Ticket to Work Program SSA
If one is receiving disability benefits and considering a return to work, SSA's "Ticket to Work" program has additional helpful details here.
Covid Billing Nightmares
Despite efforts by Congress to provide relief to Americans who receive treatment or testing related to Covid, there are horror stories of billing gone awry as described in a recent article by The Cut here.
Permanent Telework at SSA?
Teleworking for SSA has for the most part gone over well and might result in permanent closure of SSA offices in the future suggest a recent Bloomberg Law article. In the current and post COVID-19 world, efficiency and cost consciousness might be the norm rather than the exception.
COVID Stimulus Pay and SSI
SSI recipients if they have not filed taxes should check the IRS website on some additional info since some SSI recipients may or may not have filed taxes the previous year and updated info may not be on hand for the IRS.
COVID-19 Checks: Where's my Check Uncle Sam?
SSI recipients will receive checks automatically for $1200 through direct deposit. Status can be checked at irs.gov website; see article from SSA re additional details.
COVID-19 and Stimulus Payment
WSJ article here answers FAQs regarding stimulus check/payment for Social Security Disability beneficiaries; in a nutshell, they will not be required to file a tax return to receive stimulus payment as it will be direct deposited to bank account they have on record.
COVID-19 and Medicare
SSA has prepared a FAQs page with regard to COVID-19 treatment and Medicare coverage for same here.
SSA Updates and Covid-19 FAQs
Staying updated with the SSA and FAQs with a helpful webpage can be reached here.
SSA Offices, Hearings and COVID-19
SSA offices are closed since March 17, 2020 for in person services to limit person to person contact and respect for social distancing in light of COVID-19. SSA can be reached at 800-772-1213. The offices of hearings operations (OHOs) have for the most part moved in-person hearings at the various...
Inability to Speak English and Disability
Recent changes in SSA disability evaluation depart from the previous notion that a person's inability to speak English, or limited skills with regard to same potentially impact their ability to engage in work. Thus, if we compare two hypothetical claimants seeking benefits (one who speaks English...
Coronavirus, Payroll Tax and Social Security
A recent proposal made by Trump with the objective of injecting a boost to the sagging economy was a payroll tax suspension. Critics warn that it is a plan that is not only poorly designed towards the objective (providing minimal additional spending money to people), but that it is potentially a ...
Echoes of the Past: A Warning
A recent article in the Huffington Post looked to a previous decade (the 80's) during an atmosphere of "welfare bashing" whereby recipients of Social Security Disability were implicitly not pulling their weight. In a nutshell, the resulting heightened scrutiny of disability benefits recipients le...
Proposed Attack on Benefits
A recent article highlights what is currently not well known or widely disseminated in the media. There is a continuous effort by Republicans and Trump to chip away at Social Security disability benefits. The proposal of adding another layer of review for those who are receiving disability bene...
Presidential Candidates and Disability Expansion
Presidential candidates including Julian Castro and Pete Buttigieg have released their plans for expanding disability including expanding Social Security as well as the ADA (American with Disabilities Act). Buttigieg's plan has been described as very comprehensive including the following proposal...
Social Security Benefits Increase in 2020
Cost of living adjustment (COLA) will result in an increase in the amount of Social Security benefits starting in 2020 according to the Social Security Administration's blog. More information and details can be found here as well as information regarding how to create a My SSA account here to se...
Stealth Attack on SSA Proposed by Republican Senator?
Republican Senator Joni Ernst has called for a session "behind closed doors" outside of public scrutiny, hidden from the sun (in the dark caves of hell?) with a proposal to "fix" Social Security. This stealthy and sneaky action can only be for more looting and more swamp creatures to benefit - wh...
Oversight for Disability Consultant Doctors
Government Accountability Office undertaking an investigation into high denial rates by doctors consulted by SSA.
Functional Assessment Importance
A recent report and study again emphasizes a well known term "functional capacity" to Social Security Disability. This term is relevant in that it is an attempt to assess how a person's physical limitations are specified across physical demands such as standing, walking, pushing/pulling, lifting/...
Social Security Not in Peril
Social Security is alive and kicking, despite some rhetoric that is aimed at making the public have doubts on that point. A recent LA Times article confirms that the program has become financially stronger in the past year. To put it another way, Social Security is solvent, fiscally healthy an...
Semantics, Politics and Benefits
In this political climate where there are proposed budget cuts and discussion of "deficits" and the need to cut Social Security funding, it is important always to refresh our memory with facts and a dose of reality. Benefits from Social Security are what working Americans have earned over the cou...
Trump's Proposed Buzzsaw to Social Safety Nets in 2020
A recent LA Times article highlighted the proposed 2020 budget of Trump - it is nothing short of breathtaking in its scope in its objective to gut social safety nets that most Americans rely on and including Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security. Fallout from the cuts to Social Security Administ...
Social Media Posts Viewed by SSA?
Efforts and investigation into having SSA keep an eye on those who utilize social media accounts such as Facebook and Twitter are apparently happening and there are some stepped up efforts by the Trump administration in this regard according to a recent article. The bottom line is that there is...
Talking to Your Doctor
Describe How Your Condition Impacts Your Daily Life When speaking to your doctor, describe the factual basis of your disability, rather than simply stating that you are disabled. You must give specific reasons to your doctor that explain why you should be awarded disability benefits. For example...
SSA News and Updates
SSA is proposing to eliminate a category "inability to communicate in English" as a potential factor that would reduce a claimant's ability to be employable. This is potentially a very significant development that could negatively impact claimants who are unable to communicate in English.
Is Pain Adequately Assessed by SSA?
Interesting article and action by SSA asking for feedback regarding whether claimants seeking disability benefits feel that level of pain was adequately taken into consideration regarding their claim for benefits. Pain is subjective and therefore potentially difficult to have a clear cut applic...
