benefits that you need. A Social Security Disability lawyer in Massachusetts can help with the appeals process so you can make a compelling argument to convince the administrative law judge (ALJ) to award you benefits. However, the entire appeals process can take a very long time and some applicants end up waiting a year or longer just to get a hearing. There is a significant backlog of people waiting for a hearing to determine if they should receive benefits, and you will need to wait for the SSA to work through this backlog and put you on the schedule.
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Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is a benefits program that is based on work-history and thus provides income to a disabled person in an amount determined by wages earned over his working life. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is another disability benefits program that is means tested and intended for lower income individuals. SSI pays out a maximum benefit of $721 per month, while people receiving SSDI may have higher benefits.

Unfortunately, a person who is born severely disabled is likely not ever going to be able to do work that would allow him to earn a higher benefit amount through SSDI. This does not necessarily mean, however, that every disabled child will only be able to receive Supplemental Security Income over the course of his life. The Social Security Administration (SSA) makes Adult Children benefits available under certain circumstances.
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The unemployment rate for the disabled is much higher than for those who do not have an impairing conditions, and has largely remained unchanged over the past five years. The unemployment rate for people with disabilities stands at 14.3 percent as compared to 6.8 percent for those who are not disabled. The Wall Street Journal also reports that the labor force participation rate for those who are disabled is just 19.1 percent compared to 68.5 percent for non-disabled individuals.

To try to reduce this widening gap and create more opportunities for the disabled, U.S. regulations will now require federal contractors to ask all employees if they have a disability. If the federal contractor does not have at least seven percent disabled workers, the employer will either need to prove that it is taking steps to achieve that goal or could face penalties and even the loss of government contracts.
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Advocates who are concerned about the disabled were relived when news broke that President Barack Obama’s 2015 proposed budget no longer included a provision for chained CPI for Social Security disability benefits.

Chained CPI would have altered the way that the cost-of-living adjustments were made to determine how much someone received in monthly disability income. It would have amounted to a de facto cut in benefits at a time when more disabled people than ever are relying on Social Security Disability benefits already too meager to provide for all the necessities of life.

Unfortunately, while Chained CPI did not make it into the budget proposal. The LA Times reports that there are still attacks on the disabled built into the budget. The budget is unlikely to become law because of partisan gridlock, but with both Republicans and many Democrats clearly open to looking for ways to cut back on SSD benefits, it will be especially important for disability advocates (and the disabled) to be watchful of any future proposals that suggest changes to benefits programs.
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While strokes are uncommon for those under the age of 50, they are becoming a leading cause of disability and debilitation. Individuals who suffer from a stroke may be unable to speak or write, lose mobility, and suffer from facial paralysis. According to recent reports, nearly 30% of stroke suffers will face challenges dealing with everyday life, even years after a stroke. This new study indicates that even youth provides a limited protection against the ravaging long-term impact of a stroke.

Strokes are much rarer for young adults and only 10 percent of victims are between the ages of 18 and 50. Still, strokes in young people are more common that many people realize. Many strokes are caused by blocked arteries (also known as ischemic strokes) that can occur in young adults, even adolescents. Our Boston Social Security Disability Insurance lawyers are committed to helping victims of stroke and other disabilities. We know that the financial burden of job loss after disability or illness can make recovery an even greater challenge. It is our priority to file your claim in an effective and timely manner so that you can recover the benefits you need to move forward.
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Mental illness can create significant hardship for individuals who are trying to maintain a normal job and life, even when on medication. While many of these workers will struggle to meet expectations, certain issues may make punching the clock difficult, or even impossible. In addition to the difficulties with maintaining employment, many dealing with mental illness are also scared of discussing such conditions with their employers because they don’t want to be touched by the stigma.

When you cannot work or maintain gainful employment because of depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder), schizophrenia, or other mental health condition, you may be entitled to Social Security Disability benefits. Our Boston SSDI lawyers understand the complications faced by our clients and will take every step to help you secure disability benefits. The Social Security Disability insurance system is complex and the majority of filers will be denied on their first attempt. Correct documentation and accurate filing can help to ensure that you recover benefits in a timely manner.
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New medical research suggests that autism and other intellectual disabilities may be caused by environmental factors. While it does not necessarily shed light on treatment possibilities, it could give rise to research in prevention. According to the report, an analysis of 100 million U.S. medical records indicates that autism and other intellectual disability rates can be linked to an incidence of genital malformations in newborn males. This relationship between genital malformations and intellectual disability indicates that both groups may have suffered exposure to harmful environmental agents, including pesticides.

Intellectual deficiencies and mental disabilities can be even more debilitating for workers than a physical injury. For individuals who suffer from autism or another intellectual disability, benefits may be available through the Social Security Disability Insurance program (SSDI). Our SSDI lawyers in Massachusetts are dedicated to helping individuals and their loved ones collect the benefits they need. We know that the process can be daunting, but will take the time to review your case, your documentation, and help you fight for the benefits your family needs and deserves.
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