Massachusetts Social Security Disability Lawyers Blog

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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The Census data on disabled individuals in the United States paints a disturbing picture. An estimated 11 to 12 percent of people in the United States have a disability that the Census defines as “serious.” The Census restricts its questions on disability to people over the age of 15, so these percentages largely refer to adults in the population. Unfortunately, many adults with serious medical conditions will not be able to work and generate the income that they require to ensure their basic needs are met.

While the Social Security Disability benefits program is supposed to help these disabled individuals, the fact is that there are a lot of people falling through the cracks. Statistics show that as many as one disabled adult out of every five in America is currently living in poverty. In some cases, financial struggles are caused by low disability payments and/or high medical expenses. In other situations, however, a disabled person will be denied SSD benefits that he needs in order to survive financially without being able to have a job.
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The Social Security Disability benefits program is one of the few lifelines that people who are sick or disabled have in the United States. If you cannot work because of a severe and incapacitating illness or injury, you can receive a monthly check from the Social Security Administration. The amount of this check will vary depending upon whether you receive income through Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI).

While your disability check should hopefully provide you with enough money to live on since you cannot have a job, the benefits are far from being lavish. For SSI recipients, an eligible individual would receive around $721.00 per month and a couple eligible for benefits would receive $1,082. Earnings for SSDI are usually higher for most people, but are based on your wages over your working life.
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No one who has ever applied for Social Security Disability (SSD) benefits has ever argued that the process was too easy. This argument is reserved for TV pundits and politicians who have never known the worry of not being able to pay the bills because a disability prevents you from working and because the Social Security Administration (SSA) has delayed or denied your benefits claim. It’s unfortunate, however, that it is the politicians who are in charge of a program that is supposed to help the disabled but that instead denies more than 50 percent of all applications.

In an effort to prevent even more people from getting benefits, the Social Security Administration has recently released a new Notice of Proposed Rule Making. Comments are being accepted on the rule until 4/21/2014 and those who wish to make their voices heard should be sure to comment on the suggested rule. For those applying for SSD benefits, it is also important to ensure that the SSA gets a true picture of how disabled you are.
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