When you file for Social Security disability, you will have to tell Social Security a specific onset date when you became disabled. In most cases, this will be the day you stopped working, and usually, most people apply for disability within a few months, or maybe one...
Disability Cases
What Should You Say at a Disability Hearing?
What Should You Say at a Disability Hearing? One of the most common questions clients ask me in preparing for a hearing is “What should I say?” Ethically, I can’t tell you what to say. Even if I could, there are no magic words that will convince a judge to grant you...
Seeking disability benefits for diabetes
Whether your doctor discovered your condition during a routine exam or you were experiencing upsetting symptoms that led you to seek medical assistance, a diagnosis of diabetes can bring with it many serious life changes. This may include dietary restrictions, glucose...
What if I Miss a Disability Phone Hearing?
The move to phone hearings for Social Security disability cases has presented a unique set of challenges for everyone involved.While Social Security has overall been good about notifying claimants of their hearings, and attorneys have been contacting clients ahead of...
Covid-19 and Disability Hearings
The novel coronavirus Covid-19 pandemic has led to some drastic changes in day-to-day to life. But despite urgings from many leaders and medical professionals for people to stay home as much as possible, the Social Security Administration is still going forward with...
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...
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...
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.The Social Security Administration will grant disability benefits to...
Addressing the Judge at your Disability Hearing
Prior to your disability hearing, your attorney will likely make clear to you that it is a very informal type of proceeding. There will not be an adversarial attorney cross-examining you and trying to prove that you are not disabled. You will not have to "take the...
What if My Disability Hearing is Cancelled?
The current national wait time from disability application until hearing before an administrative law judge is still around a year and a half.As long as the wait is for a hearing, sometimes claimants get even worse news just before they finally go in front of a judge:...
Do I have to Pay Taxes on Disability Benefits?
April 15, the deadline to file taxes in 2019, is fast approaching.And as usual, that means one of the most common questions I'm getting from clients is whether they'll have to pay taxes on their disability benefits.The good news is that no, generally, you do not have...
Pain as a Consideration in Your Disability Case
With most physically disabling conditions, pain is an unfortunate side effect that adds greatly to the suffering and hardship of the affected individual. In your claim for disability benefits, there are regulations that govern how your pain symptoms are to be...