tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86750962008-04-29T05:57:06.735-04:00Disability Facts BlogDouglas Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16165893158287129896noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8675096.post-17261132685007008612007-07-04T12:52:00.000-04:002007-07-04T13:07:17.468-04:00Social Security disability - why not conferencing and collaboration at the reconsideration level?Decision makers at SSA’s first level of appellate review (“reconsideration” in most states) find it hard to assess claimants’ credibility and subjective symptoms because they do not see the claimant. Therefore cases which turn on these questions tend to get passed upstairs to Administrative Law Judges (ALJs) instead of being awarded by reconsideration level decision makers. These cases typically Douglas Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16165893158287129896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8675096.post-1159993132816486112006-10-04T16:16:00.000-04:002006-10-13T23:05:49.933-04:00Social Security field office staff shrinking
Social Security field offices lost 873 staff members between October 2005 and September 2006. Field office managers see the agency moving away from community-based services, and toward Internet and telephone services. This was discussed at a meeting of Social Security managers on September 12. Fewer staff members means less help for people struggling with Social Security disability forms.
Douglas Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16165893158287129896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8675096.post-1158686005903616042006-09-19T13:06:00.000-04:002006-09-19T13:15:42.343-04:00Should Social Security close offices to the public one day a week, to see if employees work better?Should Social Security close its offices to the public one day a week, to test whether or not employees process their work better? The Commissioner of Social Security floated the idea of testing this in thirty offices, in remarks made at a ceremony August 9, 2006, at the SSA Teleservice Center in Auburn, Washington.
Also discussed was the possibility of Douglas Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16165893158287129896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8675096.post-1158427585793315032006-09-16T13:24:00.000-04:002006-09-16T18:21:57.976-04:00Another reason DSI implementation may slow down . . .The President on September 14, 2006, announced his intention to appoint a new Commissioner of Social Security to a term beginning January 20, 2007. Changes in Commissioners often bring a slow-down or halt to innovative programs of their predecessors. Click here.
To follow developments in Social Security disability, visit: www.disabilityfacts.com
CLICK BELOW TO ADD COMMENTS TO THIS BLOG
Douglas Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16165893158287129896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8675096.post-1158339475075346142006-09-15T12:52:00.000-04:002006-09-16T18:23:18.900-04:00How fast is DSI becoming effective in the first six states?The Social Security Administration’s new "Disability Service Improvement (DSI)" initiative was set to start August 1, 2006 in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. It may have been significantly delayed. Here’s why we say this:
o SSA seems to not to canceled the Disability Redesign Prototype procedure in one of the DSI states - New Hampshire - until AugustDouglas Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16165893158287129896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8675096.post-1132631702304150792005-11-21T22:51:00.000-05:002005-11-21T22:55:02.306-05:00Can You Work While Claiming SSDI Benefits?The Social Security definition of “disability” is strict, but you needn’t be totally incapacitated to qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits.
Of course benefits aren’t payable to people who work and earn more than a certain amount. The Social Security Administration (SSA) calls this maximum “substantial gainful activity” or “SGA”.
But if a disabled person earns less Douglas Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16165893158287129896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8675096.post-1132354544007147682005-11-18T17:51:00.000-05:002005-11-18T18:04:55.463-05:00Social Security Disability Claim Approval Rates, Initial & Appeal Levels 2004Social Security has issued figures that show percentages of disability claims approved and denied at the initial and appeal levels in fiscal year 2004. The rates for the first three levels were:
Initial claim decision 37% approved, and 63% denied
Reconsideration 14% approved, and 86% denied
Administrative Law Judge 62% Douglas Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16165893158287129896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8675096.post-1126994936556462222005-09-17T18:00:00.000-04:002005-09-17T18:17:27.380-04:00Texas Disability Lawyers/Advocates - Can You Help People with Disabilities Displaced by Hurricane Katrina?Texas lawyers and non-lawyer advocates who will help Hurricane Katrina victims with Social Security disability matters without charge, may have their names and contact information listed on the Physician’s Disability Services, Inc. website www.disabilityfacts.com To be made part of the list, to make suggestions, or for more information, please e-mail Doug Smith at dfacts@earthlink.net
The list Douglas Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16165893158287129896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8675096.post-1123597635590420582005-08-09T10:23:00.000-04:002005-08-09T10:37:50.093-04:00SSDI Approval Rates Fluctuate - Seem Trending Up in 2005Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) awards were 37.3 % of applications in fiscal year 2004. This compares with 41.04% in 2003.
However, things may be looking up for SSDI applicants: in the first two quarters of 2005 the percentages of awards were 39.86% and 39.67% respectively.
The figures are from the Social Security Administration. www.ssa.gov/OACT/STATS/dibStat.html
To follow Douglas Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16165893158287129896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8675096.post-1120855001937285552005-07-08T16:33:00.000-04:002005-08-09T10:49:26.266-04:00Social Security Form SSA-3373 BK - Function ReportSocial Security Disability Forms: A downloadable version of Form SSA 3373 BK Function Report is available on the Pds web site at: www.disabilityfacts.com/resources/Forms/ssa-3373_nf.pdf
This form helps SSA understand how well or badly you function in various activities related to work. (Please forgive the wobbly printing, but this is what the form looks like when printed by an SSA computer.)
Douglas Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16165893158287129896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8675096.post-1116191549771212332005-05-15T17:10:00.000-04:002005-05-15T17:19:18.333-04:00SOCIAL SECURITY REFORM MAY AFFECT DISABILITY BENEFITS OF YOUNG WORKERSYoung Americans should join the debate over Social Security reform, and make themselves heard by legislators on the various reform proposals on the table. There is more at stake for the young than the creation - or non-creation - of private investment accounts funded by Social Security taxes.
Public debate has not yet focused on potential adverse effects to the Social Security Disability Douglas Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16165893158287129896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8675096.post-1110775291058628582005-03-13T23:38:00.000-05:002005-03-14T00:03:49.663-05:00Can I examine my own Social Security disability claim folder?Disability claimants sometimes report that a Social Security representative refuses to let them look through their personal claim folder. These claimants ask, does SSA have the right to keep me from seeing this information? Generally not. Generally, you have the right to examine your own folder.
Section GN 03360.030 of the SSA Program Operations Manual System (POMS) says,
“An individual's Douglas Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16165893158287129896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8675096.post-1108762494848650222005-02-18T16:32:00.000-05:002005-02-18T16:47:38.850-05:00Be sure to furnish SSA details on physical and mental demands of past jobsDisability examiners have the option of not asking claimants for details of their past work under a Social Security Administration (SSA) policy dated June 2004 [1] SSA is permitting this practice even though the agency’s regulations explain the potential need for job history going back fifteen years.
When examiners exercise their option to dispense with details of work history, it can have Douglas Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16165893158287129896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8675096.post-1108399797344208122005-02-14T11:44:00.000-05:002005-02-14T12:02:54.046-05:00Social Security will send its exam reports to your doctorMany who apply for Social Security disability benefits are examined by Social Security doctors. Often these applicants would like copies of the government medical examination reports to be sent to their personal doctors. Social Security Administration (SSA) policies permit this.
The disability determination services (DDS) appointment notice that you receive when the government schedules exams Douglas Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16165893158287129896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8675096.post-1105410622273035132005-01-10T21:19:00.000-05:002005-01-12T10:35:26.200-05:00You also can find the Work History Report Form SSA 3369 BKSocial Security Disability Forms: A downloadable version of Form SSA 3369 BK Work History Report is available at: www.ssa.gov/online/ssa-3369.pdf
This form helps SSA understand the most demanding physical and mental tasks of your past jobs, and helps them make an informed judgment on whether you could do any of the jobs now.
Sometimes SSA may not ask for this form right away, but it is Douglas Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16165893158287129896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8675096.post-1104250291864517922004-12-28T11:04:00.000-05:002005-01-12T10:34:21.563-05:00Social Security hides Disability Report Form 3368 but you can find itSocial Security Disability Forms: Social Security has removed the downloadable standard Form SSA 3368 BK Disability Report from the "forms" and "starter kit" pages on the Social Security website. But you can still get an electronic copy of the Form SSA 3368 BK at: www.ssa.gov/online/ssa-3368.pdf
To follow developments in Social Security disability, visit: www.disabilityfacts.com
CLICK Douglas Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16165893158287129896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8675096.post-1103242637491858172004-12-16T18:52:00.000-05:002004-12-16T19:21:17.940-05:00People with disabilities may face "conversion handicap"Many people underestimate the economic challenges of disability, a Nobel prize-winning economist told a group at the World Bank in early December.
Economist Amartya Sen told the group that "conceptual confusion" has contributed to insufficient attention being paid to disability and its correlation with poverty, according to Financial Times reporter Andrew Balls. So although disabled people Douglas Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16165893158287129896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8675096.post-1099026461668890272004-10-29T01:26:00.000-04:002004-12-14T09:48:33.370-05:00Social Security Disability Insurance replaces part of earningsWhat percent of earnings are replaced by SSDI?
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits replace part of a disabled worker's prior income. The fraction varies according to the earnings history; the lower the earnings the higher the replacement rate. It also varies according to whether you have family members who who qualify as auxiliary beneficiaries.
To get an idea of the wide Douglas Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16165893158287129896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8675096.post-1098562624269310362004-10-23T16:17:00.000-04:002004-12-13T09:57:59.020-05:00New electronic folders for Social Security disability claims excite SSA, concern others Social Security leaders are excited that they soon will have electronic folders for all disability claims, as part of a new system the agency calls the electronic disability system or “eDIB.” This means there will be no troublesome paper folders to clutter employee desks or get lost in the mail. It means that many different people in Social Security can work with a folder at the same time, Douglas Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16165893158287129896noreply@blogger.com