tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86750962024-03-07T08:52:14.097-05:00Disability Facts Blog - Doug SmithHelping people transition ...Douglas Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16165893158287129896noreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8675096.post-8763881620315991562018-01-15T08:59:00.000-05:002018-01-15T08:59:13.081-05:00Social Security Disability-Getting StartedSound recommendations for getting started with a Social Security disability claim (and useful resources) from The Cleveland Plain Dealer.
“Applying for social security disability benefits? Most applications are initially denied. Advocates and lawyers weigh in with tips that may help your case end up in the "yes" pile.”
http://www.cleveland.com/healthfit/index.ssf/2018/01/Douglas Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16165893158287129896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8675096.post-50122415846390697642017-10-05T08:43:00.002-04:002017-10-09T11:33:27.593-04:00Courage on the Killing Field
Lord please make me like the people who found themselves in the gunsights of the Las Vegas killer and despised the role of victim, who instead became first responders by moving their confused and wounded neighbors off the killing field.
The Chicago Tribune said of Sunday's Las Vegas massacre, "Surveying the scene, we were struck less by the detritus of a massacre site — water bottles, Douglas Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16165893158287129896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8675096.post-28694246487026055052017-09-13T09:37:00.003-04:002017-09-13T09:57:40.438-04:00Sun or Candle?"Man is taken up with the candle of creature comforts. Let him once see the sun of righteousness, the all sufficient and eternal God, the excellence of His glorious being, and that which was glorious before has no more glory in comparison to the sight of God." George Swinnock, 1627-1673Douglas Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16165893158287129896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8675096.post-35513425001379036842017-05-18T13:00:00.001-04:002017-05-20T10:53:45.321-04:00... the federal government will stop seizing the tax refunds of Americans whose long-dead parents had incurred debts to Social Security many years earlier"After three years of complaints and pressure from taxpayers, the federal
government will stop seizing the tax refunds of Americans whose
long-dead parents had incurred debts to Social Security many years
earlier." WASHINGTON POST, May 12, 2017
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/us-to-stop-seizing-tax-refunds-to-pay-off-old-family-debt/2017/05/12/Douglas Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16165893158287129896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8675096.post-41413119172463411842016-03-21T13:30:00.001-04:002016-03-21T17:48:37.221-04:00Curious How to Reenter the Workforce After SSDI?
If you are wondering how to reenter the workforce after a stint on Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits, may I make some suggestions based on my observations and research?
The first thing you want to do is stir up your own thinking – and reenergize your motivation to return to work. The next thing is contacting your state or local vocational rehabilitation (VR) agency.Douglas Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16165893158287129896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8675096.post-90116419728511167922014-11-10T11:59:00.001-05:002014-11-10T12:29:36.060-05:002015 Annual Adjustments Affecting SSDI Benefits - Compared with 2014
Cost of Living Increase. There is a 1.7% cost of living increase for benefits payable in 2015. There was a 1.5% cost of living increase in 2014. This increase applies both to Social Security Disability Insurance benefits, and Retirement benefits.
Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA). Earning While Disabled. Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) beneficiaries in 2014 will Douglas Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16165893158287129896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8675096.post-70780884542098476382014-03-08T11:04:00.001-05:002014-03-08T11:19:28.950-05:00Profiles in Courage? Why do federal politicians enact a clumsy new
health "system" that adds heavy taxes on all Americans, but refuse to
reform the finances of Social Security where American workers largely
fund their own retirement and disability benefits? Tom Margenau, a
former Social Security staffer explains in, "Politicians Punt Again …".
Douglas Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16165893158287129896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8675096.post-63881610469487007012014-02-07T12:45:00.000-05:002014-02-07T13:41:35.733-05:00Social Security Disability - 25 New Compassionate Allowance (CAL) Conditions Speed Claim Handling
From the Social Security Administration Press Office
Carolyn W. Colvin, Acting Commissioner of Social Security, announced 25 new Compassionate Allowances conditions on January 15, 2014, including a dozen cancers, bringing the total number of conditions to 225. The Compassionate Allowances program expedites disability decisions for Americans with the most serious disabilities Douglas Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16165893158287129896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8675096.post-35772081549162001312013-11-26T12:09:00.000-05:002013-11-26T15:41:13.651-05:00SSDI: Annual Adjustments Affecting Benefits in 2014 Compared with 2013
Cost of Living Increase. There is a 1.5% cost of living increase for benefits payable in 2014. There was a 1.7% cost of living increase in 2013. This increase applies both to Social Security Disability Insurance benefits, and Retirement benefits.
Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA). Earning While Disabled.
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) beneficiaries in 2014 will
be ableDouglas Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16165893158287129896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8675096.post-55417291761277543362013-09-30T12:21:00.001-04:002013-10-28T19:11:01.958-04:00SSA Online Video Resources for SSDI & SSI
SSA Video Resources SSA offers free video instruction on applying for SSDI and SSI.Douglas Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16165893158287129896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8675096.post-44239614145262323422013-07-30T12:15:00.001-04:002013-07-30T12:18:51.649-04:00SSDI moochers - NOT!People who want a good capsule summary of the workings of the Social Security Disability decision process can find it (without political hogwash) in the article “Law Firms That Specialize in Social Security Disability,” by ex-Social Security representative Tom Morgenau.
Torrents of hostile criticism are falling on recipients of Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits these days. Douglas Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16165893158287129896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8675096.post-36077365328571669562013-07-26T18:44:00.001-04:002013-07-26T18:58:48.574-04:00Outline gives quick overview of SSDI and its relationship to other programsDid you ever wonder what the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program looks like from the top down - "from 30,000 feet" as the Air Force would say?
Pds Third Floor Publishing offers a free downloadable Social Security Disability Outline 2013 on its website.Douglas Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16165893158287129896noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8675096.post-21202801786714639752013-07-23T16:47:00.000-04:002013-07-23T16:54:35.726-04:00First understand your disability – then fill out the Social Security formsLet's assume you can't work and must apply for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits. To win benefits you must explain to the Social Security Administration (SSA) in practical terms the things about your illness that keep you from working. And you must provide evidence. If you want benefits it won't do to only say things like "my heart attack keeps me from going back to work".
To Douglas Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16165893158287129896noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8675096.post-65087692180280288462013-07-12T13:24:00.000-04:002013-07-12T13:36:26.219-04:00How to access SSA’s fast track QDD and CAL disability decision processesThe Social Security Administration (SSA) recently adopted two fast track processes for deciding well-documented disability claims: the Quick Disability Determination process (QDD) and the Compassionate Allowance process (CAL). The agency boasts about the speed of these processes but publishes little guidance on how to gain access to them. Therefore many applicants for Social Security disability Douglas Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16165893158287129896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8675096.post-21210512880130836572012-10-31T10:23:00.000-04:002012-11-07T17:46:47.723-05:00The Internet Disability Application: Is it "Convenient" and "Time Saving"?
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mso-font-signature:Douglas Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16165893158287129896noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8675096.post-19125597916539926332011-09-29T18:38:00.005-04:002011-10-01T18:01:35.357-04:00Conditions on SSA "Compassionate Allowance" List Get Quicker DecisionsSocial Security added 12 new medical conditions to the list of "Compassionate Allowance" or "CAL" conditions in July 2011. This brings the number of Compassionate Allowance conditions to 100. Claims based on conditions in the CAL list are decided more quickly.According to SSA, "the [CAL] initiative is designed to quickly identify diseases and other medical conditions that invariably qualify underDouglas Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16165893158287129896noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8675096.post-12696940296626356192011-08-24T16:55:00.004-04:002011-08-25T18:29:14.880-04:00A Flake in the Blizzard of Recent Attacks on SSDIDear Mr. Cavuto, I heard part of your interview with Dan Mitchell of the CATO Institute this afternoon. From hearing that segment I can say that Mr. Mitchell needs to do some homework on Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI).
He expressed the view that only a "handful" of people genuinely qualify for SSDI benefits; that there is a cadre of doctors who grant disability benefits to people Douglas Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16165893158287129896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8675096.post-80033552597083280162011-01-28T09:18:00.004-05:002011-01-28T09:36:16.950-05:00Starting a Social Security disability insurance claimThis succinct description of the forms needed to start a disability insurance claim appeared in the Modesto Bee on January 24, 2011. The text was furnished to the paper by the SSA."Q: What is the difference between the disability application and the disability report? Do I have to complete both?"A: A disability application is a claim for Social Security disability benefits. A disability report Douglas Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16165893158287129896noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8675096.post-89176822695263242682010-12-16T11:35:00.004-05:002011-01-28T09:39:06.839-05:00Is it safe to file a claim online in 2010?A Social Security (SS) claims representative says filing claims online is like "tossing blank applications up in the air and hoping for the best."Page 31 of our 2008 Disability Workbook recommends "Avoid the SSA Internet application procedure for now . . ." We continue to hold this view in 2010.A union that represents SS claims representatives (CR's) surveyed members about issues to report to Douglas Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16165893158287129896noreply@blogger.com0tag: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.com2tag: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 shrinkingSocial 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 Douglas Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16165893158287129896noreply@blogger.com0tag: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.com0tag: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.comCLICK BELOW TO ADD COMMENTS TO THIS BLOGDouglas Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16165893158287129896noreply@blogger.com0tag: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 August Douglas Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16165893158287129896noreply@blogger.com0tag: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 than Douglas Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16165893158287129896noreply@blogger.com7